One shudders at the thought of congested sinuses! That heaviness of the head and that dull body incapacitate us till the infection leave. Many of us find this malady visiting often, hence we start looking for some safer remedies for sinus drainage.This article brings some tried and tested home remedies which will help you deal with inflames sinuses.
Remedies For Curing Sinus Drainage
1. Drink Lots Of Water
That’s the first remedy that should cross your mind, if afflicted with sinus congestion. According to Harvard Medical school, liquids are helpful in easing sinus drainage.One should know that tea (except for herbal tea) and coffee are not to be included in those liquids. The beverages with caffeine and alcohol are a strict no. They are known to result in dehydration.
2. Herbal Infusion
To 200 ml water add a few holy basil leaves, let it simmer for five minutes. Make sure it is covered with a lid, while being cooked. This will stop the essential oils and micro nutrients from evaporation.Let it cool a bit and drink it alone or along with coriander seeds. You can chew the seeds as you sip the tea. To this tea, you can add some palm jaggery or cane jaggery to enhance the taste.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar also called ACV, is a panacea for sinus troubles. It is available in the supermarkets and with the leading drug stores.Vinegar has culinary uses as well, you can reach out to that bottle if it is lying in your kitchen. ACV can be used in many ways to heal sinusitis.
4. Drink This Health Tea
This tea contains the goodness of many ingredients like ACV, ginger root, clove, and cinnamon. Drink it and it will release the sinus pressure. The fumes of vinegar and strenghth of ginger and condiments will get the mucus running for good. It is best to drink just before retiring for night.
5. Method Of Making This Tea
Take a glass of water, add one crushed clove, 1tsp grated fresh ginger root, 1tsp ground cinnamon. Boil them for 5 mins, remove from heat and add 1tbsp apple cider vinegar and 1tbsp of honey.
It does taste good! Whether you like the taste or not, it is bound to give you an instant relief by draining the sinuses and leading to opening of nasal passages. Cover your head well and relax. It is reiterated that you drink this tea just before going to bed.
Also Read
6 Warning Signs Of Sinus That You Should Know About
11 Effective Herbal Remedies For Sinus Infection
8 Home Remedies For Sinus Congestion
3 Massage Techniques To Relieve Sinus Congestion
6. Simple Variant Of The Tea
Take a cup of water, approximately 200m, put 2tbsp apple cider vinegar and 1tbsp honey, warm it up and drink. It will flush out the mucus and you will feel relief from the pressure in the sinuses.
7. Steam Inhalation
As mentioned above, liquid in many forms soothes the inflamed sinuses. Hence, even steam inhalation must be included in your list of remedies. Harvard Medical School mentions that humidifying the room and inhalation of steam both ease the congestion.
Please take a note that you must keep your face covered for at least 15 to 20 minutes after inhalation. This step is necessary not just to derive maximum benefit from the inhalation but also to prevent catching cold after a heat therapy.
8. Warm Saline Gargles
Saline gargles have been all time favorite in most households. So, why leave them if there is any ailment linked with nose, lungs or sinuses. Take 200ml drinking water and add 1/4tsp of table salt or rock salt. Warm it up, check the temperature, it should be hot enough, but just short of burning your mouth.Take a sip and gargle. For deep throat gargles you will have to tilt your head up to look at the ceiling and as you swirl the water around make a deep-throated sound. After finishing the entire liquid wrap a cloth around throat to keep it warm for another 10 minutes.
9. Spicy Foods
If your taste buds and stomach can stand spicy foods, must give it a try. Spicy foods flush out all the mucus from nasal passage. Black peppers, jalepino peppers or cayenne peppers, use anyone, it will step up the flow of mucus and you will find that in the next five minutes it will drain out of your sinuses through your nose. The result? Obviously a comfortable feeling!
10. Warm Compress
The warm compress on your eyebrows will bring immense relief from that bothersome heaviness of your sinuses. Mayo Clinic strongly recommends facial warm compresses. They will reduce the pressure around the eyes thereby alleviating the heaviness of head and around the cheeks and eyes.
11. Head Elevation
While sleeping keep your head in an elevated position, to help drain the mucus.
12. Neti Pot
Using a neti pot to wash and drain out the excessive mucus can be a very helpful remedy for sinuses ailments. Sages in India have been doing this Yogic Kriya since times immemorial to keep themselves healthy.
One can continue using a neti pot therapy even afterwards. This practice will keep the recurrence of sinusitis at bay.Harvard medical School recommends that it is good to flush the mucus out with water.
What Is A Neti Pot
It is a ceramic or a metal pot somewhat like a kettle, though much smaller in size. It has to be filled with sterilized water, the water should have been boiled for 3 to 4 minutes and cooled till it is lukewarm. A small pinch of salt is added to it.
How To Do Neti
One needs to learn this activity. The tip of the spout of the pot is inserted in one nostril and water is allowed to flow out of the other nostril. Let me explain the exact process. Tilt your head completely on one side, now bend it a bit backwards. It will make you look at the sky or the ceiling above.
Insert the tip of the spout slightly inside the upper nostril, while breathing from your mouth. Remember throughout this you have to breathe in and out from your mouth. As the water starts flowing out from the other nostril, the passage starts getting cleared of the mucus. This loosened mucus will drain out of your sinuses completely and there will be feeling of comfort. Take the spout out and repeat the process with the other nostril.
Caution For Neti
Take care that the water is sterile and the temperature is just lukewarm. The quantity of salt should be very little, otherwise it will result in irritation.If your nose is completely blocked, then neti will not work, moreover everybody does not feel comfortable doing it or it may not be suitable to everybody.
