Sinus Conditions - If I could just breath!

Most of us take our ability to breathe effortlessly for granted. But, when you suffer with the sinuses you become painfully aware of how wonderful it would be to be able to breath fully! 

Sinus symptoms are:

• Headache
• Pain in the face
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Post nasal drip
• Sneezing
• Foul taste in the mouth
• Dizziness
• Upset stomach 
• Exhaustion

Sinus related conditions include:

• Chronic post nasal drip
• ​Sinusitis, infection of the sinuses, primary or secondary
• Acute Sinusitis related to a common cold
• Allergic rhinitis, very common during the spring or summer allergy seasons
• Nasal polyps which can develop after years of chronic sinusitis 
• Epistaxis - Nosebleeds
• CSF, a rare condition, cerebrospinal fluid leaks

From a naturopathic perspective prevention is the right move, but when you're in the throws of sinusitis many simple natural remedies often provide a better treatment than antibiotics. Antibiotics are a slippery slope. It is well documented that repeated use of antibiotics undermines your immunity and produces resistant stains of bacteria. See the home treatment recommendations at the bottom of the page. These recommendations are useful whether or not you are taking a course of antibiotics. 

If your reading this article, you likely have suffered with recurrent sinus issues. Let's take a look at the underlying causes of sinus problems. A primary cause of chronic sinusitis is the fact that an acute sinusitis was treated ineffectively, which then leads to further attacks. Other causes are overuse of decongestant nasal sprays, smoking, swimming, diving, allergies, or as the Chinese say, an underlying disharmony within the body that presents itself as sinusitis.

Chinese Medicine understands that any symptom in the body is a result of disharmony. In the case of sinus conditions the #1 imbalance stems from the stomach and/or liver, secondarily the spleen. Congestion or depletion of energy in the stomach, liver or spleen are at the root of all sinus conditions. Overeating fats, hot spicy foods, sweets, or drinking alcohol create  ‘damp’ and ‘heat’ in the body. Damp form phlegm while heat moves upwards (a bit like steam) lodging in the lungs and nasal cavities. This is your common cold scenario, but susceptibility to colds and flu are a result of lifestyle choices. Eating or drinking excessively, irregularly and unhealthily eating and sleep habits damage liver, stomach and  spleen energy. The result is a predisposition to develop a manifestations of damp/heat conditions such as sinusitis and/or bronchitis. For a deeper understanding of the Chinese Medicine approach to healing sinus conditions check out this article from Acupuncture Council of Ireland, "Understanding Sinusitis from a Chinese perspective"

For those with chronics sinus conditions emotional aspects should also be considered. Worry, stress, long term frustrations and anger issues will affect the health of the stomach, liver and spleen. Chi Nei Tsang deep organ manipulation provides an excellent therapy to relieve congestion of these organs and promote release of nervous energy trapped in the body systems.

Anyone in the US who would like to connect with acupuncturist as a treatment option for chronic sinusitis can find a practitioner in your area by visiting the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) practitioner directory. If you are local to Phoenix/Scottsdale Arizona, my personal recommendation is Linda Lofaro LAc and practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine, Wholeself. If you are on a budget the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture offers a clinic that provides very affordable treatment with advanced students working under the direction of master teachers.

---

Home Treatments to improve Sinusitis

• Heat and cold applications, simple and easy to under estimate, but highly effective. If your condition is chronic or acute applications of an icy cold face cloth alternated with a hot face cloth, repeated for 20 minutes several times a day will stimulate the release of heat congestion and improve the flow of blood and lymph to the sinuses. This enables the immune system to do it's job more effectively!
• Steam inhalation, also simply and often considered too much trouble! Put on a pot of water, filtered RO or spring water, not tap water. allow the water to come to a boil and reduce the heat, this will create a steady stream of cooler steam. Place a bath towel over your head and breath in the steamy air. The addition of essential oils can greatly boost the effectiveness of this treatment. Eden's Garden offers Deep Breath, doTERRA offers Breath, also very effective!
• Using essential oils diluted as topical applications are also helpful. Be careful to avoid the eyes. Placing oils on your neck, temples, chest and back can all help. With their natural antimicrobial properties these oils will help break down the infection.
• Nasal lavage, using a netie pot or nasal lavage squeeze bottle to flush the sinuses is a good practice. Current research suggests that the use of salt water for nasal lavage encourages bacterial and fungal growth. Use only warm water or an herbal solution to flush out.
• Lighten up the diet. Eat mostly fresh fruits and vegetables, baked potatoes, broth (especially bone broth and veggie broth). Lemon water, garlic and other culinary herbs such as rosemary, cilantro, oregano all all good to support recovery as is ginger.

The Bridge to Health Sinus Recovery Protocol offers you 3 month access to diet, lifestyle changes, nutritional and herbal support to end the vicious cycle of sinus conditions. This is an affordable to way to turn your health around and end antibiotic use! Take a step toward improved wellness and purchase your Sinus Recovery Protocol today!

---