Sinus infection can cause a lot of distress, especially for children and infants. It is mostly triggered due to a cold or cough and sometimes leads to chronic problems that can trouble you your entire life. Sinus blockage will cause difficulty in breathing, infection, and general malaise.
The problem is normally treated with antibiotics and over the counter medications. However, several home remedies can be used for treating sinus infection and the mucous drained from the nasal passage easily. Here are some ways to go about it.
Easy Home Remedies For Sinus Drainage
Steaming
Steaming is one of the best and simplest procedures that can be used for treating sinus blockage. Steaming will help in melting the mucus that is trapped inside the sinus and this will help in releasing the trapped fluid from the sinus and relieve the associated symptoms, thereby easing breathing.
Steaming can be done regularly to prevent sinus blockage and when you have an infection, you can drain the sinus and prevent aggravation by steaming regularly.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus oil is known to be an excellent remedy for treating sinus blockage. Eucalyptus has a cooling effect on the body and helps in treating the nasal blockage by encouraging drainage of the trapped fluid. Eucalyptus is very strong and may not be suitable for direct application on the skin.
Apply a few drops of eucalyptus oil on a handkerchief and inhale the aroma. While sleeping, you can spray a few drops into your pillow so that the nose does not get blocked and the mucous remains thin and diluted as well, making it easy for the person to blow the nose and remove it.
Garlic
Garlic is a very effective anti-inflammatory agent and can be used for treating a number of diseases of the body. When your sinus is blocked, the trapped mucus will start cultivating bacteria that can cause respiratory and ear infections.
To prevent this and drain the sinus before severe infection sets in, you can take 3-4 cloves of garlic every day until the inflammation subsides and the sinus is drained of all the mucus, thereby preventing an infection.
Cayenne Pepper
One way to treat sinus and nasal blockages is to make your body hot so that the sinus will start draining naturally. To attain this, you can use cayenne pepper. This hot pepper will heat your body up and initiate a reaction by melting the mucous and removing the fluids.
Take half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper every day with some warm water. This will help in easy drainage of the phlegm from your nasal passages.
Chamomile Herbal Tea
Chamomile herbal tea is very relaxing and anti inflammatory in nature. Chamomile helps in treating a number of inflammatory diseases. Taking a hot cup of chamomile will have several benefits when you are sick and feel stuffy.
The hot tea will melt the mucous and the anti-inflammatory action of chamomile herbal tea will help in treating the sinus blockage by relieving the mucous and easing the discomfort. Brew a tea with a tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers in a cup of hot water. This can be taken two to three times a day.
Peppermint Herbal Tea
Peppermint tea too is wonderfully soothing and gives a cooling sensation to your body that will help in treating sinus blockages. Take a teaspoon of peppermint leaves and add this to a glass of boiling water. Steep for ten minutes and take it 2-3 times a day to relieve the mucus from your sinus.
Green Tea
High in antioxidants, and also anti inflammatory in nature, green tea can be used for treating many illnesses of the body. It is also a good herbal remedy for sinus drainage.
Green tee can be prepared by adding a green tea bag to one cup of boiling water. Steep for not more than two minutes and then take it 2-3 times a day when you have sinusitis. Taking green tea hot will increase the effect as the heat too will act on the sinus and melt it, thereby helping it to be drained.
Hot Fluids
Hot fluids can be taken while you have sinusitis as it can help in loosening the phlegm and helping the sinus to be cleared, thereby preventing sinus infection and blockage.
Hot fluids can be anything from vegetable soups, hot water, herbal teas etc. However, avoid anything starchy like rice water and milk as they are known to thicken mucus and worsen the sinus infection.
Hot Water Shower
A hot water shower will heat the body and this too will loosen the mucus and encourage it to be drained from the sinus. Take a shower with hot water and allow the water to trickle down your face and sinus areas so that the mucus that is trapped inside will be drained by the time you are out from the shower.
This can be continued twice or thrice a day and for a few days until the sinus is completely drained.
Ginger
Ginger tea is very effective in treating sinus blockage. Ginger helps in heating the body and increasing the blood circulation in the body, thereby helping the mucus to be loosened and drained naturally.
After the intake of ginger, you will find that you nose will start running profusely. Continue taking ginger tea or chewing on ginger until you are entirely alright. Ginger tea is also very safe for children.
Saline Drops
Saline nasal drops can be made at home by adding half a teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water. This can be added as drops into one nostril, while keeping the other nostril closed.
Blow the nose after this in order to remove the excess mucous from the nose. Saline drops can also be bought readymade from the shop. It can be safely administered even to children. Never continue the use of saline drops for more than three days in a row.
Basil Leaves
Basil leaves are anti-inflammatory and anti bacterial in nature. They can be used for draining the sinus.
Basil leaves are also very hot and melts the mucous when taken all throughout the day. Take some fresh basil leaves and add to a cup of boiling water. Steep for ten minutes and take this throughout the day.
Caution: Please use Home Remedies after Proper Research and Guidance. You accept that you are following any advice at your own risk and will properly research or consult healthcare professional.