Natural Remedies for Sinus Infection

Living with frequent sinus trouble is a pain in more ways than one.  Not only does it hurt the face, it means missed time from work and frequent expensive visits to the doctor.  Without treatment, it can actually be a debilitating illness.  Fortunately, there are some natural remedies for sinus infection that just might keep that monster at bay, and bring many sufferers the relief they seek.

Natural Relief

• Flush it Away

When you go to the doctor for a sinus infection, he/she will generally prescribe a course of antibiotics.  In addition, you might be given a solution to basically flush out your sinuses a couple of times a day.  This irrigation can be found at many local drug stores over-the-counter.  But, like all pharmaceuticals, it is more expensive than it ought to be.

To save money, irrigate your sinuses, and relieve the inflammation, all you need is salt, water and an ear syringe.  Mix ¼ tsp salt with 1 cup of warm water.  Fill the small bulb syringe and literally squirt it up your nose, if you think you are on the verge of a sinus infection. It is not exactly the most pleasant sensation.  But, it should be repeated a couple of times a day, until the symptoms are gone. If caught quickly enough, it should help the mucus do its job, and save you a trip to the doctor.

• Straight from the Kitchen

Many of the ingredients for natural remedies for sinus infections can be found in the kitchen. If you are no into the culinary arts, it is still no problem.  You might have to go to the grocery store.  However, many of the ingredients will keep for quite awhile, in case you need them in the future.  One such remedy involves horseradish.

If you have ever eaten horseradish, then you might already see how this recipe might work.  You will need:
1 tsp horseradish
½ tsp olive oil
1 tsp lemon juice
By ingesting the mixture of these 3 simple ingredients, it will loosen up the mucus and help your sinuses start to drain naturally.  Some people just swallow the mixture.  But, for some people this just isn’t palatable.  So, it can be added to a bit of rice or potato, in order to make it a little more pleasant to eat.

• Diet

Yes, there is that nasty 4-letter word.  But, what you eat may cause and extra buildup of mucus.  For example, some people have to cough, after eating ice cream.  It is because of the extra mucus that has been produced.  Unfortunately, other foods that are high in sugar can also cause sinus problems.

• Self-massage

Acupressure is the process of putting pressure on the area that is causing the pain and massaging.  When you sinuses begin to hurt or feel like they are clogging, put pressure on the sides of the nose, right above where the nostrils start to flair out.  Use pressure; massage this area.  Also the areas above the check bones and below the eyes have large sinus cavities.  Using pressure, massage these areas as well.  Done correctly, it should relieve some of the discomfort and help loosen up some of the mucus, so it will drain out and take the germs along for the ride.

• Warm compress

Another one of the natural remedies for sinus infection is the warm compress with a special added ingredient.  If you don’t happen to have one in your vegetable bin, go buy a piece of ginger root.  Grate about ¼ cup and add it to boiling water.  Go ahead and turn the heat down, letting it simmer for about 15 minutes.

Strain away the ginger pieces.  Then, take a cloth and drench it in the remaining warm water solution.  Put the compress over your nose and checks and relax.  It should help your sinuses to drain, taking germs and pollutants out of your system and hopefully eliminating the need to go to the doctor.

When your grandmother or great-grandmother got sick, they couldn’t rush to the doctor for antibiotics every time their sinuses hurt.  They had to come up with natural remedies for sinus infection.  These are a few examples of using what you already have around the house, and in the kitchen, to help the body get rid of mucus, before it can harbor the germs for a full-blown infection. If you pay attention, and can treat sinus problems early, not only will you get quick relief, but you have a good chance of preventing the need for antibiotics and that dreaded trip to the doctor.  You will regain control of your sinuses; they will no longer control you.

Maxillary Sinus Infection

If you are suffering from a maxillary sinus infection, you face probably aches.  If you put pressure on your cheek bones, it is likely to feel very tender and sore.  Your sinuses are made of several avenues mirrored on either side of your face.  The maxillary sinuses are the biggest area.  Thus, it can also be the source of a very bad infection that can be painful and difficult to treat.

Sinus Infection Causes

Sinus infections can seem to spring out of nowhere.  One day you are feeling fine; then, you have pain, fever, headaches, and more.  It can be a debilitating ailment that makes it very difficult to function. It is not long before you have to seek medical attention, in order to get relief from the constant discomfort and pressure.  Especially if you are prone to sinus problems, you should know what causes an infection.  It may be any of the following:

• A recent cold
• The flu
• Dental problems
• Fungus
• Deviated septum
• Enlarged turbinate

It is no wonder that a cold can result in a sinus infection.  Most people are continually blowing their noses for a week or two.  It seems like the mucus is either constantly running out of, or clogging the nose.  The sinuses can take a real beating during this illness.  The nasal membranes swell, and the nose is never really cleaned out.  It is a wonder more people don’t have sinus infections after a cold.

A lot of people think they have the flu, when it is often something that was eaten or maybe even food poisoning.  But, the real influenza is a nasty virus.  Back before modern medicine, it could be a death sentence to get the flu.  Today, there are still individuals that get really sick, are hospitalized, get infections, and die from the real flu. It is not uncommon to be diagnosed with sinus problems soon thereafter.

One of the biggest culprits of a maxillary sinus infection is dental problems.  A quick look at the skull and it is not hard to see why infected teeth or gums can cause problems with the sinuses.  It is not far for dental disease to migrate to the sinus cavities.  In fact, it is actually one of the main causes of this type of sinus problem.

It is very important to maintain good dental hygiene.  Also, if you are an individual that is prone to sinus infections, it might be time to visit the dentist. Antibiotics may ease the symptoms; but, the source of the infection still remains.  Until it is gone, the sinuses are always going to be a target for pain and discomfort.
Fungus can also be a source for maxillary sinus infection.  You may not even be aware that aspergillus fungus is present in your home.  It might be necessary to deep clean your home and scrub areas that typically grow fungus, to make sure there is none present.  It is also a good idea to have someone who makes a business out of killing fungus to come into your home and take care of any potential problems.

Sometimes, people are more susceptible to sinus problems because of structural problems with their nasal cavities.  For example, a deviated septum can cause the sinuses not to drain properly.  The septum is that area that divides the nostrils.  If it leans one way or the other, it can result in more infections and even be the source of snoring issues.

Another structure issue is larger than normal turbinates.  The areas that separate your sinus cavities and curl like a scroll are made of cartilage.  If these scroll-like partitions are too thick, it can make it difficult for the sinuses to drain properly.  In both of these instances, plastic surgery can restructure these cavities and reshape the sinuses to work properly.

If you have ever had a sinus infection, one day of misery is enough.   In many cases, a trip to the doctor, a round of antibiotics and some rest will take care of the problem, after a bout of cold or flu.  But, when a maxillary sinus infection recurs, there may be serious issues that need to be addressed.  The biggest culprit is actually poor oral health.  Many people fail to see that a visit to the dentist is the answer to illness.  After gum or tooth infection is treated, the sinus infections also stop. Sometimes, it is actually the presence of fungus in the home or workplace.  To cure recurring sinus trouble, some individuals need surgery to correct a turbinate or a deviated septum.  The key is to figuring out what treatment is necessary, to make the pain and discomfort a thing of the past.