Simple Natural Home Remedies for Sinus Infection

Sinusitis affects a large number of people and many suffer from recurring sinus infections. Fortunately there is a wide range of natural home remedies for a sinus infection.

Sinusitis Causes and Symptoms

Sinus infections can be caused by colds and flu’s, but sinusitis can also be a reaction to allergenic substances that can cause irritation in the nasal passages, such as pollen for hay fever sufferers or environmental chemicals and other irritants. Sinusitis symptoms include a blocked nose, pain in the sinuses that can radiate around the cheeks and the front of the head, headaches, earaches, fever, sore throat, dizziness and tooth pain. A sinus infection can go away in a couple of days, but can also be a recurring health problem. Sinus infections are often treated with antibiotics, but natural remedies and home cures can be used together with medical treatment to relieve the symptoms.

Relieve Sinusitis with Steam Inhalation

To relieve the congestion in the nose and in the sinuses, one of the easiest home remedies is a steam inhalation. Prepare a bowl of hot water and to make the remedy more effective, add a few drops of essential oil into the water. Some of the most commonly used essential oils to relieve nasal congestion are Pine, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Lavender and Rosemary. You can use just one of the oils or a combination of several oils, and many natural health stores sell specific essential oil blends for sinusitis and nasal congestion. Add up to six drops of essential oil or oils into the steaming water, cover the bowl and your head with a bath towel and inhale the steam, keeping your face above the water (but not too close so you don’t burn yourself) for about ten minutes.

You can repeat a steam inhalation several times a day, especially if suffering from a severe and acute sinus infection. The hot steam and the aromatic vapors relieve congestion and fight infections, and can help with the pain associated with sinusitis. Daily inhalations can also be helpful in chronic sinusitis. Gentle face massage around the sinus area, on the cheeks and the forehead can help to relieve the congestion, if the massage does not feel too painful.

Healthy Eating Tips for Sinus Infection

It is often recommended that sinusitis patients should include a lot of vitamin C in the daily diet, so eat plenty of fruits and vegetables or take vitamin C supplements while suffering from an acute sinus infection. Garlic is a natural antibiotic that many holistic therapists recommend for people who suffer from recurring sinus infections, so include some garlic in your diet when sinusitis attacks. Drinking a lot of fluids can be helpful too, especially if the infection is accompanied by fever.

Sources:

Mayo Clinic: Acute sinusitis (online article on mayoclinic.com)

Patricia Davis: Aromatherapy: An A-Z (Random House, UK, 2004)