Sinus Support – At Home  Help

1. Mix one drop of Eucalyptus Essential Oil , one drop of Tea Tree Essential Oil , and one drop of Peppermint Oil  together. Warm this mixture. Then, add the mixture to four cups of hot water. Dip in a clean cloth. Then, use the cloth as a hot compress over the sinus areas with your eyes closed and your head slightly elevated to encourage drainage. Be careful that the cloth is not hot enough to burn. 
2. You can also use your hot mixture (very hot) for steam therapy. With your eyes closed, put your head 8 inches above the mixture and a towel over your head to form a tent. Breathe deeply and slowly for ten minutes, and do this three times a day. 
3. Sleeping with your head elevated will encourage drainage during the night. Eliminating sugar from your diet will help immensely. And, blowing your nose hard results in pushing the blockage farther up the cavities.
4. Drink lots of water (eight to ten glasses a day; more if you're exercising). 
5. Inhale steam from a hot shower, steam room, commercial steam inhaler or a pot of hot water. If you use the pot method, boil the water, remove the pot from the burner, lean as close as is comfortable, cover your head with a towel and breathe deeply through your nose. If you have an infection, Ivker recommends steaming two to four times a day. Steam daily to weekly as a preventive measure. 
6. Irrigate your nasal passages with salt water to wash away infected secretions. Ivker recommends steaming first to loosen secretions. To make a saline solution, Francis Brinker, N.D., of Tucson, Ariz., uses 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda in 1 cup warm water. Put this solution in an ayurvedic neti pot, spray bottle, ear syringe or any container with a small spout. To wash the right nostril, lower your head over a sink and turn your neck so your left nostril is down. Keep your nose slightly higher than your mouth. Pour water into your right nostril. Water will drain from your left nostril and probably into your mouth as well. Gently blow your nose. Repeat on the other side. During an acute infection, Ivker recommends doing this two to four times a day. As maintenance, he uses a nasal spray containing salt water and herbs on a daily basis. 
7. Humidify your living space. Dry air irritates respiratory passages and increases susceptibility to viral and bacterial infections. If you live in an arid climate, consider using a room humidifier. Ivker also recommends cleaning the air with a negative-ion generator. 

Dietary tips: Cut sweets from your diet. Sugar reduces the ability of white blood cells to get rid of bacteria, says Steve Rissman, N.D., of the Natural Health Clinic at Bastyr University in Seattle. Add garlic, onion, ginger, green leafy vegetables and orange fruits and vegetables to your diet. If your sinuses are chronically stuffy, you might have a food allergy, says Rissman. Dairy products are common culprits. Other culprits include citrus, peanuts, corn and eggs. 

Herbal therapies: Warm teas can help dilute mucus. For acute sinusitis, Rissman relies on herbs, such as barberry, that are both astringents and antibiotics. He recommends making a nasal irrigation solution by adding 1 teaspoon of dry herbs per cup of water. Strain herbs before using. You can also drink them as a tea or extract. Ed Alstat, N.D., of Sandy, Ore., recommends yerba mansa for acute sinusitis. Herbalist Sunny Mavor of Bozeman, Mont., uses Oregon grape root. Bromelain, a protein-digesting enzyme from pineapples, helps break up mucus, is anti-inflammatory and increases the intestinal absorption of herbal antibiotics, says Michael Murray, N.D., of Bastyr University. 

Garlic is an immune booster and a broad-spectrum antibiotic that can be eaten raw or taken as an odorless pill or capsule. Its volatile constituents are exhaled, making it particularly helpful in respiratory infections. If Rissman suspects underlying immune weakness, he may add echinacea or astragalus to a patient's herbal regimen. If hayfever is the underlying cause, he may recommend stinging nettles, a choice supported by clinical study (Planta Medica, 1990, vol. 56). 

Ephedra sinica, also known as ma huang, contains ephedrine, from which the OTC drug pseudoephedrine is derived. Rissman finds this herb useful for opening the nasal passages in acute sinusitis, but stresses it should only be used for a few days. Possible side effects are similar to those of OTC decongestants: drowsiness, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, dry mouth, jitters and nausea. Long-term use can be physically depleting, he warns. 

When you breathe steam, Rissman recommends adding the essential oil of thyme or eucalyptus to the pot of water. Both herbs are antiseptic and specific for the respiratory system. Rissman cautions that you should only use a couple of drops at a time, as inhaling too much of these essential oils can cause irritation. Similarly, you can add these essential oils to a warm bath and soak. 

Vitamin supplements: As always, the best way to get your vitamins and minerals is via a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. When your body is battling an infection or inflammation due to environmental pollutants, Ivker suggests you give yourself a boost of immune-supportive and antioxidant vitamins and minerals such as vitamins C and E, selenium and zinc. During an acute infection, Rissman also recommends short-term supplementation with vitamin A. 

Acupuncture: Colleen Grogan, an acupuncturist in Denver, Colo., says that more than half of her patients have sinus disease. In most cases, she says, a few strategically placed needles stimulate the sinuses to open and drain. Grogan explains that acupuncture opens the blocked meridians (channels for energy or qi), reduces inflammation and improves blood circulation. Grogan also uses Chinese herbs to complete the healing. The choice of herbs depends upon the underlying cause. 

Homeopathic remedies: Rissman finds that homeopathy is effective in treating sinusitis. The trick is to match the correct remedy with a person's unique constellation of symptoms. Common sinusitis remedies include silica, Hepar sulphuricum, mercurius, aurum and Calcarea carbonica. If your condition is chronic, consult a professional homeopath to help you identify the appropriate homeopathic remedy that matches your particular constitution.