What do YOU do naturally for chronic sinusitis?

[Celticqueen]

HELP!!! I have suffered from sinus infections my entire life. From the time I was a child. Finally, after years of sinus torment, I got sinusitis irrigation surgery and deviated septum correction in November.

A lot of good that did. I am not on my 3rd painful sinus infection since.

The biggest downside? I have become so immune to antibiotics and they no longer work. (too many, way, way, too many. It's a tragedy)

Now it is up to me to figure out anything and everything natural to get rid of this awful infection and infections that I know will come. 

Here's what I have tried that does absolutely nothing for me whatsoever: Netti Pot, salt water up the nose 4 times a day

Advice is much appreciated. There was so much conflicting info when I google'd this and I respect the mothering.com community's opinion so much more anyway :)

Thank you in advance.

[Celticqueen]

I am considering snorting lines of cayenne pepper. Thoughts?

[kristandthekids]

I'm considering dremeling holes in my face to relieve the sinus pressure.

I can't help with the natural because I have the same problem myself. Netipot used to be my miracle but it's quit working. I'm thinking about trying http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balloon_Sinuplasty

[KimPM]

There are things I have done:

Track down food allergies and sensitivities.  Remove offending foods from your diet.

Mold sensitivity - look for sources of mold exposure and eliminate.  Take olive leaf to help battle fungal and bacterial sinus infections.  Take adrenal support supplements.

Do you have mercury dental amalgams?  When I had those removed (with proper precautions) my nose doesn't get stuffed up in the morning.  I react to all the metals in a dental amalgam.  I am also going to get chelated for mercury...haven't started yet, though.

ETA: Note that most of these things are not quick fixes.  It took me years to get my adrenals somewhat happy (I hadn't removed the offending foods yet, but I should have been doing it at the same time).  During that time, when I did get an actual sinus infection, I took the antibiotics.  Sometimes it took more than one kind of antibiotic to get it.  The olive leaf was just holding it at bay when the infection got too bad, so the antibiotics did bring the infection down to where the olive leaf could take care of it.  After awhile, I found that I didn't need the antibiotics, since I had eliminated or at least massively reduced the triggering factors.  Then I could use the olive leaf as more of a preventative and early treatment agent.  The sinus rinse thingy helps, but only in combination with all the other stuff, and I didn't use it during an actual infection.  It's more of a preventative after possible or known exposure to mold, dust, whatever.

[Momo123]

I have had the same issue as you, and I have tried a lot of different things. Nothing has worked to cure it so far, but I agree with the PP that food sensitivities (not necessarily allergies that would show up on a test) can play a part. Dairy for one, is especially mucous-producing and gluten can be inflammatory for others. Environmental things, like mold, can also make it worse.

Recently, I tried a treatment called nasosympatico (you can try googling it) where you take a blend of essential oils (eucalyptus, peppermint, thyme, and lavender diluted in almond oil) on a cotton swab and insert it into the nasal openings in your nose (I think there are three on each side). My naturopath showed me how to do it the first time then I just continued at home. When I had an infection, it did help drain the mucous so it was a temporary solution at least. 

[sunnysandiegan]

The solution for me has been taking a wider approach to better overall health. I used to get horrible sinus infections that would take months to clear up (with or without medications). As soon as I switched my focus from curing sinus infections to becoming healthier overall, subtle changes started occurring and slowly, but surely I am healthier. My random colds do not ALWAYS follow that once-predictable pattern that always led to a sinus infection that lasted for months. It was quite a shock when I first realized that pattern had been broken. NOW, I can treat a minor cold right away and it goes away...never developing into anything more. Part of my challenge in the past was not knowing the difference between a cold and allergy symptoms. They presented in pretty much the same way for me and it turns out my allergies are to trees that pollinate in the Fall, which goes against what a lot of seasonal allergy literature discusses. Plus, I live in a warm climate. Anyway, I found local, raw honey and started eating a spoonful or two every single day in the late summer and throughout the Fall. Amazing results!!! I also discovered breathwork, which has helped immensely. Yoga and qigong and plain ol' walking have also been very helpful. I did other things early on, but I don't recall all of the specifics (herbs and supplements and such). I definitely used saline nasal rinses (with a squirt bottle at first and later a neti pot), but not DURING an infection. Preventative and for the tail end with all the lingering gunk. It gave me a headache during an infection, so I avoided it then.

[Tilia]

Ugh, I would love to know. I am on my 4th one this winter. It is beginning to become a problem with me as well. Antibiotics aren't working very well anymore either.

[Marnica]

Prevention is the key

What i do now that works for me:

Netti pot twice daily or more aggressive sinus irrigation (I have an irrigation machine) if the blockages are more than a netti pot can handle

elimination of offending foods and other allergens

for symptoms of sinus pain/pressure and looming infections Unda remdies (homeopathics) and this nasal spray does wonders!! http://www.silversinus.com/

[sammyjay]

I had terrible sinus/ear infections when I was a kid and they started coming back again a few years ago.  I, like many of you, tried antibiotics but they just weren't working.  My overall health began to decline despite a really great diet.  I have recurring mono, my adrenals are tired, my thyroid is underactive, and so on.  But I went to the Weston A Price conference this year and heard an amazing woman speak about the GAPS diet.  She said that a sinus infection is not different than a yeast infection, and so you can treat it naturally in similar ways.  She recommends limiting all forms of sugar and starch from your diet (there is a whole plan about this in her book and on her website if you want to check it out) and opening a capsule of probiotics onto your tongue at night after you brush and drink your last sip of water to help repopulate your sinuses with healthy bacteria.  She stressed that it is important to remove all forms of sugar (except small amounts of raw, unheated honey) from your diet or you will just be feeding the unhealthy/pathogenic bacteria that lives in your digestive system, on your skin, in your sinuses, in your groin, etc.  I have started on the GAPS diet and have made HUGE leaps and bounds in overall health ever since....and I even went on an 8-day backpacking trip with my partner a few weeks ago! 

I signed up on this website just so I could write you and tell you about how well I am doing after so many years of being sick.  At this point, I would have to be in a hospital bed before I would allow anyone to give me any more antibiotics.  And I don't even crave sugar anymore, which is amazing since I used to be fairly addicted to it. 

Good luck lovely mama's!

[deditus]

My dp stopped getting frequent sinus infections when we stopped drinking milk.

[subtlycrunchy]

Be open to the possibility that chronic sinusitis may have its roots in digestive problems and inflammation. Think of this way: your body may be compromised and that is what is making your sinuses so friendly to infection. Taking a whole-body approach, focused on gut healing, may just do the trick, regardless of your reaction to antibiotics. Please read this article on

Your gut instincts: natural digestive health for overall wellness

[beanma]

I would start by eliminating all dairy (casein, etc) for at least 6 weeks and see where that gets you. Dairy is notorious for clogging sinuses. Also, accupressure and massage can help drain the sinuses. Massaging behind the ear and along the back of the skull/neck is especially helpful. If you haven't already eliminated all dairy, I would start there, though.

[rush2ady]

Another vote for looking at food sensitivities!  I get congested (and other issues) when I eat grains (gluten).  And pasteurized dairy also makes me congested.  I had severe sinus issues, and sinus headaches before I understood what was causing them.

Now I get the occasional problem, and usually easily identify the cause.  Like exposure to non-stick cookware aggravates my sinuses. 

My dad used to make us gargle water with a spoon of cayenne pepper in it when we got sore throats.  Strangely, it did seem to help but it was killer during the gargling!!

[Celticqueen]

Thanks so much ladies! Wow, I didn't know I got so many replies on this. Haven't checked in awhile :) Really good thoughts. One thing though- the dairy thing about made me choke on my drink. WHA?? I probably eat more dairy than any other food group. It's a complete addiction to me. Now you have me wondering if this is one of the causes. I mean, literally...I consume A BUNCH of dairy, every day. Even more than meat or veggies...interesting idea to research for sure

[Celticqueen]

(I mean like...literally...dairy for breakfast, lunch and dinner and dairy in between meals, and dairy before bed. Mostly milk. I'm a tea drinker...British style...milk and sugar with every tea drink. Been this way my whole life)

[NannyMcPhee]

Neti pots, neti pots, neti pots.

Steam, steam, steam.  (Steam with tea tree or eucalyptus also)

[Celticqueen]

I've done Netti Pots a few times a week...is it ok to do it multiple times a day? I haven't tried that...

[Celticqueen]

Marnica, irrigation machine? I've never heard of those! Looking that up...

[kristandthekids]

I have to take back my previous post. I went in for acupuncture and I'm 90% better now.

[allnaturalmom]

I don't have time to read all of the responses right now, but wanted to post quickly what has worked for us.

1. Eliminate all dairy.

2. Take apple cider vinegar daily.

3. Eat raw garlic daily.

4. Daily vitamin c.

5. Take a good probiotic daily.

6. Cod liver oil daily.

No quick fixes here, but acv (3x/day) and raw garlic (1 to 2 cloves every 1 to 2 hours) works well, along with lots of steam, for an acute infection.

Also, consider the master tonic. Search 'master tonic' and you should find lots of info.

gl

hth

ps - have you considered silver - we use it as a last resort and it has worked well for us, too.