Sinusitis remedies are in high demand during flu season. As sinusitis is a common sinus infection affecting millions every year. The function of these sinuses is to warm and humidify the air on its way from the nostrils to the lungs. A lining of mucus keeps the sinuses moist and in normal circumstances tiny hairs called ‘cilia’ sweep mucus from the sinuses down into the nose. But when you have a stuffy nose, allergies or a cold and these passages are congested, the sinuses may fail to drain. This results in bacteria and/or fungi to multiply in the trapped mucus and cause an infection of the sinuses or sinusitis.

Sinusitis most often follows a regular cold but also can be caused by allergies such as tobacco smoke, respiratory irritants, mouth infections and anatomical problems such as a deviated septum or nasal polyps.
Sinusitis often starts as a common cold and therefore the condition goes undiagnosed many times. If a cold last more than 10-14 days, one should be checked for a sinus infection. Distinct symptoms besides those of a common cold are a severe congestion with a thick, yellow or green nasal discharge, a headache or pressure in forehead and behind the eyes, ear pain, a decreased sense of smell, bad breath and fever. Acute sinusitis can turn into chronic sinusitis in which the symptoms persist over 12 weeks. Left untreated this annoying condition may cause permanent scarring of the sinuses and can permanently narrow the opening of the sinuses into the nose, and in some cases can lead to blindness or brain abscess. Allergies on the contrary are usually accompanied by itching and watery eyes.

The standard treatment of acute sinusitis – of course – is a course of antibiotics plus oral decongestants and a nasal spray. Antihistamines are usually not recommended because they can dry up the sinuses too much. For chronic sinusitis, they usually add another week of antibiotics with more decongestants…and if that doesn’t work, you will be referred to a “specialist” who after an x-ray, CT-scan or endoscopy may surgically remove the polyp, tumor or cysts and widen the sinus openings. If the sinusitis is diagnosed as allergy related, the allergy obviously has to be treated.

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Other (and better) treatment options:

1. Saline irrigation: Mix ¼ teaspoon of salt with 8 ounces of warm spring water and pour this mixture into a squirt bottle (plastic bottle with a soft, narrow tip) – in the morning. Lean over the sink and squirt the saline solution into each nostril, alternating until the bottle is empty. Continue to lean over the sink as your nostrils drain. This easy method can relieve symptoms fast and make the healing process much more pleasant. Make sure to clean the bottle prior to using it again! You can repeat this procedure 3 to 4 times/day.

2. A steam bath with eucalyptus: simply add a few drop of eucalyptus oil to a pot of boiling water and drop a towel over your head and the pot. Inhale the steam; it will help unclog the sinuses.

3. Humming: an interesting study showed that nitric oxide, a gas that is lethal to bacteria, increased 15-fold in the nose during humming. This increase in ventilation improves sinus air exchange and reduces the risk for infections.

4. When blowing your nose, keep your mouth open and do NOT blow with too much force since this may redirect the infected mucus back up into the sinuses and restart the infection.

5. Consume ½ teaspoon of prepared horseradish (or put in on a cracker). The horseradish will make your eyes water and drain your nose; therefore relieving the pressure in the sinuses caused by the build-up of mucus.

6. Bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapples and also available as a supplement in health food stores, has shown to help break down mucus and clear sinus infections. The recommended dose is 3 times 500mg/day.

7. Reduce or preferably eliminate the consumption of milk and other dairy products as they increase mucus production.

8. Increase your daily water intake (at least the number of ounces equaling your weight in pounds divided by 2) to assist drainage.

9. Increase your Vitamin A intake since vitamin A is essential for healthy mucus lining; and increase your vitamin C intake to prevent and treat infection.

10. If the sinusitis is allergy related: drink beet top tea as a water source and avoid wheat, citrus fruits, chocolate, shellfish, dairy products, eggs, potatoes, polluted meats and polluted air/allergens.

11. For chronic sinusitis: add ginger, green onions, magnolia flower, bananas, garlic, black mushrooms, chrysanthemum flowers, mulberry leaves and apricot kernel to your diet. Avoid extreme weather conditions, coffee, smoking, stress, picking your nose, polluted air and smog.

My personal favorite action plan:

Go and see a licensed acupuncturist and ask him/her to needle the following acupuncture points: Yingxiang (LI20) bilateral, Bitong (extra point) bilateral and Yintang (extra) for 20 minutes with manual stimulation every minute. You will experience instant relief and may have to schedule 1 to 3 more treatments only.
In addition, you will need to take a FABULOUS Herbal Formulation called ‘Magnolia Clear Sinus’ that will effectively treat ALL your sinusitis and rhinitis symptoms. Take this supplement for only 1 month initially and with every infection thereafter…it REALLY works!

Yours in Optimal Health,
Dr. Mike

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