There's nothing worse than a stuffy head and sinus pain. Use home remedies to relieve the symptoms of sinusitis, including pain, pressure, and congestion, and you can avoid the side effects that occur with many over-the-counter medicines. Get relief from sinus pressure with homeopathic treatments, such as steam, aromatherapy, and herbal teas, instead of nose-sprays and pills.
Use Steam to Relieve Pressure in Your Sinuses
Use steam to relieve sinus pressure at home, without medication. There are a variety of ways to create steam at home, but be careful with the hot water!
- Hot-water humidifier: Use a humidifier that heats water and turns it into vapor. This moisturizes the air, and helps to loosen up congestion. Avoid standing directly over a hot mist humidifier, due to the risk of burns from the steam.
- Hot-shower steam: Sit or stand in the bathroom with the shower running, and the bathroom door closed. Make sure the water is turned up as hot as it can go, in order to create the most steam. Do not sit in the shower, extremely hot water can burn you badly.
- Sink steam treatment: Lean over a sink full of hot water, and spread a towel over your head to hold in the steam. Again, don't touch the water itself, or you will be burned.
Aromatherapy: Natural Treatment for Stuffy Heads
Many essential oils are useful for natural sinus relief. Evergreen oils such as pine and eucalyptus, as well as lavender, ginger, and peppermint can all be helpful for the congestion and pressure that result from sinusitis. These essential oils can be used in several different ways as homeopathic relief for pain and pressure in the sinuses.
- Pour a few drops of essential oils into the hot water of a steam treatment, to make the steam even more beneficial.
- Place a few drops in an oil warmer, releasing the aroma into the room. Be aware that some essential oils should not be heated, so do your research before heating any oil.
- Massage the oils into your temples, to achieve faster results. Whenever applying an oil directly to the skin, test for skin sensitivity on the inside of your arm.
Herbal Tea for a Sinus Headache
Many of the same herbs used as aromatherapy can also be used in herbal teas to help with congestion and pressure in your sinuses. Peppermint tea, ginger tea, and lemon balm, are all great natural sinus cures, and offer three benefits. These herbal teas have natural properties that result in an opening of nasal passages, allowing mucus to flow, which releases sinus pressure. In addition, the heat of the tea creates steam. Breathing the steam, which is full of the aroma of the herbs, provides even more relief for swollen sinus passages. Finally, drinking liquids helps to thin the secretions in the nasal passages, which reduces congestion.
Sinus infections in children, or even adults, may need medical treatment if severe. This article is not a substitute for medical advice, always consult a physician before attempting to diagnose or treat a disease at home.
References:
U.S. National Library of Medicine; Sinusitis; Retrieved May 21, 2010.
Lawless, J. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils. Element Books. 1995.
Victoria Nicks - Victoria Nicks has a Master's Degree in IT, and extensive hands-on experience with various types of hardware and software.
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