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Sinus infections can be very
persistent and debilitating. This
article covers some very successful home remedies for the prevention and
treatment of sinusitis that I have collected and developed over the years. I use all of these methods regularly and no
longer have any problems with my sinuses (or colds and flu either!).
Let’s start with
prevention. One of the very best ways
to prevent and treat sinus infections is to keep your sinus areas (forehead and
cheek areas) warm and the mucus membranes moist. It’s especially important to keep your forehead and cheeks warm
when you sleep. Keeping a towel, hat or
warm scarf over these areas as you sleep can really help. This also is a great treatment if you
already have a sinus infection.
In addition, using a humidifier
in the room where you sleep is an excellent way to prevent and treat a sinus
infection. These two suggestions alone
can help to prevent your problem, but if not, there are lots of supplements and
foods that you can take to keep your immune system in tip top condition to
treat and prevent sinus problems.
Using a natural nasal spray made
with salt and baking soda has helped me a lot.
The recipe for this home remedy is ½ cup water, ¼ teaspoon salt and a
pinch of baking soda. Make sure that
you use really clean bottled water or filtered water, otherwise you could make
things worse. Shake the mixture well
and put it into a clean nasal spray bottle.
This is also an excellent home remedy for allergies. You can use this nasal spray several times a
day it is surprisingly effective as well as cheap!
Vitamins and Foods for
Treating and Preventing Sinus Infections
Vitamins, minerals and food supplements
make great home remedies for sinus infections and of course they will also help
to prevent them. I’m sure you’re aware that vitamin C is good, but getting some
vitamin C from fresh foods is even more important. A recent study discovered
that natural vitamin C from food had a stronger effect on keeping the immune
system healthy than synthetic C (almost all the C you buy as a supplement at
the store is synthesized).
A few high vitamin C home remedy foods
to prevent and treat sinus infections are citrus (oranges, tangerines,
grapefruit, lemons), kiwi, cabbage, broccoli, strawberries, raspberries and
black berries. Vitamin C is a good
natural decongestant and will help to dry up inflamed nasal passages due to
colds and sinus infections. I eat a
whole peeled orange (the white part and pulp are very good for you, better than
orange juice) every day during the winter to prevent colds and sinus
infections.
Does your C pill
contain bioflavonoids? This is another important supplement for keeping mucus
membranes healthy and restoring your immune system. You can find supplements at
your health food store or get them naturally in the white part of citrus fruit
as well as in the pulp.
Another very important
supplement is vitamin A (not beta carotene).
It helps to keep your skin and mucus membranes healthy. Don’t take more
than 5,000 IU every other day as large doses of A can cause problems. Be sure
to purchase a supplement that is derived from a natural source (usually fish
oil, synthetic vitamin A is not recommended). Natural vitamin A is found in
eggs, dairy products, liver and some fish.
Do you take a naturally derived
mixed carotene supplement every day? No
longer is beta-carotene enough. Several other carotenoids (lutein, alpha
carotene, lycopene) are as important or more so than beta. You especially want
to be sure that you get the natural versions of these supplements, not the
synthetic. Recent research shows that synthetic carotenes may not help much at
all and may even be bad for you. Just make sure that the label mentions natural
sources for the supplement (such as palm fruit). Carrots, yams and colored
fruits and vegetables such as all berries, broccoli, spinach, chard, romaine
lettuce, winter squash and tomatoes are carotene rich.
Minerals and Other
Supplements for Treating and Preventing Sinus Infections
Several minerals are important in
keeping your immune system in top shape as well. Zinc is the most important of
these home remedies. Many people take
zinc lozenges when they get a sinus infection, but if you take zinc in advance,
you can completely avoid the unpleasantness of being sick. Yet another important mineral is selenium.
Be careful not to take excessive amounts of these minerals because they can be
toxic in larger doses.
Another little known but very
valuable home remedy supplement is NAC or n-acetyl cysteine, which is a
powerful antioxidant that is a form of the amino acid cysteine. It helps to increase your body’s supply of
the very important enzyme, glutathione contributing significantly to your
immune system as it reduces congestion.
A few other immune system home
remedies to consider are raw garlic, flaxseed and flaxseed oil, echinacea,
grapeseed extract and chlorella/spirulina.
Don’t forget about fresh raw fruits and vegetables. It may
sound boring because everyone is telling you to eat your fruits and veggies but
the truth is...raw foods are very healthful. They contain all the natural
enzymes and nutrients that are cooked out of almost all prepared foods.
People who eat mostly raw food
tend to stay healthier than people who eat a lot of prepared and cooked foods.
For the best home remedy for a sinus infection, you could go to your local
grocery store and look at all the tempting raw foods you’ll find there. Then
take some home, make a big salad with fruits or vegetables, and enjoy!
In the winter, you can buy many types of frozen
fruits to use in smoothies or to eat with yogurt. Frozen fruit still has lots of great nutrients to keep you
healthy. Before adding any supplements
or changing your diet, consult your health professional.
T. McDonald is a lifelong student
of medicine and alternative health.
She’s a writer who edits the website http://www.diabetes-guide.org where you will
find information on symptoms
of diabetes, glycemic
index, weight loss tips and much more.
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