Treating Sinus Infection the Natural Way

A sinus infection is known as the inflammation of the sinuses and the nasal passages. The sinuses are situated within your skull and are lined with mucus membranes. In case of a viral, fungal, or bacterial infection, autoimmune response, or allergies, these sinuses are inflamed and may lead to headaches and breathing difficulty. A normal sinus is filled with air, but if an infection occurs, this air is replaced with mucus. If the mucus is not drained, this may lead to stuffy nose. In milder cases of sinus infection, natural treatments are available without side effects. Natural Remedies for Treating Sinus Infection : * Regular yoga exercise such as pranayam and kapalbhati can help prevent sinus infections. * Acupressure is very helpful in relieving pain and pressure in the nose, head, eyes, and ears. * Hot teas and warm soups are very helpful in clearing the nasal passages. In addition, green tea, chicken soup with many peppers and ginger tea are very helpful in providing relief. * Drinking lots of water daily can help flush out harmful toxins from your body. It can also help in thinning the mucus that blocks the nasal passages to promote fast recovery. * You can use apple cider vinegar by adding a few drops of it in boiling water before inhaling it. You may also choose to drink apple cider vinegar diluted with water. * A few drops of peppermint or eucalyptus oil into boiling water is good when inhaled. This is one of the most common home remedy for sinus infections. * Garlic is very effective when treating sinus infection due to its natural antifungal and antibacterial properties. You can drink the juice extracted from the garlic or include it in your daily diet. * It is also important for you to increase your zinc and vitamin C intake to reduce the risk of having sinus infections and cold bouts. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids are recommended, as it is helpful in getting rid of sinus infections so make sure to eat foods that are rich in omega 3 such as eggs, walnuts, cod liver oil, and fish. * Strengthening your immune system can also help you prevent sinus infections. To increase or maintain a strong immune system, make sure to have a healthy diet. Including spicy foods in your diet is helpful as well as it can also help in treating sinus infection by clearing the nasal passages. * Nasal irrigation is very helpful as well. Regularly use a neti pot to help drain your sinuses and prevent infecting it further. You may also add salt to the solution to wash and clear your nasal cavities. This is necessary especially when you are going through so much air pollution and excessive exposure to dust, pollen and other irritants. * If you do not want to use any medications, you may choose to go for hot and cold compresses. Place the hot compress to the affected sinus are for at least two to three minutes a day before applying cold compress for 30 to 40 seconds.