When your nasal cavities are infected, swollen, or inflamed, you will suffer from a condition called a sinus infection. Usually, healthy sinuses will be filled with air. However, when the cavities are blocked, they will be filled with a liquid and become a perfect environment for bacteria growth that can cause impurity, known as a sinus.
If you are suffering from an acute sinus condition, you need not worry as it will trouble you for a short time. Acute sinus can be a result of a cold or other respiratory illness. However, if you are suffering from the case of chronic sinus, then you need to worry because it can last up to 12 weeks!
Facial pain, infected nasal discharge, fatigue, bad breath, dental pain, and difficulty breathing are symptoms of a sinus infection.
If you have a runny nose, feel fullness in your face, or are suffering from discoloured postnasal drainage, pus in the nasal cavity, and nasal obstruction for more than 12 weeks, you are suffering from a chronic sinus infection, and it is time for you to visit your doctor.
However, if you don’t feel these symptoms, then you may have an acute sinus infection. In this case, you can try the below-mentioned home remedies for sinus problems like excruciating pain and discomfort.
Effective Home Remedies for Sinus
Sinus can be a very troubling condition as it can cause you unbearable pain and discomfort. This can affect your quality of life. So, it is better to treat this condition with these home remedies for sinus problems –
Stay Hydrated
Yes, you may have heard this advice innumerable times. Because there is a reason why you need to stay hydrated while suffering from sinus as it can help you feel better. Keeping your hydration in check will help you thin your mucus and make it easier for your body to drain.
However, make sure you stay away from caffeine and alcohol as they can worsen the condition and dehydrate you. According to some studies, alcohol may even cause your sinus to swell more and worsen your symptoms.
Drinking fluids – preferably water – will help you dilute mucous secretion and encourage drainage and clear congestion.
The best choices for fluids to drink are:
- Water
- Hot lemon, honey, or ginger water
- Herbal tea
- Vegetable broth
Drinking plenty of fluids will make sure the mucous membranes are moist. Water, fruits juices, and herbal teas without sugar are some of the best home remedies for sinus infections.
Get a Neti Pot
Neti pot can help you perform nasal irrigation – one of the most effective ways to deal with a sinus infection. Using a neti pot can help you deal with nasal congestion and irritation. In this process, you will be flushing out your nasal passage with a saline solution, known as saline irrigation. Special squeeze bottles, bulb syringes, or a neti pot can help you do this.
Additionally, the neti pot is an inexpensive tool that will look like Aladdin’s lamp. You can purchase a saline mixture from anywhere, or you can make it yourself by following these steps:
- First of all, take a teaspoon of salt and add it to one pint of water.
- Avoid using table salt as it contains additives.
- Now, throw a pinch of baking soda into the mixture.
- Your saline solution is ready.
After every nasal irrigation session, make sure you clean the neti pot thoroughly, as bacteria can build up inside. Additionally, you should never use direct tap water as it may contain bacteria that can infect your sinuses. If you don’t have any other option than tap water, make sure you boil it beforehand.
Nasal irrigation through the neti pot is the best home remedy for sinus infection as it can even help you cure and deal with chronic sinus problems.
Follow the process below to perform nasal irrigation:
- First, pour the prepared saline solution into the neti pot.
- Now, stand over a sink and incline your head over the sink at a 45-degree angle.
- Then, insert the spout inside your top nostril and gradually pour the solution down that nostril.
- Do this process with the second nostril.
- Repeat this process until you have relief from the sinus.
Steam Treatment
This is the best home remedy for sinus infection as it will work like magic for the stubborn mucus, and it is prescribed by the doctors too. To make it more effective, you can add a few drops of pine or rosemary oil with another few drops of peppermint oil and finally mix it with a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil to a steaming hot bowl of water.
Now, put your face down over the steaming hot water, drape a towel over the back of your head, and try to inhale the steam. This inhaling process will help you clear the blocked nasal passage.
The steam treatment will relieve the congestion by loosening the mucus. You can also take a hot shower to clear up the mucus and get relief from the sinus blockage.
Another option is to use a steam vaporizer that runs on electricity to heat water and create steam. The thickest mucus can be treated with this machine. However, make sure that you don’t use these machines near children or pets as they can get easily scalded by the steam or by hot water if it tips over.
Try this one of the most trusted home remedies for sinus infection to ease sinus pain and open your nasal passages.
Also Read: Home Remedies For Coughing
Use Pungent Spices
The usage of pungent spices for treating sinus infections is well documented in various studies and researches. You can use herbs like cayenne pepper, full of anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that will help you break up and drain out congested mucus.
Likewise, you can also try horseradish by mixing it with ACV and lemon juice to create a mucus dissolving potion. You can also hold grated horseradish in your mouth for a few minutes. Once the taste is gone, swallow it.
Some evidence indicates that spicy foods like peppers and mustard help open up nasal passages and relieve some pain and discomfort related to the sinus. So, if you are fond of spicy food, you will love this one of the best home remedies for sinus problems.
Turmeric
Turmeric is not only a wondrous herb that enhances the taste of your food, as it can also help you treat various skin conditions, illnesses, and sinus infections. This is possible as it is full of natural anti-inflammatory properties and enriched in antioxidants.
Combine turmeric with spicy ginger root and make a hot tea. This way, you will have one of the most potent combinations that can help you loosen mucus from clogged nasal passages and relax sinus pressure and help you feel better instantly.
Apple Cider Vinegar
ACV is one of the best remedies for many health illnesses, but it is considered the best home remedy for sinus infections due to its beneficial properties.
Make a tea combining water and three tablespoons of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar. Drink this tea at least twice a day to help thin out excessive mucus. This can relieve nasal congestion and sinus pressure.
You can also add lemon and honey to improve its taste. You can also drink a teaspoon of raw ACV thrice a day for rapid relief from sinus problems.
Take Over-the-Counter Medications
If you see no improvements after trying these home remedies, then you can take the help of various OTC medications. You can try OTC decongestants such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) as they can help you relieve the sinusitis symptoms by decreasing the width of the blood vessels.
Narrowed down blood vessels can help decrease inflammation and swelling and improve the flow of drainage from the sinuses.
However, if you are suffering from high blood pressure, then ask your doctor before taking pseudoephedrine. You can find various cold and sinus medicines such as Coricidin HBP specially made for high blood pressure.
You can also take the following medications to deal with the pain caused by a buildup of pressure in the nasal passages:
- Aspirin
- Acetaminophen
- Ibuprofen
If you are suffering from nasal congestion due to an allergic reaction, then take antihistamines, as they will help you block inflammation. However, follow your pharmacist’s advice and the guidelines given on the label when taking these medications.
These OTC medications are best to relieve symptoms such as localized pain, fever, and headaches and can be the best home remedy for a sinus infection.
Read More: Home Remedies For Sinus Headache
Final Words
If you leave the sinus untreated, it can lead to meningitis, a brain abscess, or cause bone infection. So, you should use these home remedies for sinus problems as soon as possible. If there is still no improvement, consult your doctor on priority.
