Sinusitis can be well managed by medical treatment and self care. Chronic sinusitis is often associated with food allergies. An elimination/ challenge in diet are recommended to identify and eliminate allergenic foods.
Irrigating the sinuses with a salt water solution is often recommended for sinusitis and allergies, in order to clear the nasal passages of mucus. Another solution for nasal washing washing utilizes powdered Hydrastis Canadensis.
Other herbal treatments takentreatments taken internally, include a mixture made of Euphrasia officinalis, Hydrastis Canadensis, Achillea millefolium horseradish, and Ephedra sinica or, when infection is present, a mixture made of Echinacea spp., wild indigo and root of Phytolacca decandra-Americana.
Homeopathy has answer to this problem for it can resolve the acute sinusitis as well as drastically reduce the tendency to get sinusitis. For acute attacks there are various remedies which can be prescribed based on symptoms. Also, for complete treatment of chronic or recurrent sinusitis one must see a homeopathic practitioner. A homeopath in such a case will prescribe a holistic remedy covering the physical symptoms and emotional attributes of patient so as find the remedy based on totality which will boost immunity and reduce or annihilate the tendency to sinusitis. Steam inhalation is also helpful in cases of sinusitis. Prognosis for sinus infections is usually excellent, although some individuals may find that they are particularly prone to contracting suchinfections after a cold. Fungal sinusitis, however, has a relatively high death rate.
Deviated Nasal Septum (DNS) need not always trigger the sinusitis, as there are many people who have a DNS but do not have sinusitis. Similarly inspite of being in a similar environment where there are pollens or allergens some people will get the attack and suffer and some will not, and again, severity will vary in different people. When there is an inherent tendency in person to get recurrent sinusitis, Homeopathy understands this as due to sensitivity or low immunity. Homeopathy plays an important role in correcting this sensitivity and thereby curing the problem. A well selected homeopathic remedy removes or annihilates the tendency to sinusitis and remove the body’s way of reaction to pollens and other allergens that trigger such attacks.
Prevention involves the usual standards of good hygiene to cut down on the number of colds an individual catches. Avoiding exposure tocigarette smoke, identifying and treating allergies, and avoiding deep dives in swimming pools may help prevent sinus infections. Duringthe winter, it is a good idea to use a humidifier. Dry nasal passages may crack, allowing bacteria to enter. When allergies are diagnosed,a number of nasal sprays are available to try to prevent inflammation within the nasal passageways, thus allowing the normal flow ofmucus.
Few homeopathic remedies for acute sinusitis are given below, but we recommend to take remedies in consultation with a registered homeopathic practitioner
Bryonia alba has dryness of nose with headache just over frontal sinusitis. Frontal headache due to sinusitis ,lachymation with bursting pain in eyeballs. Headache < cold application.
Pulsatilla pratensis - Congestion of blood to head and engorgement of the sinuses. Coryza with loss of smell and taste; dry and fluent alternately, or stopped up in evening, with loss of smell and taste and appetite; obstruction of nose in evening; yellow or yellow-green in morning; nostrils sore; frontal headache.
Kalium bichromicum - Inflammation extends to frontal sinuses, with distress and fullness at root of nose. Loss of smell. Much hawking. Kali iodatum : Acrid, burning, watery or greenish yellow discharge,< open air ,sneezing .pain at the root of nose, sensitive nostrils.
References:
medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com
www.webmd.com
Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine, 21st Edition
Boericke W, Boericke O. E. New Manual of Homoeopathic MateriaMedica& Repertory [with relationship of remedies]. B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd, New Delhi –110055.
Hering, C., The Guiding Symptoms of our MateriaMedica Vol. 1 to 10, Reprint Edition 1993, B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd, New Delhi –110055. Gupta,R. Directory of disease and cure in homeopathy , B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd, New Delhi –110055. Satya, P. Analogy of Pain
Allergic reaction to pollens, animal fur, certain foods and beverages, hay fever, deviated nasal septum, nasal polyps, impairment in ciliary function (there are small hair like parts in our nose which prevent travelling of infectious agents or harmful substances to sinuses), impaired immunity, bacterial infection or fungi (in rare cases like immune-compromised cases), respiratory tract infections are found to be the common cause of sinusitis.
Both smoking and second hand smoke are associated with chronic sinusitis.
Maxillary sinusitis may also be of dental origin given the close proximity of the teeth and the sinus floor. This constitutes about 20 % of all cases of maxillary sinusitis. Sometimes such maxillary sinusitis may spread to the orbit or to the ethmoid sinus.
Chronic sinusitis can also be caused indirectly through a common but slight abnormality within the auditory or Eustachian tube, which is connected to the sinus cavities and the throat. This tube is usually almost level with the eye sockets but when this sometimes hereditary abnormality is present, it is below this level and sometimes level with the vestibule or nasal entrance. What is of interest here is there are many people who will have sinutis attacks inspite of removal of above causes and there are people who get the attacks post a stressful event, this shows that there are reasons beyond the above stated. This aspect is considered while homeopathic treatment is planned as homeopathic considers a person’s tendency to catch a disease and targets to treat that.
References: www.mayoclinic.org
Christine Radojicic. "Sinusitis". Disease Management Project. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved November 26, 2012
