If you have chronic sinusitis,
symptoms like bad breath, fatigue, facial pain, headaches, greenish or
yellowish mucus, and postnasal drip can last for months. Chronic
sinusitis occurs when the tiny hairlike cilia in your sinuses (which
help move out the mucus) become paralyzed by constant exposure to
irritants like allergens, cigarette smoke, and pollution.
Acute sinusitis, a bacterial or viral infection, often develops
after a cold. It shares many of the symptoms of chronic sinusitis but
can also cause sharp facial pain, severe pain in your upper jaw, or a
fever of more than 101 degrees.
If you suffer from either type of sinusitis, our quick fixes
offer fast relief. (How long relief lasts depends on the severity of
your symptoms and other factors.) And our long-term solutions can help
you control or eliminate sinusitis within a few weeks.
Quick Fix 1: Get Steamy
Dry air can cause or irritate sinus problems, but inhaling moisture can help. Simply breathing the steam from a hot shower will ease congestion.
You can also enhance the steam you breathe with sinus-clearing
essential oils. Once or twice a day, add five drops of eucalyptus
(Eucalyptus globulus), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), or sandalwood
(Santalum album) essential oils (or a combination) to a large bowl of
steaming-hot water. Drape a towel
over your head and the bowl, and breathe deeply for 10 minutes. You'll
feel relief within that time.
To treat acute sinusitis, substitute tea tree oil (Melaleuca
alternifolia) and repeat the sinus steam three to four times daily. Tea
tree oil's powerful antibacterial properties fight the bacteria that
cause many infections. Your symptoms should clear up within a few days.
Quick Fix 2: Press to Relieve Pain
Massaging certain acupressure points on your body can quickly relieve facial pain.
Use your right thumb and index finger to grasp the skin between
your left thumb and index finger. Press gently to find where the
muscles make a V shape on the top of your hand. Massage this small
indentation with firm but gentle pressure for 10 to 15 seconds; repeat
on your right hand. Do this as needed. Pregnant women should not use
this technique; it may stimulate uterine contractions.
You can also massage your face directly. Firmly and gently
press your index fingers above the center of each eyebrow or between
them. Massage for 10 to 15 seconds and repeat as needed.
Quick Fix 3: Flush Your Sinuses
Rinsing your sinuses with saltwater helps them drain mucus. Studies show that this significantly reduced symptoms like pain and inflammation in more than 2/3 of sinusitis sufferers.
To rinse your sinuses, use a neti pot, a small teapotlike
device sold at most natural food stores. Combine three parts non-iodized
salt and one part baking soda, and add 1/2 teaspoon of this mixture to
1/2 cup of warm water in the pot. This solution matches your body's
salinity, and baking soda makes it less irritating to your sinuses.
Lean over a sink and insert the spout of the pot into your left
nostril. Tilt your head and the pot to the right and let the solution
flow out your right nostril. Exhale forcefully through both nostrils and
repeat on the other side. Repeat as needed.
Quick Fix 4: Eat Spicy Food
The zing of certain spices opens clogged sinuses and promotes drainage. As condiments, use hot salsas or chutneys that contain chiles, or sprinkle cayenne pepper on your food.
Long-Term Solution 1: Sleep and Eat Well
Sleep and good nutrition strengthen your immune system. A healthy immune system allows you to fight off or avoid acute sinus infections, and some researchers believe chronic sinusitis may be linked to your immune response to certain fungi.
Experts recommend that you go to sleep and wake up at the same
time every day. Also avoid exercising, eating heavy meals, and doing
stressful activities like balancing your checkbook less than three hours
before bedtime.
Consider shunning certain foods as well. For example, sugar
weakens your immune system and can make you more susceptible to
sinusitis, while dairy products thicken mucus, causing congestion and
increasing your risk of developing an acute infection. If you have
chronic sinusitis, eliminate dairy products and
foods with added sugars for at least one month. If this helps, you can
reintroduce these foods one at a time every four days to find if there
is a level you can tolerate.
Long-Term Solution 2: Treat Allergies Naturally
Allergies contribute to chronic sinusitis by inflaming sinuses and narrowing drainage channels. If you have chronic sinusitis, see a doctor for allergy testing.
If you do have allergies, be aware that conventional allergy
medications can cause even more problems, like thickening your mucus and
interfering with sinus drainage. Take quercetin, a
bioflavonoid that fights the inflammatory chemical involved in the
allergic response, instead. Take 500 mg three times a day with meals.
Long-Term Solution 3: Try Acupuncture
Acupuncture can ease symptoms like sinus pain and pressure, as well as strengthen your immune system and combat allergies. Padberg says an acupuncture treatment for chronic sinusitis generally relieves symptoms within 24 to 48 hours, but you may need 10 or 12 weekly treatments to clear up underlying problems like allergies. If you see an acupuncturist at the first sign of a sinus infection.
Long-Term Solution 4: Freshen Your Air
Try a negative ion generator. Negative ions (air molecules with extra electrons) clean your air by attracting airborne allergens and other irritating particles and causing them to clump together and fall to the ground. Some experts believe that negative ions in the air enhance the ability of your cilia to move out mucus and filter out inhaled pollutants.
Consider This?
Is Your Sinusitis Life-Threatening?
In addition to being painful, an acute sinus infection can be dangerous because it can spread to your eyes or brain and may cause blindness or even death. Though rare, that danger is one mason why doctors prescribe antibiotics for sinus infections.
When do you need antibiotics? If you've tried our solutions
with no success, or if you have symptoms like an incapacitating
headache, severe pain in your upper jaw, a fever of more than 101
degrees, or swelling around your eyes, see a physician. You might need
antibiotics to treat a possibly life- or vision-threatening infection.
Unfortunately, antibiotics can also kill the helpful bacteria
that aid digestion, causing gastrointestinal upset. Take either 1/2 teaspoon of powder or liquid or 2
capsules of antibiotics three times a day with water, between meals and before bed.
The bacteria will multiply on their own after you take them, so the
number of organisms per dose is not significant.
Like this article ??? Please provide us with a feedback !!!
No comments:
Post a Comment