Home remedy for sinus infection?

[CathyA]

I'm using a home-made spray a couple times a day. Anything else I can do, in a natural way, to help with a possible sinus infection?
Thanks.

[bae]

I find saline irrigation *before* things get out of hand works well for me.

[Gardenarian]

Sudaphed, the real kind, which is pseudoephedrine, really helps me. If you're at the point where your teeth are aching, some ibuprofen for the inflammation helps. Lots of hot showers, steam in any form is good. Garlicky soup, chicken or other, can make a big difference.
Sorry you're feeling bad.

[CathyA]

I used to use the saline irrigation every day, but stopped it, since I was doing fine. Bad move. :(
I'm not really feeling bad. But as I mentioned in my other post, I have this absolutely horrible taste in my mouth all the time, and I'm always coughing up gunk (sorry!), so I'm assuming it might be a sinus problem.
Sudafed makes me crazy........maybe I could cut it in half. I suppose Mucinex wouldn't hurt either. After my last sinus surgery (of 2), I think the doc made huge "windows" everywhere up there, so things could drain, but he also said that our sinuses are like thin boney lacework that are constantly changing. Just don't EVER want another surgery!

I use cpap and a nasal mask. sometimes I think that is really hard on the sinuses, even with humidification.
Thanks for your suggestions.

[Tussiemussies]

Just FYI don't use a Neti Pot or irrigate your sinuses unless you use it with distilled water. Some people have gotten very ill from using anything but distilled water. The Neti Pot though is a good way to clean out your sinuses. You tilt your head and put the pot at your nostril and the water should flow into your nostril up into your sinus and then out the other nostril. If your sinus' are really clogged up it usually will not come out the other side.

You can also buy some pure euclyptus essential oil at the health food store and just smell it. Don't put it into your nose or anywhere else, you can also heat a pot of water and put it on a table, put about 6 drops of the oil in the water and then make a tent with a towel and put it over your head and breathe in through your nose. Just make sure the water is not too hot or you would burn your lungs.

Also you can get two herbs together in a tincture from the health food store -- called echinacea and goldenseal and take as directed. The echinacea will boost your immune system and the goldenseal will dry up any mucus you are having. When you buy the tincture, ask the person there for one that has no alcohol in it, the alcohol is not good for keeping the benefits of the herbs.

Also Sunrider sells this salve that has herbs in it that you just wipe the salve under your nose and you will automatically breathe it in, it is very good...

Vitamin C is a given.

Hope you feel better soon! Christine

[goldensmom]

I find saline irrigation *before* things get out of hand works well for me.

Oh my face aches just hearing the words ‘sinus infection’. I regularly use a saline solution to cleanse my sinuses. I had recurring sinus infections (swollen face type) until I had reconstructive sinus surgery (worst thing ever) 10 years ago and have not had a problem since but was advised by my doctor to ‘keep my nose clean’ by regular irrigation.

[lmerullo]

Another recommendation for either a neti pot or a sinus irrigator (which is what I use). I had my allergist recommend the irrigator instead of prescription meds. He wrote me a rx, but said to try the other for a day or so first if I wasn't completely miserable. It worked, and I didn't need to fill the script.

Use the above along with Sudafed and you should be able to clean out all the festering gunk from the sinus cavity and clear any infection.

Of course, if that doesn't work, fever increases, pain, etc (all those disclaimers someone with a legal background would give), then go to the doctor for antibiotics. Here's hoping that last won't be necessary!

[CathyA]

I'm a little confused about the Neti pot. I've used it and I think it doesn't go very far......just immediately out the other nostril. I think that's the way we're made. Although.....sometimes I still have some left in the bottom of one of my maxillary sinuses. I have to do some contorting to get it back out. I think the sinus surgeries I've had have probably changed the landscape in there. Also, I think the Neti pot is more to get rid of allergens in our noses, rather than clean out the sinuses.
I always use distilled water in my nasal spray, along with salt and bicarb. You think you have nothing up there, but when you use the spray, you discover you do........just not enough fluid to clean it out.
Of course, I'm thinking I have brain cancer............:~)

[Simpler at Fifty]

I take garlic pills daily. The last sinus infection I had was several years ago. I didn't want to go to the Dr and decided to try the garlic pills. I probably took too many but after taking 12 of them in 2 days, the infection broke. I buy them at Walmart. I have not gone to the Dr for a sinus infection since. Whenever someone has a cold at work, I increase from 2-3 pills a day to 4-5. I use a netipot sometimes too. I never feel better after using it though.

[cindycindy]

Both an allergist and my primary care physician suggested I give up dairy as dairy causes mucous production and inflammation of the nasal passages.

[pony mom]

Look for recipes containing Xylitol. Not only is it great for your teeth, but works for sinuses as well. Xclear makes a nasal spray if you don't want to make your own.

[redfox]

I've used a Grossan sinus irrigator. It was a bit pricey, but has prevented many a cold from becoming a sinus infection.

[Rogar]

I have had sinus problems in winter for years and have made somewhat of a study of remedies. Most OTC remedies will help temporarily but also dries out the sinus membranes which can cause a rebound effect which makes things worse. I use saline spray most days in the winter. Some people swear by the neti pot. I really couldn't tell that it helped me, but my tip would be to use boiled tap water. Boiling will dissipate the chlorine and insure that the water is sterile.

What helps me the most when thing get sort of bad is one of these steam inhalers. I will use mine two or three times a day and think it is the best thing I've found.
http://www.amazon.com/Vicks-V1200-Personal-Steam-Inhaler/dp/B0000TN7MY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352471610&sr=8-1&keywords=steam+inhaler

[Gardenarian]

I'm a little confused about the Neti pot. I've used it and I think it doesn't go very far......just immediately out the other nostril. I think that's the way we're made. Although.....sometimes I still have some left in the bottom of one of my maxillary sinuses. I have to do some contorting to get it back out. I think the sinus surgeries I've had have probably changed the landscape in there. Also, I think the Neti pot is more to get rid of allergens in our noses, rather than clean out the sinuses.
I always use distilled water in my nasal spray, along with salt and bicarb. You think you have nothing up there, but when you use the spray, you discover you do........just not enough fluid to clean it out.
Of course, I'm thinking I have brain cancer............:~)

I can totally relate re brain cancer - last time I had one I thought all my upper teeth were abscessed!
Yes, the neti pot pretty much does go inside one and out the other, but I have found that is enough to keep me clear - I use it at least twice a day. Sometimes I'll bend over an hour later and water comes streaming out - the whole neti thing is kind of weird, but seems to work.