Much can be done at home for a sinusitis sufferer. Although you may not be able to eliminate sinus infection, you can certainly help open the sinuses, alleviate their dryness and provide some comfort.
Rest as much as you can. If lying down makes your sinuses feel more congested, lie on your side, whichever one allows you to breathe better, or prop yourself up with a pillow.
Drink plenty of water to thin the mucous and promote drainage. Sip hot tea, or even better, herbal tea or lemon and honey dissolved in hot water. Limit caffeine laden drinks like coffee and cola; they are diuretics and cause further dehydration.
Apply a warm, moist washcloth to your face several times a day.
Inhale steam 2 to 4 times a day. Either pour boiling water into a bowl or use a steam vaporizer by covering your head with a towel to prevent steam from escaping, and inhale the steam for ten minutes. Add Vicks Vapo-Rub or any other mentholated preparation, licorice, ginger or eucalyptus. Inhaling steam from a hot cup of water, taking a hot, steamy shower or just sitting in the bathroom with the shower running have a similar effect.
Spray with nasal saline (available from drug stores) several times a day.
Practise nasal irrigation daily to flush out allergens, irritants, bacteria and viruses from the sinuses and nasal passages before they cause an allergic reaction in the body and before bacteria multiply and overwhelm the immune system. If anyone in your family or at work has a cold, use nasal irrigation as a preventive measure.
Thin the mucous by using expectorants to help expel mucous from the lungs and respiratory passages. The most common is guaifenesin found in Robitussin. Over-the-counter (OTC) liquid cough medicine usually combine decongestants and cough suppressants. Ask the pharmacist for advice.
Nasal decongestants only offer temporary relief. After 3 to 5 days the condition can actually worsen so be wary of them.
Sudden changes in temperature and bending forward with your head down aggravates sinus pain or pressure.
Avoid alcohol because it worsens swelling in the sinuses.
Homeopathic remedies for sinus infection
Homeopathy offers alternative remedies for sinusitis. They differ depending on which sinus is affected:
Arsenic
In normal doses arsenic is a poison, but in extreme dilutions treats sinusitis characterized by:
throbbing and burning pain
pain aggravated by light, noise and movement
pain triggered by exertion and anxiety
pain followed by nausea and vomiting.
Potassium Bichromate
Use for sinusitis with these symptoms:
thick and stringy nasal discharge
extreme pain at the root of the nose
pain relieved by applying pressure on the area of the pain
pain extends to soreness in the bones and scalp
the pain may lead to dim vision
dizziness and nausea when standing up
the sufferer prefers lying down in a dark room and feels better when warm, drinking warm drinks or overeating.
Windflower
Use for sinusitis characterized by:
head pain worsened by lying down or a warm room
triggered by warm temperatures
relief walking slowly in cool open air or by wrapping their head tightly with a towel or bandage
worsens when bending down, sitting, rising up from bed or eating
most of the pain stems from the front of the head
stomach problems
nasal discharge thick and yellow or green.
