Table of Contents
Before getting into the many natural remedies for sinusitis, let us learn more about the symptoms and causes of this condition. You may have sinusitis if you experience one or more of the following symptoms:
- Facial pain and tenderness on the cheekbones, face, and forehead
- Ear ache
- Dry cough
- Headache
- Bad breath
- Fever
- Dazed feeling in the head
- Loss of smell
- Burning and tearing eyes
In addition, the face can swell, the nose can stuff, and the mucous discharge can thicken. Pressure and congestion in the interior passageways of the skull behind the forehead, nose, and cheeks can result in throbbing pain or a sinus headache.
Causes of Sinusitis
The nasal sinuses are located in the surrounding bones of the eyes and nose. They help your voice sound richer and fuller: They also help store overflow phlegm during illness. These five sinus cavities include:
- Frontal
- Nasal
- Ethmoidal
- Sphenoidal
- Maxillary
The above cavities are responsible for humidifying and warming the air you inhale. Sinusitis is a swelling of the nasal sinuses that generally occurs together with an upper respiratory infection. Colds or bacterial and viral infections spread into the sinuses.
Sinus complications that have become chronic may be caused by injury to the nasal bones, irritant fumes, odors, small nose growths, or smoking. Allergenic sinusitis may result from plant pollens (hay fever) and allergies to milk or dairy products, but this is less likely to be caused by wheat.
An over-acid condition in the stomach can cause sinus troubles. Poor digestion of sugar, starch, and dairy products can produce a runny nose. Phlegm is pushed into the sinuses when force is used to blow the nose. Swimming or diving can force phlegm up into the sinuses.
Allergic rhinitis is a common cause of sinusitis. Abstain from substances that might be aggravating your allergies. Enlarged and infected adenoids, perfume, household cleansers, tooth decay, dusty air, and cigarette smoke can irritate the sinuses.
Sinusitis can also be caused by infection. If drainage is clear after a week, you most likely do not have an infection. However, if the mucus is yellowish or greenish, you do. If drainage is clear and there are no accompanying symptoms of a common cold, you most likely have an allergy. Very few people with sinus conditions have an actual sinus infection (sinusitis).
Pay attention to swelling around the eyes! Left untreated can lead to asthma, throat infections, pneumonia, or bronchitis. If you are interested in finding out which sinuses may be ailing you, here are some valuable data:
- Frontal sinuses produce the most severe frontal headaches between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- Maxillary sinuses cause pain in the upper teeth, cheek, and sometimes eye pains. It generally lasts from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Ethmoid sinuses induce a dull pain behind the eyes, pain in eye movements, tearing, light sensitivity, and occasional sore throat and night-time cough.
Natural Remedies for Sinusitis
- Never ignore a cold, sore throat, flu, tonsil infection, or other acute conditions, or attempt to suppress it with drugs. Get plenty of rest, sleep early, and consume juices and light meals. When stopped, the phlegm does not flow out but hardens in the sinuses, and trouble begins.
- Go on a short fast on vegetable juices, herbal teas, and citrus juices.
- Consume loads of water and juices. This keeps the fluids in your nose loose and flowing instead of hardening.
- Eat nourishing foods – especially vegetables, nuts, beans, legumes, and fruits whenever possible. Drink fresh carrot juice daily. To cleanse the body, only consume fresh foods (avoid canned) for the rest of the week. Gradually add back whole grains and vegetable proteins such as beans, etc.
- Take five hundred milligrams of vitamin C every two hours of the day until sinusitis disappears.
- NAC (N-acetylcysteine) is a type of amino acid cysteine. Taking five hundred milligrams twice a day can help liquefy mucus enabling it to drain.
- Avoid white flour, coffee, meat, dairy products, spices, cigarette smoke, or tobacco. Milk products clog the sinuses and worsen the situation.
- Drink hot liquids to aid the sinuses in flowing out their content.
Herbs
Herbal natural remedies for sinusitis include
- Slippery elm
- Fenugreek
- Mullein
- Aloe vera
- Red clover
- Yerba santa
- Comfrey
Garlic contains a chemical that makes mucus less sticky. Horseradish also has this ability. Cayenne acts in a somewhat similar manner. Peppermint tea also helps open up the sinus passageways.
Combine crushed garlic cloves with four cups water and remove from the heat after it comes to a boil. Let it cool, and gradually drink. This concoction will help clean out the sinuses and relieve stuffiness. Raw garlic is amongst the most potent natural remedies for sinusitis.
Prepare a healthy vegetable soup by adding onions, garlic, cayenne, ginger, and horseradish.
Drink echinacea tea for one week, then switch to goldenseal for the following week. Both are excellent antibiotics.
Combine peppermint and eucalyptus oil with a few drops of vegetable oil and rub them on the forehead and temples to relieve sinusitis, but do not drink.
Put peppermint leaves over the painful area or apply a strong tea compress.
Inhale eucalyptus, peppermint, and sodium bicarbonate to remove the sinus secretions for twenty minutes.
Bromelain, ginkgo, and oregano can help clear sinuses.
Put a teaspoon of bayberry bark into a cup of boiling water, simmer for thirty minutes, strain; and, when cooled, sniff it up the nose, one nostril at a time. It will heal and cleanse. An alternative to this remedy is to use ½ teaspoon of sea salt per cup of distilled water, taste it to see if it is half as salty as the ocean, then sniff it up your nose. Yet, another alternative: sniff up each nostril a teaspoon of goldenseal or mullein.
Other Noteworthy Natural Remedies to Clear Sinuses
Avoid the use of nose drops. They can aggravate the condition by impeding the drainage and hardening mucus. Decongestants also increase blood pressure.
Putting a heating pad on the sinuses can help relieve pain. This can be hot and wet compresses, a heat lamp, a sixty-watt light bulb, or a heating pad.
A variation of this is:
Two times a day, lean over a basin of hot water with a towel wrapped over your head (or stand in a hot shower). Inhale the vapors as they come up toward your nose. If you are at work, try to get a cup of something hot. And lean over, sniff up the moisture. An alternative: After the water has come to a boil, turn it off and add fifteen drops of peppermint or eucalyptus, then cover your head and inhale.
Some individuals prefer cold applications to the sinuses instead of hot ones. Place crushed ice in a plastic sack, wrap it with a moist towel, and place it over the sinus that hurts. At the same time, have the feet in hot water. This will help draw blood from the sinus area. However, the hot method is better for draining the sinuses.
Combine one teaspoon of salt with two cups of warm water. Pour it into a small glass. And, holding back your head, sniff it up into one nostril (as you pinch the other one closed). Repeat for the other side.
Rubbing your sore sinuses brings a fresh supply of blood to the area. Press your thumbs firmly on either side of your nose and hold for fifteen to thirty seconds.
Pain relief was reported by seventy-five percent of a test group after a mechanical vibrator was placed on the midline of the forehead or over the most tender area (forty-five minutes a day for as many days as needed).
Sit with your head down, between your knees. Cough gently as though you were clearing your throat. Then hold your breath for a minute as the mucus slowly drains. Then gently inhale. Be sure you are drinking enough fluids when you do this.
Apply a heating pad to your chest twice daily. Then lie with the top half of your body off the bed, using your forearms as support. This will help drain the lungs. Remain in this position for five to fifteen minutes, and cough and expectorate (spit) into a pan on the floor.
Walking can help clear sinuses
Take six charcoal tablets every day with water between meals. Charcoal is an excellent remedy for removing toxins from the system. Only do this during the duration of the condition, or it can cause temporary constipation.
It is better to sniffle than to blow your nose. If you must blow, only blow lightly and through one nostril at a time. Wiping the nose is better than blowing it.
A humidifier will help keep sinuses moist indoors during the winter months. A humidity of forty to fifty percent increases sinus comfort.
Avoid damp, cold living, working, and sleeping quarters.
Frequently Asked Questions
I’ve tried saline irrigation, but is there a way to boost its effectiveness for natural sinusitis relief?
Yes! Consider adding a pinch of baking soda to your saline solution. This creates a mildly alkaline environment, which can help break down thick mucus more effectively (source: Detroit Sinus Center, 2023).
Which essential oils are most effective as natural remedies for sinusitis, and are there specific blends?
Eucalyptus, peppermint, and tea tree oil all have research-backed antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that can be beneficial natural remedies for sinusitis. A study in the Journal of Essential Oil Research (2016) found a blend of these three particularly effective.
Can certain foods worsen this condition, hindering the effectiveness of natural remedies for sinusitis?
Dairy products and processed foods can contribute to excess mucus production in some people. If you notice your symptoms worsening after consuming these, consider reducing their intake for a few weeks to see if there’s any improvement.
Are there any lesser-known herbs besides the usual echinacea and goldenseal that can be used as natural remedies for sinusitis?
Absolutely! Bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapples, has shown promise in reducing sinus inflammation. Additionally, stinging nettle, with its antihistamine properties, might be helpful for those with allergy-induced sinusitis.
Neti pots are great, but is there a more portable option for on-the-go natural sinusitis relief?
Yes, saline nasal sprays are a convenient alternative. Look for ones with xylitol, a natural sweetener that also helps to inhibit bacterial growth.
Can acupuncture genuinely be considered among the effective natural remedies for sinusitis?
Preliminary research suggests acupuncture may relieve inflammation and promote mucus drainage. A study in the American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy (2017) reported positive outcomes, but more research is needed.
My doctor mentioned “fungal sinusitis.” Are there natural remedies for this specific type of sinusitis?
Fungal sinusitis requires medical attention, but specific natural remedies may be adjunctive therapies. With its antifungal properties, Grapefruit seed extract is sometimes recommended, but always consult your doctor before using it.
Beyond steam inhalation, can heat be used in other ways as a natural remedy for sinusitis?
Warm compresses applied to the forehead and cheeks can help ease sinus pressure and pain. Be sure to use a comfortable temperature and avoid direct contact with the eyes.
Can dietary supplements like quercetin or probiotics play a role in natural sinusitis treatment?
Quercetin, a flavonoid with anti-inflammatory properties, has shown some promise in reducing sinus inflammation. Probiotics may help by supporting a healthy gut microbiome linked to immune function.
I’m interested in trying manuka honey as a natural remedy for sinusitis. Any advice?
Manuka honey, with its unique antimicrobial properties, may help to soothe irritated sinuses and reduce inflammation. Look for honey with a high UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) rating for maximum benefit. Remember, honey should not be given to children under one year old.
DISCLAIMER: All content on this website is presented solely for educational and informational objectives. Do not rely on the information provided as a replacement for advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified medical expert. If you are pregnant, nursing, or have any preexisting medical concerns, talk to your doctor before using any herbal or natural medicines.
References
- Vance Ferrell Harold M. Cherne, M.D. The Natural Remedies Encyclopedia [Book]. – Altamont, TN: Harvestime Books, 2010. – Vol. Seventh Edition: 7: pp. 381, 382. [Natural Remedies for Sinusitis]
- American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy (2017): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28324611
Last update on 2024-07-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API