Simple and Effective Remedies and Treatments for Sinus Problems
More than one in ten people suffer from chronic sinus pain, and many more experience problems on a semi-regular basis. Anyone who has been stricken with a sinus problem knows how distracting and potentially debilitating the congestion and pressure can be, and the cold weather months along with dry air create the perfect opportunity for flareups to occur. Let’s take a look at a few practical steps, along with a couple of remedies, that we can all take to help to alleviate sinus problems when they crop up.
Moisture and Humidity
Two of the most-effective ways to deal with periodic sinus problems is to introduce moisture into the nasal passages and sinus cavity. You can take a steam bath, place your head over some hot water and inhale through your nose, or you can even inject some water into your nose in order to moisten up mucous and other material that is clogging up the passages. These are just a few examples of many ways to add moisture and help to soothe dry, inflamed tissues.
Moisture also helps to break up mucous and promote better drainage. Many people are surprised how this step alone can work wonders for many run-of-the-mill problems. You can also use a humidifier in order to add some moisture to the ambient air, and this can help to reduce the frequency and severity of episodes in many cases.
Saline Rinse
One of the less-popular, yet highly-effective options is to give your nasal cavity a good saline rinse. In fact, most over the counter sinus nasal sprays are essentially salt water with a few additional ingredients. Salt is famous for attacking and breaking up mucous, but it can also irritate sensitive tissues, which is why it needs to be diluted with a high percentage of water. While you can use cold or warm water, you’ll notice how much nicer a warm-water saline rinse will feel. When you’re finished rinsing and drainage starts to occur, inject some plain water to flush out as much of the remaining salt as possible for better comfort.
Herbal Options
There are no shortage of herbal remedies that can be used to soothe inflamed tissues and break up mucous. Two of the most common include eucalyptus or peppermint essential oils. Anyone who has used these as decongestants for chest colds knows how powerful they can be when inhaled. All you need to do is place a few drops of the essential oil into a large pot or bowl of steaming hot water before draping a towel over your head as you stick your face above the steam. Breathe deeply through the nose a few times, and you should to start to notice some relief in a couple of minutes. Repeat as necessary.
Another option is to drink some teas while inhaling the steam that is rising from the cup. A ginger and turmeric tea is one of the oldest and tried-and-true remedies for sinus problems out there, and all it takes is a small amount of grated or chopped root steeping in water to do the trick. You can also add about three tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to a cup of hot water, along with a bit of bee honey and some lemon. Drink a glass three times a day until symptoms improve.
Trial and Error
These are just a few examples of numerous remedies that you can explore until you find the ones that work best. The important thing to remember is that most sinus problems go away once the inflammation subsides, moisture is introduced into the cavities and the mucous is broken up and discharged. While none of this sounds appealing, these are the core causes of the average sinus problem, and dealing with the cause is the best way to achieve relief.
Finally, keep in mind that we’re not talking about sinus infections here. While these, and other alternatives can help to alleviate the pain associated with a sinus infection, you will also need to take some antibiotics, whether from a pharmacy or from natural sources, in order to kill the bacteria that is causing the problem. If you think that you may have an infection, don’t delay introducing antibiotics in order to get it under control as quickly as possible. Chances are once the infection is gone, so will your sinus pain.
Keep in mind that over the counter sinus medications don’t always tackle the problem at the source. Rather, they desensitize the area to make episodes less uncomfortable. Consequently, you may experience temporary relief, but you may end up suffering for a longer period of time as well. Introduce moisture, break up the mucous, and soothe swollen tissues by using some natural alternatives, and chances are that you will feel better a lot faster.
