It’s that time of year again. The weather changes and the pollen starts to fall, which causes havoc on your sinuses. Sneezing, runny/stuffy nose, watery/itchy eyes, sinus pressure, and the dreaded nasal drip will have you feeling horrible. You can take over the counter medications, but the problem with those is that they can make you drowsy. You can learn some quick and easy home remedies for sinuses to relief the symptoms.
Sinusitis refers to inflammation of the sinus passage and over secretion of mucus by the membrane lining the nose and throat. It is often followed by a common cold, influenza and other general infections.
Excessive or constant sneezing, running nose, blockage of one or both nostrils, headaches and pressure around the head, eyes and face, fever, lack of appetite and difficulty in breathing are symptoms of sinusitis.
Try some of these home remedies for sinuses
- A tsp of black cumin seeds tied in a thin cotton cloth provides relief when inhaled.
- Take few capsules of cayenne during or after each meal for several days till the infection is cleared up. Alternatively put 1 tsp of cayenne in cup of hot water and drink a cupful of this thrice a day.
- Add few drops of eucalyptus oil to 1/2 cup boiling water. Pour the mixture into a bowl and inhale the steam for 10 – 15 minutes with your head covered with a large towel.
- Put few drops of eucalyptus oil on your handkerchief and sniff periodically.
- Dissolve 1 tsp of salt in 2 cups of water and use it through a nasal inhaler.
- Make a nasal flush by mixing 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp baking soda in one cup of warm water. Fill the syringe with the solution and drop the mixture up your nose.
- Dissolve 1 tsp uniodized salt and 1/2 tsp baking soda in a pint of water and inhale it through nasal inhaler.
- Steep 1-2 tsp of thyme in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes. Drink a cupful of this mixture three times a day. Because of its strong antiseptic properties, thyme is good for respiratory infections.
- Sipping hot teas made with herbs such as fenugreek, fennel, anise, or sage may help move mucus even more and keeps it flowing.
- Blow one nostril at a time. This will help prevent pressure buildup in the ears, which can send bacteria further back into the sinus passages.
- Sniffling whenever your nostrils feel stuffed is a good way to drain the sinuses and stale secretions down the throat.
- Press your thumbs to the either side of the nostril to bring a fresh blood supply to the area and soothing relief.
- Apply warm wash cloth over your eyes and cheekbones. Leave it till you feel the sinus pain subsiding.
- Carrot and spinach juice taken regularly is also found to be highly beneficial.
- Eat pungent herbs like garlic, horseradish because it contains a chemical that moves mucus and makes it less sticky.
- Garlic, Onions, Horseradish, Hot Pepper and Ginger added to any soup broth will open the sinuses.
- Steep fresh basil in cupful of water and drink it to alleviate the stuffiness caused by inflamed membranes.
- Pungent oils such as thymol and camphor help open clogged passages.
- Tilt your head back and place a tsp of onion juice in each nostril. Repeat when needed.
- Grate fresh lotus root, mix it with grated ginger and unbleached white flour. Apply the mixture directly to the skin. You can leave this for several hours or overnight. Repeat for a week or more till you get relief. This is mixture is quite effective dispersing and moving stagnated mucus. There could be watery discharge from the eyes or nose.
Please keep in mind that not all remedies work for everyone and results will vary from person to person.
If you’re interested in more information then see my blog post on Herbal Remedies for Sinus Infections
The reader of this article should exercise all precautions while following instructions on the recipes from this article. Avoid using if you are allergic to something. The responsibility lies with the reader, not the site, and the writer.
