Home Remedy for Sinus Infections

I have a personal war with allergies and chronic sinus infections.  Nasal passage inflammation never disappears and when I get sick, it almost always involves my sinuses.

This past week I started to feel the all-too-common but unwelcome signs and effects of a sinus infection.  I could feel the sinus pressure and pain coming on for a few days, but was really hoping I could avoid it. But yesterday it hit me full force and this morning I woke up with a sore throat, burning chest (from coughing) and more nasal congestion.

So, I decided to engage in battle with my sinus infection. Time for action – home remedy action!

In the past, my doctor would prescribe antibiotics when I got a sinus infection. They work pretty well, but many of us know the dangers and risks of prolonged antibiotic usage. So, I am pretty excited about combating sinus infections and allergies with natural remedies that I have researched and that work. 

Start with Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is my favorite home remedy for sinus infections.  ACV helps cure other ailments, but for sinus infections it helps thin mucous to encourage draining. This home remedy gives you a natural alternative to over-the-counter medications, and it may also prevent you from having to see a doctor for prescription medications. Here is what I did with ACV this morning to treat my sinus infection:

• 2 tablespoons of ACV
• 1 tablespoon of raw liquid honey
• 8 ounces of water
• Microwaved it all together for 1 minute
• Drink!

This may not be a drink for a romantic dinner, but it works for sinus infections! Drink this mixture three times a day, and you will begin to see an immediate improvement in your symptoms. The mucous in your nasal passages will begin to thin once you begin taking apple cider vinegar. As a sinus infection home remedy, apple cider vinegar is one of the best treatments that you can find.

In addition, you may also want to loosen the mucous in your nasal passages by breathing in steam vapors with ACV. This has worked well for me and I’ve heard of this remedy working for others too.

• Boil 1/2 cup of water with 1/8 cup of ACV.
• Pour into bowl.
• Put a towel over you head.
• Inhale the steam through nostrils with covered head over bowl.
• Be careful not to get too close and burn your face!
• Tip: Keep your eyes and mouth closed.

Inhaling the moist air can bring radical relief to your sinus infections. This ACV-steam home remedy really seemed to help me fast. It took about one minute for the solution to start boiling, and then within another minute I had inhaled all I could stand.  A little bit of apple cider vinegar mixed in with the water can really give the vapor a boost and help with sinus issues. This also worked well to loosen up phlegm and produce some good coughs. The odor is pretty strong and unpleasant, but it really helped loosen things up and thin out mucous – which is key in overcoming a sinus infection.

Ever heard of ice cream causing a sinus infection? I’ve heard that sinus problems, such as allergies and infections, can be triggered by eating ice cream. In fact, I’ve been eating a lot of ice cream over the past week.  There just might be something to this correlation!

So today I’m starting a no-dairy diet for a week, to see if that helps. So far, I’m getting better. And, this dairy link isn’t too surprising after I studied the blood-type diet. I’m O-positive blood type, and the main culprits for allergies are dairy and wheat (gluten).

Other home remedies for sinus infections include:

• 500 milligrams of oregano oil four times per day in capsule, pill or tablet form. You can also add a few drops of oregano oil to hot water and breath the vapors as with ACV above.
• Grapefruit seed extract nasal spray four times per day.
• 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C three times per day.
• Rub one drop of food grade peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils on the roof of the mouth. Then drink water.
• Place 5 drops of colloidal silver into a neti pot or spray directly into the nose.

I wanted to share this with you in case you or someone you love is suffering from a sinus infection. Give one of the above home remedies a try and see if it helps!

 

For other holistic ways to give your immune system a boost, try this black elderberry syrup or Dr. Saunders top 10 tips for a naturally strong immune system.