Is This The Time Of Year When Your Sinuses Get You Down?

For some people it’s the heat and humidity that cause their sinuses to act up. For others the cold and dryness that gives their sinuses a fit. Others just suffer all the time. What about you?

Do you regularly suffer with that clogged, sniffly, can’t breathe feeling. Do you feel feverish and headachy from pressure around your eyes? You may have chronic sinusitis. It’s usually not life threatening, but it is a real drag. Often the cause is from pathogens such as bacteria, funguses, or viruses.

If it’s causing you misery, you may want to read along and find some natural ways to fight back.

Having suffered with it myself I was surprised to discover that it’s already the most common chronic disease in the US and is still on the rise. That’s because the organisms that cause it are fast becoming resistant to the antibiotics often used to treat it. Yet doctors are still prescribing antibiotics.

Some doctors have come to understand that the over prescribing of antibiotics is giving rise to the so called super-bugs and super-germs that have adapted and mutated to resist even the most potent antibiotics. They also realize that antibiotics kill off the friendly bacteria at the same time they kill the pathogens, leaving fungi to flourish in assorted membranes of the body–including the sinuses.

Can you survive these attacks on your sinuses naturally? Here are a few suggestions to consider along with your trusted health professional.

*Add 1000 to 3000 mg of vitamin C to your daily nutritional intake. If you do have an active infection, you need more — 3000mg to 5000mg three times a day. Although this may seem like a lot, realize that the body requires more and can utilize more vitamin C during an infection.

*Here are some other nutrients to consider: echinacea, goldenseal, flaxseed oil

*Because household dust and mold can aggravate sinusitis, wash bed sheets regularly in hot water and invest in pillow covers specially designed to protect you from the many dust mites that live inside pillows. Keep the rest of your bedroom very clean.

*Use a dehumidifier to maintain humidity below 50%. Put your humidifier away– they create a humid environment that is encouraging to dust mites.

*Avoid foods that are known to be aggravating such as: dairy, oranges, white sugar, fried foods and foods containing white flour, because they promote the formation of mucous

*Drink lots of water. Water keeps nasal fluids thin and flowing. Other liquids like herbal teas, broths, and diluted juices are also good to drink.

*Get lots of sleep. Inadequate sleep weakens the immune system and makes you more vulnerable to infections.

*Let go of anger. You’ve probably heard of the mind-body connection that says that repressed anger is stressful and can lead to infection. The best method I know of for letting go of anger is EFT Emotional Freedom Technique created by Gary Craig. It’s worth checking out at www.emofree.org.

*Use a steam inhaler to loosen sinus secretions and relieve discomfort. If you don’t have an inhaler, get into a steamy shower or place a towel over your head as you bend over a sink of steaming hot water. You can also add a drop of eucalyptus essential oil.

*Try aromatherapy. Oil of eucalyptus or menthol added to a bowl of hot water that you lean over and inhale can work wonders.

*Try spicy foods. Wasabi mustard used in Japanese cuisine or that mustard sauce that is a favorite in Chinese cooking have a lot of sinus clearing power. Some people prefer horseradish or even Vick’s Vapoub under the nose. Personally, I love cayenne pepper. I eat as much of it as I can because it’s a natural germ fighter and has the kick to clear my nasal passages.

By using a multi-pronged approach of prevention, creating a strong healthy system and using natural methods to combat the organisms that commonly cause chronic sinusitis you can hopefully beat it without the antibiotics that trigger another possible cycle of fungal infection.

If all else fails, you know antibiotics are available. It’s important to treat sinus infections as they can cause significant damage. Hopefully you and your trusted health care professional can figure out a course of action that will leave you stronger, healthier and breathing free!

Now before you go off to put any of these suggestions to work, let me say that this information, in no way should be construed as medical advice of any kind. Seek the advise of your trained medical professional before starting this or any program. This is strictly for informational and educational purposes. Ain’t education great!