How to Alleviate Sinus Pain and Pressure Naturally

Sinuses are hollow spaces found in your forehead, nose, and cheekbones. They protect your lungs from germs, dust, spores, allergens, and cold air. Your sinuses can be impacted by upper respiratory infections, allergies, asthma, and air impurities causing pressure and pain around these areas. Difficulty breathing, postnasal dripping, sore throat, coughing, overflow of mucus, and fatigue can occur when the sinus cavities are inflamed. Sinus stressors can also be caused by viruses, which antibiotics don’t treat.

Fortunately, there are natural remedies that can provide relief.

Steam and vapor:  Steam can help promote drainage, reduce swelling, and eliminate mucus blockage. Simple, steamed water is natural and chemical free. Warm showers, steamy bowls, or vaporizer machines increase the humidity within your sinuses and thin the mucus to begin to break it up.

• Warm showers: Spend a few extra minutes with your face in the flow of water, breathing slowly can help.

• Steamy bowls: The kitchen table is a great place to sit for 10 minutes or so, with a towel over your head, a carefully placed bowl of water, steaming with or without some essential oils. Keep your face at a safe distance from the bowl and inhale slowly.

• Vaporizers: These machines can provide vapor all night long in severe cases, assisting with a better night’s sleep.

Neti Pot Sinus Rinse: Nasal irrigation is a century old method of washing the sinus cavity by using a sterile saline solution to force plugged mucus and germs out of the nose. Tap water isn’t safe for a nasal rinse because of the low levels of contaminants, so use only distilled, sterile or cooled boiled water. Follow your device instructions for the best results.

Essential Oil Nasal Inhalers: These are small little inhalers that often use a blend of peppermint and eucalyptus to open the sinuses and ease sinus pressure and headaches. Insert the tube gently into the nasal passage, inhale, and feel your sinuses and lungs open and relax. Inhalers are small and will fit easily into your pocket or purse.

Mucus Breaking Supplements: Several enzymes have been found to assist in breaking up mucus. Bromelain comes from pineapple and has been shown to reduce inflammation and improve sinus drainage. Serrapeptase is a metabolic enzyme, that when taken on an empty stomach, will break down proteins outside the digestive system. Enzymes are natural. The body uses them to thin down mucus, disperse eye floaters, and clean up other unwanted proteins.

Drink More Water and Eat More Fruits and Vegetables: Increasing liquids helps loosen and thin out mucus. More fiber and antioxidants help balance the amount of histamines that stimulate mucus secretions.

Cut Out Dairy: Casein and whey proteins can trigger excess mucus production.

See a doctor if your sinuses are an issue, if you have a fever, or other concerns.

Get those sinuses flowing and open for less pain and pressure in your face and head.

Health and hugs.

Suzan Moody, CNHP

https://www.everydayhealth.com/sinus-health-guide/natural-remedies-for-sinus-pain.aspx

The statements in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult with your medical care provider prior to changing your dietary supplements.

The article appeared in the Frankenmuth News.