Natural Remedies for Sinus Infection

The paranasal sinuses are hollow cavities in the bones of the skull and face; these cavities are connected to the nasal cavity, and are thought to serve a number of purposes, including providing resonance to the voice, providing insulation to the teeth and eyes, and helping to humidify and heat the air that is inhaled. One of the most common ailments related to the sinuses is sinusitis, and this condition is often the result of an infection. Due to the close connection with the nasal cavity, an infection such as the common cold can quite easily reach the paranasal sinuses. As a result, the mucus membrane lining the nasal cavity and the sinuses gets inflamed, and mucus cannot drain normally. This leads not only to an increase in the severity of cold symptoms such as nasal congestion and discharge, but also to a typical sinus headache – a dull, ache in the area around the nose, with a feeling of pressure built up inside the head, and worsening of the pain when the patient bends or lies down.

A common cold usually takes a week to disappear on its own, and the symptoms of sinusitis too usually disappear within this time, if the condition has been caused by an infection. Sometimes however, a more severe infection may be at work, and in this case, medical treatment may be necessary, such as antibiotics. Sometimes, sinusitis may also be due to an allergy or an autoimmune condition. In this case too, consultation with an experienced medical professional is advisable.

In case of a mild sinus infection, all that is needed to relieve the symptoms is a simple home remedy such as steam inhalation or nasal irrigation. For steam inhalation, simply heat a basin of water, and then lean over it with a towel over your head and shoulders, breathing in the steam that rises out of the basin. You must of course be careful when doing this, so as not to burn yourself. Today simple electrical gadgets are available for the same purpose at most chemists, and you can try one of these instead. For nasal irrigation too, various fluids are available over the counter. However, in this case, the best option is a home made saline solution – mix a single teaspoon of salt with half a liter of water, and flush your nose with this water using either a bulb syringe or what is known as a “neti pot”.