My Sinus Story

Three years ago life took a marvelous turn when I found permanent relief for my life-long sinus pressure, mucus, phlegm and other related problems. This web site is dedicated to helping you have the same experience. There are 3 steps. They are on one page. This plus other valuable information are found in: Three Steps to Sinus & Mucus Relief. click here

Sinus Infections: Causes, Symptoms, and Cure

Nothing like being sinus infection free. I struggled with it and other sinus problems since childhood. Then after three years of gathering information and experimenting with natural remedies, OTC medications, acupressure; the works, I found the cause and was cured, for good. Now in my seventies I have never felt better--no sinus issues of any kind to deal with! Then I felt a burden to share this information with others. The fine details on how I cured my sinus problems are offered at the end of this page in the Manuscript: How I Cured My Sinus Problems. If you wish to take a look at it, please, click here, and then return. You won't be sorry.

What causes sinus infections
Our sinus and nasal cavities are designed so that air and mucus can be constantly flowing from the sinus cavities--with the help of the cilia--to the nasal cavities. Anything that obstructs that process, for example: swollen sinus membranes blocking the sinus openings to the nasal cavities, can lead to sinus pressure and a sinus infection. Also:

• viral infections like the flu, a "cold" can cause a secondary infection: a bacterial sinus infection
• or a prolonged irritation of the sinus membranes, such as an allergic reaction to the environment
• mucus accumulation, if it is not cleared fairly soon, it will stagnate and cause a sinus infection
• dry air makes the nasal and sinus membranes swell blocking mucus flow
• weakened immune system from a bout with the flu or a cold

What is a chronic sinus infection?
It is an infection that lasts longer than 8 weeks. The mucus lining in the sinus cavities remains swollen. The meatuses (sinus openings) remain blocked. The bacteria or virus causing the infection is not dealt with effectively and the infection lingers on indefinitely . While there is the usual nasal or sinus congestion and annoying secretions. Should the chronic condition continue for a long period of time the swollen nasal membranes could develop polyps, those fleshy growths nobody wants. Thus it is to our advantage to treat sinusitis professionally if we see that it is becoming a chronic condition.

Symptoms
Not all these sinus infection symptoms need to be present at the same time:

• Pressure and pain in the sinus areas - forehead, face, around the eyes
• Swollen nasal membranes
• Yellow or green mucus secretion - sometimes with bad odor
• Fever
• Excessive drainage or post nasal drip
• Phlegm

How to cure a sinus infection
What some of us do at the first signs of a possible, flu, cold or sinus infection approaching--whether viral or bacterial it does not matter--is the following:

• Take botanicals A, B, G right away 3 times a day--there are no known side effects
• Drink lots of fluids, especially plain water at room temperature
• Take zinc lozenges until the ailment is over
• Take OTC remedy containing guaifenesin to loosen mucus and phlegm
• Get into the bath tub or shower with water as warm as you can tolerate it safely for 15-20 minutes
  to induce perspiration--this gives the immune system a better fighting chance; and to loosen phlegm
• Go to bed and rest all you can
• Keep sinuses draining by using: steam inhalations or hot showers
• Do sinus pressure points (acupressure) to help drain the sinuses
• If phlegm is present a chest percussion procedure can very often be used to expectorate the phlegm which should not be swallowed
• Keep the sinuses clear--acupressure is the fastest, easiest way to do this
• If I have recurring sinus infections I may try fasting. It will boost the immune system, cleanse and detoxify the body

Even if I were wrong in the assessment of symptoms, the taking of the above steps would ordinarily not harm me. The adage: "Better safe than sorry" would definitely apply here.

Antibiotics
While it's true that antibiotics will not touch a viral sinus infection, many of them are secondary bacterial infections and they respond to an antibiotic. If I did not start the previous protocol soon enough and a bacterial sinus infection had already set in, the remedy I would try would an antibiotic. Common ones are: Keflex and Bactrim, but a prescription is needed to get them. If I do not use any of the latter remedies the infection would likely stay on with its misery for weeks. So, I go see my physician and get treated. Again, I start treating any bacterial sinus infection at the first sign and nip it in the bud, naturally.

Blood in the mucus
If at any time you see blood in the mucus, phlegm, be sure to go see your physician right away, since it could be a sign of a very serious respiratory system problem including: pneumonia and lung cancer.

Food and drink
Although there is some debate as to what extent, if any, some foods and drinks may play in causing or exacerbating sinus infections and other sinus problems, the empirical evidence is strongly convincing that they, indeed, do affect the sinus health of many people. Myself and many others I have spoken to would not hesitate to re-affirm this assertion. Especially foods containing: RG, D, S are the causes of many sinus problems, yet most of us don't realize it.

Better than a good cure is prevention. By right eating, drinking large amounts of plain water regularly, and tackling a sinus infection at the first sign--using the above protocol--sinus infections can be a thing of the past for you as it has been for me.