This airflow system may become clogged if something blocks the sinus openings, or if an allergen swells the sinus linings.  Air gets trapped, pressure builds, the mucus stagnates, bacterial growth occurs, and infection sets in.  If you get clogged up too many times, you may wind up with a permanent thickening of the sinus membranes and a chronic “stuffy nose.”  Swelling around the eyes is a serious sign.

Acute sinusitis is frequently caused by bacterial or viral infections of the nose, throat, and upper respiratory tract.  Chronic sinusitis problems may be caused by allergies, nasal polyps, deviated septum, smoking, and sensitivity to fumes and smells.  Allergenic sinusitis may be caused by hay fever or food sensitivities.

Generally speaking, if the sinus drainage is clear without a cold, you probably have food allergies; if the mucus is yellowish, you probably have inhalant allergies; and if discharge is greenish, you probably have an infection.  If left untreated, sinusitis can lead to other respiratory disorders such as asthma, bronchitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, or pneumonia.

Symptoms of sinusitis include headache, earache, toothache, facial pain, loss of sense of smell, tenderness over the forehead and cheekbones, and occasionally a high fever. Sinusitis sometimes produces a swollen face followed by a stuffy nose and thick discharge of mucus.  Occasionally, antibiotics may be necessary.

1.                  In an acute infection, give your body a chance to fight infection by conserving your energy and getting some bed rest.

2.                  Avoid white sugar and white flour products.

3.                  Check your food allergies.  (See “Allergy—Foods.”)  At the very least, begin eliminating some of the common food allergens (e.g., chocolate, corn, eggs, milk, sugar, and wheat) until a more definitive diagnosis can be made.  Milk and dairy products in particular will tend to increase mucus production.

4.                  Increase your fluid intake to 6-8 glasses.  This can be in the form of distilled, reverse osmosis, or spring water, vegetable juices, broth, and herb teas.

5.                  Humidity is important to keeping the cilia working, the mucus flowing, and the sinuses drained.  Inhale vapors from a pan full of steaming water with a towel draped over your head.  For best effects, add eucalyptus oil to the water.

6.                  Flush out stale nasal secretions with a saline solution.  Combine a teaspoonful of sea salt or table salt with two cups of warm water and a pinch of baking soda.  Fill a large dropper with of the solution and, with you head back, close one nostril and sniff it into the open nostril.  Blow your nose gently.  Repeat on the other side.  Blowing one nostril at a time will prevent pressure buildup in the ears, which can send bacteria further back into the sinuses.

7.                  Avoid antihistamine products if you are suffering from an infection.  They work by drying nasal secretions and may plug you up more.  Sudafed, a single acting decongestant, can constrict the blood vessels, put air through nose, and alleviate pressure without making you worse.

8.                  Use nasal sprays sparingly.  While these can bring temporary relief, constant use of a nasal spray, other than saline, can cause a “rebound effect.”  The mucosa may react by swelling even more than before, creating a vicious cycle.  It can take weeks for the swelling to finally subside after you stop using the sprays.

9.                  Local applications of heat have been shown to be very effective in alleviating symptoms of sinusitis.  Place a hot, moist washcloth over your eyes and cheekbones until the cloth cools.  Repeat, if necessary, until the pain subsides.

10.             Each nasal passage has three openings that allow the sinuses to drain.  These openings are located medially at angles of approximately 0, 30, and 45 degrees.  A Q-tip, treated with eucalyptus oil, can gently be slipped into these openings to facilitate sinus drainage and improve nasal breathing.  Don’t force the Q-tip into the opening if it won’t go easily.  Just getting a topical application of eucalyptus into the area will be beneficial.

11.             Fasting helps to cleanse the bowels.  Physicians who practice Mayr Therapy have noted an association between improvement from sinus congestion and fasting.  This may indicate that toxins from the bowel are being absorbed causing what is known as “autointoxication.”  (See “Constipation.”)  This may be accompanied by an enema.  (See “Coffee Enema.”)

12.             Vitamin A is a natural antibiotic and thins the mucus in the linings of the sinuses, lungs, and bladder.  It can be obtained in a water-soluble form or taken as beta-carotene.  In acute cases, the adult dosage can be 200,000 units daily for one week, decreasing by half each week and maintaining at 50,000 units daily until better.  Vitamin A toxidity is unlikely, especially if not using the oil form.   Should symptoms of vitamin A excess occur (e.g., headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or hair loss), stop the supplement.  Vitamins C and E can help to prevent toxicity.  While Vitamin A (from an animal source) is preferred, beta carotene (from a plant source) can be converted to vitamin A and is not considered toxic.  Nevertheless, in high amounts, beta-carotene may turn the skin a yellowish-orange color. Vitamin B₁₂ can counteract this harmless effect.  In general, diabetics and hypothyroid individuals should avoid beta-carotene as they cannot convert it to vitamin A.  Antibiotics, antacids, and steroids will interfere with vitamin A absorption.

13.             Other supplements found to be helpful in sinusitis include vitamin C, B-complex, bee-pollen, Bioflavonoids, the mineral zinc, proteolytic enzymes, and thymus glandular.

14.             Herbs known to be beneficial are anise, echinacea, fennel, fenugreek, goldenseal, and sage.  Spices such as garlic and horseradish may also be helpful in stimulating nasal drainage.

15.             Homeopathics recommended are as follows:  Arsenicum Album (when thin, watery discharge is present with burning sensation), Kali Bichromicum (for thick, greenish-yellow discharge and inflammation of the frontal sinuses with stuffiness), Mercurius Solubilis (when discharge is greenish and/or infection is present), Natrum Carbonicum (when drainage is constant and causing much hawking of mucus from the throat), Pulsatilla (when drainage is yellow, worse in the morning and better in open air), and Sulfur (if discharge is foul smelling).

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