Sinusitis

Overview

Sinusitis is among the most common respiratory conditions in the US and is responsible for nearly 12 million hospital visits and over 200,000 surgeries every year. It is characterized by inflammation of the paranasal sinus cavities. If sinusitis persists, conventional physicians typically recommend surgical treatment; a procedure that’s expensive and often fails to supply lasting relief. In fact, many people who go through sinus surgical treatment find that their sinusitis is worse whenever it undoubtedly returns. Additional conventional sinusitis treatments include the use of antihistamines, decongestants, steroid sinus sprays, and antibiotics, all of which are generally ineffective because they do not solve the underlying causes of sinusitis.

Types of Sinusitis

There are two types of sinusitis—acute and chronic. While the symptoms of both types of sinusitis are the same, acute sinusitis usually occurs as a result of a sinus infection and is not long lasting, while chronic sinusitis presents with ongoing symptoms that can become worse over time.

Caution: Left untreated, chronic sinus problems can ultimately result in the degeneration of the mucus membrane, which impairs your natural sinus flow and therefore inhibits breathing.

Symptoms of Sinusitis

The signs of sinusitis are head and nasal blockage, postnasal pain, headache, facial pain, persistent fatigue, impaired sense of smell, fever, hoarseness, and laryngitis. These types of symptoms tend to be more pronounced for cases associated with chronic sinusitis, as compared to cases of severe sinusitis.

Causes of Sinusitis

Throughout the last few decades, there has been an increase in the incidence of sinus problems in the U.S. and other industrialized nations that is directly proportional to the corresponding increase in air pollution. Unhealthy indoor air, and air pollution are both main contributors of sinus problems. Other environmental causes of sinusitis include colds, viruses, bacterial and yeast infections, dry atmosphere, cigarette smoking, and regular contact with secondhand smoke.

Sinusitis may also be caused or exacerbated by food allergies, respiratory problems, dental and gum disease, stress, decreased immunity, structural problems inside the nasal cavity (such as a deviated septum), nasal cysts or polyps, and unresolved emotions, particularly anger. Candiasis (wide spread yeast overgrowth) and also the overuse of pharmaceutical drugs such as antibiotics, are two other typical causes of sinus problems.

Natural Remedies

Aromatherapy: Inhaling the steamed vapors of the essential oils camphor, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, pine, or tea tree can enhance breathing and help fight infection.

Diet: If you suffer from sinusitis, get screened for food allergies and respiratory problems, and then avoid eating foods that you are allergic or sensitive to. In addition, avoid all sugar and sugar products, wheat products, soya , soda, commercially processed foods, and all foods that contains artificial ingredients, such as additives, colorings, flavorings, and chemical preservatives (such as BHA, BHT, sodium nitrite, sulfites, saccharin, aspartame, and cyclamates). Also minimize your intake of milk and dairy products, caffeine, red meat, salt, refined carbs (white breads, pastries, pasta), chocolate, as well as unhealthy fat (hydrogenated or even trans fats).

Drink plenty of pure, filtered water (One 8oz. glass every two hours; or for best results, add fresh squeezed lemon juice and a dash of cayenne pepper) hot broths and sauces, and fresh squeezed natural vegetable or fruit juices throughout the day. Diluted organic pear juice can also be helpful for clearing respiratory congestion. Emphasize a diet rich in organic, whole foods, especially plenty of fresh, uncooked organic fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, natural, free-range meats and poultry, and wild-caught fish. Garlic, cayenne pepper, chili peppers, horseradish, and onions should be eaten regularly, due to the powerful health benefits they provide for the lungs and entire respiratory system. For cooking and flavor, extra-virgin olive oil can be used liberally.

According to leading naturopathic physician and researcher Joseph Pizzorno, D.D. of Bastyr College, a vegan diet can significantly improve symptoms of most sinus/respiratory conditions. A vegan diet entails getting rid of all meat and animal products including fish, eggs, and all other dairy products. Grains should also be avoided, or eaten in minimal amounts. Dr. Pizzorno advises restricting your liquid intake to pure, strained water (avoid chlorinated, fluoridated tap water), and consume a variety of fresh, natural fruits and vegetables such as romaine lettuce, carrots, beets, onions, celery, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumber, radishes, artichokes, beans (except soy and eco-friendly peas), blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, black currants, plums, and pears. Celery and citrus fruits (except lemon) are not recommended.

Herbs: Helpful herbs for treating and preventing sinusitis include Echinacea, elder blossoms, ephedra, eyebright, garlic, goldenrod, goldenseal, horseradish, pokeroots, purple cornflower, stinging nettle, crazy indigo, and yarrow.

Homeopathy:

Arsenicum Album — to help relieve a nasal passageway that is burning, itchy and becomes worse following exposure to open air or is accompanied by chills.

Kalium bichromium — to alleviate nasal congestion and postnasal drip when accompanied by the reduced ability to smell and feelings of anxiety related to sinusitis.

Mercurius iodatus — for sinusitis accompanied by raw or ulcerated nostrils, excessive perspiration, and even yellow-green phlegm flecked with dried blood.

Nux vomica — for sinusitis accompanied by headaches, increased sinus congestion through the night, breathing difficulties, and nausea.

Silicea — for sinusitis associated with dry crusty nose blood, lack of smell, and tenderness of the nasal bones.

Euphorbium compositum — used as a sinus spray, it can be especially helpful for chronic sinusitis.

Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the process of using water, ice, steam and cold and hot temperatures to maintain and restore health. Treatments include full body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation and the application of warm and/or cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating an array of conditions and can easily be utilized in the home as part of a self-treatment program. Numerous Naturopathic Physicians, Physical Therapists and Day Health spas use hydrotherapy as part of their healing treatments. Please seek the advice of your alternative health care specialist before undergoing these procedures to make sure they are appropriate for you.

Saltwater nasal irrigation can help to clear nasal passages and enhance nasal drainage. Steam inhalations can also be helpful as can warm footbaths. During a footbath, hold a cold compress over the sinus cavities. Alternating between placing hot and cold compresses on the sinuses can also help improve signs and symptoms. Note: Always start with a hot compress and finish with a cold one.

*Purified water is an essential part of any hydrotherapy treatment. Treatments involving purified water offer clear instructions.

Improving Indoor Air Quality: Improving the quality of your indoor atmosphere, both at home and at work is an essential step for treating sinusitis. A healthy environment is comfortable, free of pollutants and smells, has a relative humidity between 35-60%, and is high in oxygen and negative ions. Modern electronics make it easy to ensure that your indoor air meets the above criteria. A negative ion generator can not only increase the oxygen and negative ion content of indoor air, but it can also cleanse the air of harmful animal dander, bacteria, dust, mold, plant pollen, and viruses. Moreover, negative ions help to soothe and repair the damaged mucosa of the nasal, lung, and bronchial pathways. For the best results, choose a self-regulating negative ion electrical generator that emits at least one trillion negative ions per second.

You should also use a humidifier to keep your indoor air damp, especially during winter months when air is commonly drier. Choose a warm water unit. Adding plants to your home or work environments may also help keep air moist. Certain plants such as chrysanthemums, and philodendron, can also help to keep your air free of circulating dirt and microorganisms, since they act as natural air filters.

*Make sure that your home and work environments are correctly ventilated, and steer clear of the use of man-made materials such as plastics.

Lifestyle: Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke and excessively cold or dry air. If you smoke cigarettes, seek help and quit. (See Addictions for more information.) Try to engage in 30 minutes of aerobic exercise 3-5 times every week. Stretching and strength exercises are important, and help ensure that your muscles are protected. Sleep is an essential part of good health, go to bed at the same time every night and make sure you are getting plenty of rest.

Nutritional Supplements: Useful nutritional supplements for sinusitis include supplement B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene, calcium supplement, chromium picolinate, magnesium, manganese, selenium, and zinc. Flaxseed oil and omega-3 natural oils are recommended in addition to a multivitamin. Proteolytic enzymes taken between meals, together with acidophilus supplements, can also be helpful, as can thymus gland extract. Other useful dietary supplements include betaine HCL, bee pollen, quercetin, grape seed extract, and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC).

Relaxation Therapy:

Frequently engaging in some sort of relaxation therapy on a daily basis may dramatically decrease the stress and tension that often contributes to sinusitis. One of the easiest ways to promote deep relaxation is to spend 5 minutes, a few times daily, sitting comfortably with your eyes closed while you breathe slowly and deeply through your diaphragm.

Here are two other relaxation exercises that are helpful for reducing sinusitis symptoms:

Lie on the ground with your head resting on a pillow. Close your eyes and comfortably position your calves on the seat of a chair. Stay in this position for 5-10 minutes, breathing deeply and comfortably through your diaphragm. When you are done, take your time getting up from the floor, continuing to breathe deeply in a calm relaxing manner.

Sit comfortably in a chair or lay down on a comfy mattress in a room that is dark and quiet. Begin to breathe deeply starting with your belly and progressing all the way up to your upper chest. Without pausing, begin to exhale, starting at the chest and moving down to your belly, taking longer to do so than you took to inhale. Ideally, you should try to inhale for 3-5 seconds, and spend twice as long exhaling.

Once you feel yourself beginning to relax, tightly tense the muscles of the feet and toes for 5 seconds, and then relax them. Do the same with the muscles of your lower legs and calves. Repeat this procedure all the way up your body, moving to your upper legs and thighs, your buttocks, lower back, abdomen, upper back, chest, hands, shoulders, neck, jaw, eyes, and facial muscles. Throughout this process, continue breathing in a deep relaxed manner. When you finish, gently open your eyes and continue breathing normally.

Optional Professional Treatment

The following treatments can also help to prevent and relieve sinusitis: Acupuncture, Biofeedback Instruction, Neurotherapy, Energy Medicine, Mind or Body Medicine, Naturopathic Treatments, Qigong, Tai Chi, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Yoga exercise. (Please see Resources for additional information regarding Alternative Treatments).