Home Remedies for Sinus Congestion

Whether it's springtime with the flowers blooming or it's wintertime with colds and flu hovering around, sinus congestion seems to affect everyone at some point. It's no wonder that there is an aisle at the drug store dedicated to sinus medicine. Yet more people are returning to old time remedies to help alleviate sinus congestion.

Nasal Rinse

The nasal irrigation technique is a popular form of keeping sinus congestion at bay. Seen more as a preventive measure, nasal irrigation uses a saline solution to clean out unwanted bacteria, mucus and any other irritants in the sinus cavities, which might cause a reaction or infection. By cleaning out the sinuses every night, individuals see less mucus build up and irritation which can lead to congestion, and eventually infection. Many drug stores and health food stores carry products for nasal irrigation, including a neti pot and aerosol can saline solutions.

Immune Builders

Many sinus sufferers insist that increase your dosage of Vitamin C will help stimulate a stronger immune system, thereby reducing your chances for sinus congestion. This is true when sinus congestion is the result of a cold or flu. An increase in Vitamin C can strengthen the immune system and the body's ability to fight of infection. However, it is best to consult a physician for the proper amount of Vitamin C to ingest. Too much Vitamin C can be harmful to the body. Another great immunity builder is Vitamin D3. This vitamin can stimulate the immune response, which, in turn, counters any sort of infection. It is also an anti-microbial, which means that, when taken, the vitamin kills any sort of microbes within the body. While Vitamin D3 can be produced by the body from direct sunlight, most individuals are deficient, due to lack of outdoor activities. Today many sinus sufferers can find these vitamins packed into orange juice and other beverages, like teas and water. Adding these delicious drinks to your daily routine can help ward off any sinus congestion. Increasing fluid intake can help flush the system of any agents which irritate the sinuses and cause congestion, while fortified fluid helps strengthen the body.

Vapor and Compresses

Many swear by vaporization. Today there are vaporizers available at most grocery stores, and some even have wells to which owners can add different treatments. In the old days, people would boil a pot of water and add different liquids, like menthol, eucalyptus, or vinegar to vaporize. They would then place their face about 10-12 inches (or whatever is comfortable to you-please remember this is hot steam) from the steaming pot. As the water boils with the additional liquids inside, the menthol, eucalyptus or vinegar becomes steam and is inhaled through the nose. This steam helps reduce inflammation and congestion in the sinuses, which helps the individual breathe better.

Another great home remedy is hot compresses. Using hot compresses on the sinus area will encourage the sinuses to release the mucus and drain, thereby alleviating the congestion. If you don't have any vinegar or menthol to place in your boiling pot of water, you can simply place a towel in the water to create a compress. But please allow the compress to cool to a desirable temperature-one that is warm enough to stimulate drainage, but not hot enough to scald-before placing it on your face.

If your sinus congestion is persistent, it is best to consult a physician to see if the condition is more than just allergies or the flu.