Sinusitis/Sinus Infection

I love my Neti Pot. Neil Med, the makers of the Neti Pot also make a saline mist that might help. I just find the warm water I use in the Neti Pot to be very soothing, and don't imagine the mist would have quite the same effect. http://www.neilmed.com/usa/sinuflo.php

Don't use the Netti pot. Use the squirt bottle. It flushes so much better. I used to get sinus infections for 8 + months out of the year. I swear by Norwex's Mattress Cleaner. The enzymes eat the fecal matter of the dust mites, dead skin cells, and pet dander. I also swear by Thieves Oil. Look into Young Living Essential Oils, specifically Thieves Oil. I am not a distributor but my friend Jenny Smith Morefield is.
This is her website to order essential oils.
http://www.us.ylscents.com/tranquilbalanceoils
Her member number is ###-###-####.
You can sign up to be a customer or a distributor. call her if you have any questions. ###-###-####.

My Hubby is prone to sinus problems and infections when/if it gets worse.
And although this is not "natural" the only thing that helped was Sudafed Non-Drowsy w/ Psuedoephedrine.
ONLY the one with "Pseudoephedrine" works.
It is behind the counter at the pharmacy, and you ask for it.
He takes that, and uses the Neti Pot.

Thing is, the sinus cavity is a dark dank "cave." And, if you have an infection in there, get rid of it as soon as you can, or it can get worse.
And/or, the infection germs can go elsewhere. Secondary infection.
ie: bacterial laden mucus, which is in post-nasal drip too, can also infect your chest and then you have a lung "cold." That happened to me once.

steroid nasal sprays help. (one just went over the counter so you can buy without a dr ...

saline sprays help too..

I'm so sorry, I feel for you. I have sinusitis that I have been battling for over 20 years. I take Sudafed. The real stuff not the PE stuff. This will help break up the yuck inside so that it can't get infected as easily. I am not a huge fan of the Neti pot either, but, it helps and it works. I also have the giant squirt bottle from the same maker and it isn't as bad.

I did take Claritin one summer everyday and I didn't hardly even need the Sudafed, nor did I get any sinus infections. In reality, I get an infection and need antibiotics about 3 times a year. Fall, Spring, and Summer.

Make sure you stay very hydrated because the mucus needs to have enough fluid to flow out.I remember when we were little we used a kettle on the woodstove to keep moisture in the air, but you said you have misters going, so that probably isn't the problem. Air quality in winter tends to go down because of being closed up. One good idea is to air out the house every so often even if it is really cold, snowy, raining, etc. outside. This really really helps!

Good luck, I feel for you so much!!! Oh if you can't get the Sudafed from the pharmacy since it is behind the counter but over the counter in most places, then get a prescription from your doc. Here we have to have the prescription, but if we drive across the river to WA we can just show our ID and buy it from the pharmacy.

I used to have chronic sinus infections and I hate the Neti pot and antibiotics too. Saline nasal spray many times per day. It hurts a lot, but a chiropractor pushing on the sinuses also helped me. I now have a prescription nasal spray and antihistamines that help during my rough seasons.

Hi Kristen,

Its very easy to tell if there is a sinus infection...your snot is yellow, green or brown. If it's clear, there is no infection, and no need for antibiotics. Most infections run their course without antibiotics but if it gets to the green stage then a natural antibiotic will knock it right out. I use colloidal silver. Bacteria cannot adhere to bacteria so it simply leaves your system. Its not a maintenance solution but should be taken about 10 days just like a synthetic antibiotic. For me (5'2", 105 pounds), I take 1 teaspoon twice a day for about 10 days. NO side effects. If you sense something is coming on, you can take elderberry (simply food) and it should prevent any infection from happening...

Hope this helps!
M.

In terms of the Sinusitis, I USED to think that is what I had all the time because all of a sudden, my sinuses were always stuffed up. AFTER going to two ENT and my primary care doctor, all of which were of NO help, I started reading up on the matter.. I am now 49, but the problem began for me around the age of 42, turns out.............. as we begin the change and Estrogen begins to drop, you begin to become Progesterone dominant (which if you will recall from having conceived) it's the hormone released AFTER you ovulate to WARM the body and help build the uterine lining in the event you become pregnant, it's also the reason women's bodies are so much warmer right before their periods.
Anyway, I bring this up because for a long time, I thought I had allergies/sinusitis, when really.. it was my changing hormones..
now I don't know your age.. BUT .. the changes can begin earlier on in life as well. OR you might notice, are you sinuses more clogged AFTER mid-cyle after you ovulate (with the surge of Progesterone) and then once you have your period, the problem is somewhat relieved?
it's worth taking a look at..
now that which I do to combat my dry sinus issue is........ I actually will use a nasal washer, because it does a good job of moving things along within the sinuses. I DONT use a nasal spray because those are even more drying and not what I need.. drinking water also helps as it hydrate the entire body, including our sinuses.. not sure if this is also a problem, but when your sinuses are acting up, then you may also experience dry eyes (I do) in which case, I keep some saline solution next to my bed so at night, if my eyes get too dry, I can put some of the solution in my eyes..

The docs had me taking prescription meds and I paid all that money for nothing........... I would def try a nasal solution wash.. it's not the most glamorous, but since using one.. WOW.. has it made a difference..

best of luck to you

The last time I had a sinus infection, my doc said that a prescription steroidal nasal spray has recently been found to be as effective as antibiotics in helping clear most sinus infections, so that's what I was given for my last one and it worked.

To prevent one, the neti pot and real Sudafed, along with anti-viral, anti-microbial supplements such as garlic tablets, vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, and echinachea usually do a good job of preventing congestion from turning into something worse. Warm water with lemon juice (1/2 a meyer lemon or 1/4 of a regular lemon) and a dash of cayenne pepper is also great for opening up the sinuses. I have 2-3 cups of this daily.

Lots of hot steamy showers, this not only gets moisture in your sinuses it cleans off any allergens and dander you got on your clothes and body.

I take half a dose of Sudafed, not the fake stuff but the real one. The fake one makes my heart flutter and not beat right. Sudafed helps your blood vessels in the sinus area to open up and thereby draws moisture in. This helps make the goo runny and it goes down the drains in the tonsils, ears, throat, and nose. It's all gone so you breathe clearer.

I was diagnosed with chronic sinusitis years ago. Now when I feel a cold coming on I use saline spray at least every hour and take mucinex and It often prevents me from getting a sinus infection.

Feel better.

All great advice. Yes, I love my netti pot but it can be a pain too. I keep a bottle of saline spray in quick reach and my bad bloody noses have stopped. On the homeopathic front, there is something you can purchase at any pharmacy call ALKALOL - pharmacy may have to order it, but it is typically under $5/bottle and lasts a long time just ask at the coutner and they'll find in the book if they don't know. You put a capful or two in your water and breath in. On the nonhomeopathic front, I found myself coming down with sinus infections frequently several years back. I take generic Singulair for year round allergies (not asthma) and it has made a world of difference. Before as soon as I felt the signs, there was nothing I could do to stop the full blown infection. Now, I can ward it off 75% of the time or if I am good about netti pot even more. I also take generic Allegra - I was slowly weaning myself off but then found with this goofy weather I needed to go back on.

I would recommend a nasal rinse over a neti pot. They seem like they would harbor bacteria easily. Neilmed makes a great nasal rinse with a bottle you can wash in the top rack of your dishwasher. You can only clean the dropper part with hot water though.
My son has battled sinus infections for the last four months. This last bout was actually viral so I was glad he did not have to go on another antibiotic either. I have started him on a good probiotic to help strengthen his immune system and gut function that can be compromised from all the antibiotics.
We rinse his nose once a day and his doctor gave us some samples of nasonex. We run a vaporizer at night too. These natural remedies seem to be helping. Good luck to you and may we all enjoy some spring-like weather real soon!
HTH,
A.

The saline works on the nose but doesn't get into the sinuses like the Neti pot. What are you putting in the Neti pot? Salt and a little baking soda? I know it feels yucky, but it's often not enough. If it's just in your nose, that's one issue, but if you press on your sinuses and it's clogged up there, you may need more.

I used to get one sinus infection per year, and a friend of mine used to get a lot of them. I also got bronchitis a lot, and all the coughing gave me a super headache as bad as any sinus infection. My friend got rid of his problem, and I did what he did - we've both been illness-free for many years. Strengthening the immune system is the way to go - reducing inflammation is part of it, but there's more. It's not an overnight fix so it won't help you with this immediate problem but it will sustain you over time. Usually it takes 2-3 months to get the full benefit. There are a couple of products that help you achieve this, and you can choose - a free consultant helps you select the best way for you and works with you over the initial period to get you squared away. It's a non-medical, nutraceutical approach - non-GMO products, totally safe, US patents acquired (proving safety and effectiveness). Happy to give you a referral if you want to go this route.

I was getting chronic sinus infections until I changed my diet. I avoid yeast, yeast extract and MSG and am much much healthier!

drinking pepermint or spearmint tea works very well at clearing out the sinuses, use two teabags per cup, running a humidifier with lavender oil in it really helps declog the sinuses too..K. h.