Home Remedies that Help with Temporary Relief while Waiting for Sinusitis Treatment

As many people have described, most sinus infections have very similar qualities as to having a common cold. The main difference to tell if you have sinusitis is that it will last no longer than 10 days whereas chronic sinusitis can last for 12 weeks or even longer. A sinus infection, or sinusitis, will tend to recover on their own as antibiotics if it was contracted through a virus or airborne irritants. However, there are some things that can be done as home remedies that may help speed up recovery, or at least alleviate some of the symptoms. Some sinusitis treatments, or home remedies that you can do include:
· Make sure you are flushing your system out by drinking plenty of water! Keep hydrated as your goal should be to drink 8 ounces of water every 2 hours.
· Eating foods that are high in antibacterial properties such as ginger, garlic and onions to your daily diet. Drinking tea is a great way to also introduce these foods into your diet such as ginger tea- add a little bit of honey for even more antioxidants, antibacterial, and antifungal. Not to mention tea gives you even more water to keep you hydrated!
· Moisture is your friend when it comes to relieving pressure. Invest in a humidifier to keep next to your bed to help add moisture and relieve nasal blocks. Try taking a long hot shower-make sure to keep the door closed so it gets steamy! Breathing in the warm damp air helps to open and clear out blockages. If a shower is not an option, you can get this effect by filling a bowl with boiling water, and then while leaning over the bowl place a towel over you and the bowl to help trap the steam. Breathe in the steam for around 10 minutes.
· Essential oils can help to clear sinuses and ride the passageways of mucus. One of the main ingredients in eucalyptus oil (cineole) has been proven to help people suffering from acute sinusitis get better faster. You can use food-grade essential oils, such as eucalyptus, and rub a drop of the oil on the top of the roof of your mouth (make sure to wash it down with a glass of water!). It can be rubbed over the temples or chest, it can be inhaled through boiling water or a diffuser
· Neti pots are wonderful tools in helping clean out sinus passageways. Using a neti pot with a saline solution can help to alleviate sinusitis symptoms.
· Use a warm, moist towel to help soothe facial pressure. By placing them around your cheeks, nose, and eyes it can also help clear passages.
· While antibiotics cannot get rid of a sinus infection, over the counter medications can help ease symptoms by reducing inflammation and swelling. It may also lead to sinus drainage, clearing out those airways!
· Rest! One of the main things that we can remember to do for our bodies is to let them take breaks. Fighting a virus takes a lot of energy and if you slow down, conserving some of that outward energy, it can be redirected back inward to help fight off the infection faster.









