Sinusitis is an inflammation of the mucosa that lines the sinuses. With these natural remedies we can improve the symptoms and prevent their appearance.
More than 30 million people in the world, adults and children alike, suffer from sinusitis every year.
In the sinuses, the air entering and leaving the body is mixed, temperature and humidity are especially balanced, and contact occurs with bacteria entering and leaving the body. It is therefore a place of exchange, of relationship and also of tolerance.
Sinusitis would be an expression of imbalance and at the same time the response of the organism to this anomalous circumstance, generating a series of reactions with the intention of returning to normal.
From the medical point of view, it is essential to intervene to alleviate the symptoms that this imbalance presents, but respecting the work of the organism, since it is endowed with mechanisms to eliminate what is left over.
WHAT CAUSES SINUSITIS?
Sinusitis is usually caused by a bacterial (most frequent), viral or fungal (fungal) imbalance, which causes an inflammatory reaction that obstructs the entry and exit of air in the paranasal sinuses (frontal, maxillary, ethmoid and sphenoid).
Sometimes it only affects one of them, at other times the incidence manifests itself in all.
The causes that generate this incidence are very diverse:
- Blockage of the holes (ostia) from the sinuses to the nose due to previous rhinitis or inflammations of the nasal mucosa.
- Pollution and tobacco make it difficult for the small hairs (cilia) of the breasts to drain the mucosa. This mucosa accumulates and facilitates the development of bacteria.
- Abuse of nasal decongestants.
- When the nasal septum is deviated, there is an abnormal nasal bone growth, polyps or a facial tumor.
- The presence of a foreign body.
- Swim or dive often.
- After a dental arrangement.
- Altitude changes (flying or mountaineering) can affect due to pressure. To avoid this situation, it is important to breathe slowly and deeply through the nose and swallow saliva to regulate the pressure in the cranial cavities. Sometimes, if there is a picture of acute sinusitis, it is counterproductive to travel by plane so the pain can be intense.
- If you have gastroesophageal reflux.
- After a hospital stay, if a tube has been inserted through the nose.
- Cystic fibrosis prevents cilia from working well.
- Kartagener and immotile cilium syndromes are other ailments that can cause sinusitis.
WHAT SYMPTOMS DOES SINUSITIS HAVE?
Symptoms of acute sinusitis occur after a cold that does not get better or gets worse after a week.
The most frequent are:
- Congestion and runny nose.
- Sore throat and postnasal drip (a feeling of mucus coming down behind the throat, particularly at night or when lying down).
- Headache, over or under the eyes, teeth or facial sensitivity.
- Cough that usually gets worse at night.
- Occasional fever.
- Bad breath or loss of smell.
- Fatigue and feeling generally unwell.
The symptoms of chronic sinusitis are the same as in acute sinusitis, but tend to be milder and last for more than eight weeks.
NATURAL REMEDIES FOR SINUSITIS
Sinusitis is a disease that lasts between four and twelve weeks and can be a real torture, so it is logical that we resort to antibiotics to stop its effects.
However, antibiotics are not always effective: in chronic sinusitis, bacteria accumulate inside the sinuses that form complex aggregates to which antibiotics sometimes do not have access. In addition, they should not be abused either.
The habit of smoking in these cases aggravates the picture and hinders healing, so if we want to end our evil, the first thing we must do is abandon that habit.
If a sinusitis lasts more than three weeks, we would already be talking about chronic phase instead of acute state and, to avoid perpetuating the discomfort, it is clear that measures must be taken aimed at the background treatment. The most important consist of:
- Eliminate foods that produce mucus: It is about eliminating above all milk and its derivatives (there are great improvements with this change).
- Apply hot water cloths: They are applied on the face several times a day, for 15 minutes each time, relieves symptoms as it favors drainage and increases blood flow in the area.
- Hydration: Hydrating well is a must. Make it with water, infusions and fruit juices.
- Inhalation of mists: Add to the water mucolytic medicinal plants such as traditional rosemary, eucalyptus, cypress pine, or a few drops of tea tree essential oil.
- Practice the “neti” or nasal shower: Get nasal washes with saline or slightly salty water to restore the flora of the breasts. Nasal cleaning consists of thoroughly cleaning the nose and frontal sinuses, being advisable to do it in the morning, when you get up.
To make this, a teaspoon of sea salt is dissolved in a liter of warm water, a lota or a rubber pear (sold in herbalists) is filled with water and the nozzle is placed in the nostril, tilting the head to the opposite side so that the water comes out through the other pit. If you opt for the pear, it should be squeezed slowly so that the water comes out.
The cleaning is repeated with the other nostril. During washing the mouth should be half-open to breathe.
Then a gargle is made with water and sea salt and, finally, the nostrils and sinuses are dried, blowing the nose well.
To treat this symptomatology, it is important to respect the natural mechanisms of elimination that the body activates to recover health. The most effective measures to treat it are:
- Do not take antipyretics to eliminate fever if it is not very high.
- Respect the secretion and even favor it with vapors and mists.
- Breathe through your nose so that your breasts don’t get cold.
- Use mucolytic plants, such as mallow, that help the production and expulsion of mucus.
- Also resort to anti-inflammatory plants, mucosal protection and antiseptics, such as devil’s claw, thyme and horsetail, taking them in infusion or cooking, vapors, aerosols or washes.
- Use water in all its forms: drink, vapors, aerosols and washes. Sinus congestion can be reduced by taking the following steps:
- Use a humidifier at home.
- Use a nasal saline solution. To relieve breast pain can be used (no more than 4 days) nasal sprays of sulfur waters.
- Inhale steam 2 to 4 times a day.
- Drink a lot to thin the mucus.
- Apply warm, damp washcloths to your face several times a day.
Homeopathy is also very effective. To treat sinusitis the following remedies are prescribed:
- Cinnabaris is indicated in frontal or ethmoid and sphenoid sinusitis with filamentous mucus and frontal or ocular pain.
- Kalium bichromicum, if there is thick, viscous and sticky mucus.
- Hydrastis, if accompanied by weakness.
- Lachesis, if severe pain is felt when discharge ceases.
- Hepar sulfur to promote secretions.
- Silicea in chronic suppurations.
HOW TO PREVENT SINUSITIS
Some dietary guidelines and hygiene and lifestyle habits can prevent its incidence.
- Avoid, if possible, or properly treat the flu and cold.
- Wash your hands whenever they are dirty.
- Take fruit and vegetables, rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals, which strengthen the immune system against infections.
- Reduce stress.
- Do not be exposed to tobacco smoke and environmental pollution.
- Use a humidifier to keep moisture in the nose and breasts.
- Drink fluids to increase moisture in the body.
- Treat allergies immediately and appropriately.
- Moderate the use of heating because it dries out mucous membranes, as well as pools with a lot of chlorine.
- During a crisis it is ideal to fast if there is no appetite or drink plenty of juices, vegetable broths and water throughout the day.
- It is advisable to follow a diet with a predominance of vegetable foods and without saturated fats, without spicy or bitter foods.
