I was kidding about your
brain! Well, not really... |
It can be just annoying, or truly debilitating.
The sinuses are said to be God's only design screw-up (apart
from your brain) because infection can form in them so easily.
Not using effective cold and flu remedies is often a cause
of sinus infections. So here I will present alternatives to
cure infection. Sinus problems will be a thing of the past,
and then you can learn about better ways to treat colds and
flus that will prevent future sinus infections. |
 These
are your sinuses.
 These
are your sinuses on drugs.
Just kidding again. Boy am I a kidder. Your sinuses are air cavities.
When they get closed off by mucus, bacteria festers in them and
grows into infection. Imagine yellow and green pools of stagnant
swamp water bacteria sitting around in there. Yuck!
So, to cure infection, sinus remedies must be employed. I'll
assume you want to cure a sinus infection that followed a cold
or flu. I'll deal with sinus troubles from allergies another time.
(You can use some of the same herbs for both to get the sinuses
clear, but allergies also require specific immune system modulation).
Basically, we use formulas composed of herbs with multiple functions.
One main group is those that cure infection, sinus clearers are
the other. You can look at a
comparison of the pharmacologic effects of each herb in several
sinus infection herbal remedies here.
Acupuncture can also be helpful, because it puts your immune
system into higher gear to go fight the bacteria and cure infection.
Sinus clearing is easier with both acupuncture and herbs.
Now, I realize you may not be near an acupuncturist or Chinese
herbs, and that you can't wait several days for herbs to arrive
through the mail, so here are some single Western herbs you can
use to cure your sinus infection.
- Barberry and Goldenseal have very similar therapeutic
uses - both help combat infection, stimulate the activity of
the immune system, and lower fever.
- Echinacea is used by many herbalists to cure infections
like sinusitis.
- Ephedra - The World Health Organization supports the
use of ephedra as part of treatment for the common cold, hay
fever, and sinusitis. Because of some serious risks associated
with this herb (like stroke and irregular heart rhythm), use
of ephedra should only take place under strict guidance and
supervision by an herbal specialist and physician and only for
short periods of time.
- Eucalyptus oil is a strong antibacterial and acts as
an expectorant (loosens mucus in the respiratory passages) and
antiseptic (prevents infection). Our housekeeper actually used
this for a chronic cough she had. She's Mexican, and there is
a separate Mexican herbal tradition.
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Alternative Medicine That Cures Sinus Infections