Fall is here. It’s a wonderful time of the year. Cooler weather, colorful trees, pumpkins, festivals – it truly is one of my favorite times. But along with all the good things the cooler weather brings comes the ragweed. Ragweed is one of the worst pollen bearers for allergy sufferers. Along with ragweed, the cooler weather brings sinus problems, congestion, viruses, and colds.
Millions of Americans are affected by sinusitis – inflammation of the air-filled cavities around the nose – which can be accompanied by pounding, throbbing headaches. This can ruin even the most glorious fall day!
If you happen to be one of the unfortunate ones suffering from sinus congestion, hopefully these tips can help.
1. Flush your nasal passages. One of the most proven ways to clear sinus passages is by flushing with saline sprays and neti pots. A saline wash thins the mucus and flushes it out of the sinus cavities. Also, Dead Sea salt irrigations and saline sprays have been proven effective.
2. Bromelain. Bromelain is a supplement found in pineapple stems. It has been used by prizefighters to reduce swelling for years. After much research, bromelain has shown that it could possibly speed recovery of acute sinusitis. Just talk to your doctor before taking it as it could interfere with other medications.
3. Take a steam bath. Actually, this is an old remedy, but it’s tried and true. Hot water vapor moistens the sinuses. Sprinkle a few drops of eucalyptus or menthol in the shower and steam up your bathroom. Or you can use a pot of simmering water on the stovetop and a towel over your head.
4. Stay hydrated. This helps your body in many ways, but also keeps your sinuses moist. Drink about eight 8-ounce glasses a day.
5. Spice is nice. Spicy foods – mustard, hot peppers, curry, horseradish, and wasabi – might help to clear sinuses. Try eating a bowl of spicy chili or nachos with salsa.
6. Humidifiers. A humidifier can help to ease the stuffiness of swollen nasal passages, but be sure to keep it clean. If you’ve ever used these appliances, you know dirty humidifiers can grow mold. Try to keep the room between 35 to 50 percent humidity for best results.
7. Warm compresses. Warm compresses can give the same results as a steam bath. Try using some eucalyptus oil in some hot water (as hot as you can stand). Dip a cloth in the water, squeeze out the excess water, then drape the cloth over your cheeks and nose area.
All of the above tips are natural remedies you can try. If the pain and sinus congestion don’t get better over time, you might need more aggressive therapy. Call your doctor if you feel your problems are getting worse.