Sinus problems and how to treat them naturally

What do sinus problems look like? Well, do you suffer from the following:

• headache,
• tenderness in the face,
• a persistent drip down the back of the throat
• a sore or raw throat

If you have one or more of the above symptoms, it may be a sign that your sinuses are inflamed or blocked. Alternatively, it may be due to hay fever and pollen allergies, discussed in another post.

What happens in sinus problems

These are essentially inflammation of the mucous membranes in the sinus cavities; when these are inflamed they produce extra mucous. The mucous may discharge through the nose or run down the back of the throat, which may mean you are constantly clearing your throat or coughing. Alternatively, the sinuses may be so swollen inside that the mucous cannot drain out, in which case the congestion means you are more likely to have a headache and face pain. Incidentally, blocked or inflamed sinuses are right above the long roots of your top teeth, so you may also experience tooth pain – it may not be reason to see the dentist!

Sinus problems may originate from a headcold that has never cleared up properly, or it may be from a long-standing food or substance sensitivity, or some people experience troublesome sinuses at the change of season.

How a biofeedback system helps identify causes

While part of the treatment for sinus trouble can be applied to all causes, some treatment is specific to each causative factor. This is where the biofeedback scanner (QXCi) can be very useful. The biofeedback system identifies blocks that inhibit the body’s natural energy flows, such as a virus or a food sensitivity. It is of course much more effective to treat the sinus problem if the underlying factors are treated as well.

So, if a contributing factor is food sensitivity, the advice would of course include recommendations to avoid the food. If it is a virus (lingering or acute) or a seasonal, environmental sensitivity such as pollens, we at Holden HealthCare advocate using specially formulated phenolics. Seasonal sensitivity may indicate a constitutional imbalance as well; acupuncture can be very effective to address this.

At your consultation herbal medicine may be appropriate for your sinus condition; your herbalist will make up a formula designed especially for you.

How to treat your sinuses naturally

Some useful things you can do at home to ease the pain include:

• doing a sinus rinse with warm saline water;
• giving yourself a head steam by filling a bowl or basin with hot water and a few drops of an essential oil such as eucalyptus, leaning your head over the bowl and draping a towel over your head to enclose the steam;
• lying down on your back, place a warm compress with a few drops of eucalyptus oil directly on the sinuses;
• drink plenty of water, warm or hot, or as a herbal tea.

If you need further assistance

To find out more about the factors behind your own sinus problems and how to treat them more effectively, book in for a QXCi biofeedback appointment with Marion by phoning Holden Healthcare on 09 282 3588 or email us.