Natural treatment of sinusitis

Natural treatment of sinusitis can be done holistically!

Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses. It occurs as the result of an infection from a virus, bacteria, or fungus. Fortunately, there is natural treatment of sinusitis with homeopathy that is fast & effective.

Causes 

The sinuses are air-filled spaces in the skull. They are located behind the forehead, nasal bones, cheeks, and eyes. Healthy sinuses contain no bacteria or other germs. Most of the time, mucus is able to drain out and air is able to flow through the sinuses.

When the sinus openings become blocked or too much mucus builds up, bacteria and other germs can grow more easily.

Sinusitis can occur from one of these conditions:

• Small hairs (cilia) in the sinuses fail to properly to move mucus out. This may be due to some medical conditions.
• Colds and allergies may cause too much mucus to be made or block the opening of the sinuses.
• A deviated nasal septum, nasal bone spur, or nasal polyps may block the opening of the sinuses.

Sinusitis

There are two types of sinusitis:

• Acute sinusitis is when symptoms are present for 4 weeks or less. It is caused by bacteria growing in the sinuses.
• Chronic sinusitis is when swelling and inflammation of the sinuses are present for longer than 3 months. It may be caused by bacteria or a fungus.

The following may increase the risk that an adult or child will develop sinusitis:

• Allergic rhinitis or hay fever
• Cystic fibrosis
• Going to day care
• Diseases that prevent the cilia from working properly
• Changes in altitude (flying or scuba diving)
• Large adenoids
• Smoking
• Weakened immune system from HIV or chemotherapy

Symptoms

The symptoms of acute sinusitis in adults very often follow a cold that does not get better or that gets worse after 5 – 7 days. Symptoms include:

• Bad breath or loss of smell
• Cough, often worse at night
• Fatigue and general feeling of being ill
• Fever
• Headache
• Pressure-like pain, pain behind the eyes, toothache, or tenderness of the face
• Nasal stuffiness and discharge
• Sore throat and postnasal drip

Symptoms of chronic sinusitis are the same as those of acute sinusitis. However, the symptoms tend to be milder and last longer than 12 weeks.

Symptoms of sinusitis in children include:

• Cold or respiratory illness that has been getting better and then begins to get worse
• High fever, along with a darkened nasal discharge, that lasts for at least 3 days
• Nasal discharge, with or without a cough, that has been present for more than 10 days and is not improving

Exams and Tests

The doctor will examine you or your child for sinusitis by:

• Looking in the nose for signs of polyps
• Shining a light against the sinus (transillumination) for signs of inflammation
• Tapping over a sinus area to find infection
• The doctor may view the sinuses through a fiberoptic scope (called nasal endoscopy or rhinoscopy) to diagnose sinusitis. This is often done by doctors who specialize in ear, nose, and throat problems (ENTs).
• Imaging tests that may be used to decide on treatment are:
• A CT scan of the sinuses to help diagnose sinusitis or view the bones and tissues of the sinuses more closely
• An MRI of the sinuses if there might be a tumor or fungal infection
• Most of the time, regular x-rays of the sinuses do not diagnose sinusitis well.

If you or your child has sinusitis that does not go away or keeps returning, other tests may include:

• Allergy testing
• Blood tests for HIV or other tests for poor immune function
• Ciliary function test
• Nasal culture
• Nasal cytology
• Sweat chloride tests for cystic fibrosis

TREATMENT

Self Care is also considered part of the natural treatment of sinusitis.

Try the following steps to reduce congestion in your sinuses:

• Apply a warm, moist washcloth to your face several times a day.
• Drink plenty of fluids to thin the mucus.
• Inhale steam 2 – 4 times per day (for example, while sitting in the bathroom with the shower running).
• Spray with nasal saline several times per day.
• Use a humidifier.
• Use a Neti pot to flush the sinuses.

Be careful with use of over-the-counter spray nasal decongestants. They may help at first, but using them for more than 3 – 5 days can make nasal stuffiness worse.

To help ease sinus pain or pressure:

• Avoid flying when you are congested.
• Avoid temperature extremes, sudden changes in temperature, and bending forward with your head down.

Prognosis

Most sinus infections can be cured with self-care and natural treatment of sinusitis. If you are having repeated attacks, you should be checked for causes such as nasal polyps or other problems, such as allergies.

• Possible Complications
• Although very rare, complications may include:
• Abscess
• Bone infection (osteomyelitis)
• Meningitis
• Skin infection around the eye (orbital cellulitis)

Prevention

• The best way to prevent sinusitis is to avoid colds and flu or treat problems quickly.
• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are rich in antioxidants and other chemicals that could boost your immune system and help your body resist infection.
• Reduce stress.
• Wash your hands often, particularly after shaking hands with others.

Other tips for preventing sinusitis:

• Avoid smoke and pollutants.
• Drink plenty of fluids to increase moisture in your body.
• Take decongestants during an upper respiratory infection.
• Treat allergies quickly and appropriately.
• Use a humidifier to increase moisture in your nose and sinuses.

Homeopathic Treatment

There are many remedies in homeopathy which can be used as natural treatment of sinusitis. The results start showing within 24 hrs. The most common symptoms that are looked at for deciding the correct homeopathic remedy are:

• Any discharge, if so, its color, smell, thickness etc.
• Any pain, if yes, what makes it better or worse
• Any fever, if yes, its details
• Other symptoms that may be present during this condition