The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Probiotics and Kefir
Posted by Danie (Seattle, WA) on 02/02/2015
★★★★★
I had severe sinus infection for a couple years, so bad I could hardly open my eyes due to the pressure and all the horrible symptoms. I tried everything! I read something about probiotics and sinuses. I started taking acidophilus bifidus, high 10 billion CFU probiotics, and drinking kefir, and I put distilled water in neti pot and emptied the capsule of probiotics into the neti pot and I added some baking soda into the neti pot this get rid of any stinging sensation in the nose. I did this daily for seven days sinus infection finally gone!
Quercetin, Bromelain
Posted by Maria L. (UK) on 01/19/2018
★★★★★
I agree, the Quercetin with Bromelain combo helped me with my sinus infection, it was not until I decided to take this combination that my sinus infection started to finally go away, I had a very nasty infection that was hurting my ears as well, my head felt like an Air Balloon and had dizzy spells, loud tinnitus and vertigo. I recommend this along with ACV and Honey (I would drink 2 tablespoons, lukewarm water and also would do some gargles as well) also add Oil of Oregano if you can which is anti viral and gives extra punch to the Quercetin. The Quercetin/Bromelain really reduced the inflammation, I used a formula which has both plus vitamin C and other stuff, it is a bit expensive like 18 bucks but worth it in my opinion. In less than 2 days I was basically cured.
Quercetin, Bromelain
Posted by Lilianne (Corona, California) on 08/14/2011
★★★★★
Just had to let people know about this supplement. I've had a chronic sinus infection for 3 weeks now. First I went to the doctor and got the usual antibiotics and was told to take zyrtec-d. After 10 days I felt no relief. My head, cheeks and jaw were pounding from the pressure. I started doing sinus rinses, acv, and purchased nature's rite sinus relief. After 5 days, I felt some relief but I still had pressure and lots of mucous coming out. I bought quercetin-bromelain from the vitamin shoppe for $25 because the worker said it worked really well so I figured why not? Omg, within the first half hour, I started breathing through my nose, my sense of smell was coming back, no mucous was coming out and absolutely no pressure. I was in heaven. Gonna take this on a daily basis. Did some research and it looks like this stuff is good for a whole bunch of other stuff. I can finally sleep at night!!
Red Wine Vinegar
Posted by Dolly (Melbourne, Vic, AU) on 03/22/2007
★★★★★
I went to the doctors re severe sinusitis becoming a bronchitis infection 3 weeks ago and got a cocktail of antibiotics. Recently got results of blood tests which showed I had a virus which of course antibiotics don't treat, doctor had nothing to give me for it. Don't know if it was the virus symptoms plus after effects of penicillin antibiotics. Last night my gland engorgement and bloating in stomach and pain in upper abdomen, swelling in neck and kidney with pain, had got severe I looked like I was in advanced pregnancy! There was another episode where my face and neck swelled in the night. Out of frustration and desperation to find a cure found this web site, (and because I didn't have any ACV, drank some red wine vinegar in water, and periodically cleaned my sinus's with FESS sinu-cleanse can, (contains salt). This morning everything is nearly back to normal. Is it possible that the properties in ACV are the same in all vinegars? My stomach bloating has gone down, sinusitis relieved, kidney pain usually intense in morning down) throat glands are no longer strangling me.
Reishi, Cayenne, Oregano Oil, Garlic
Posted by Logan (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) on 02/16/2009
★★★★★
I always make tea with a japanese/chinese mushroom called reishi (ling zhi in chinese - it is the best for boosting the immune system) and I had been chewing on a few cloves of garlic (this really helped, but only temporarily) but this wasn't cutting it alone for this sinus infection I had. So after checking this site, I decided to do a combo of many of the ideas. I added cayenne pepper to the tea. I also got some wild oregano oil which I both consumed and I inhaled the steam. Basically for 2 days I constantly chewed raw garlic, inhaled steam from the tea, drank the tea, repeat. This is the third day and I now feel almost back to normal... I feel no pressure and no blockage in my nose or allergy irritations, just a very slight drip. My sinus infection had started 3 weeks ago, and before this weekend it was actually getting much much worse.
Rhubarb
Posted by Avi (London, United Kingdom) on 01/26/2009
★★★★★
Thanks so much for the info on Borax, its doing an amazing job on my chronic candida infection. Sinus infection has been a big, BIG, painful problem, causing the kind of headache that occupies everything from the neck up. I recently learned that sniffing up 3% H2O2 can shift that, but I find it really painful and so I tried the advice of a local herb gardener who said to sniff up rhubarb juice, and it worked magnificently.
Stings a little bit, but clears out a lot within minutes and keeps working all day, so you might be slightly sniffy, but great relief, and doing it once every day keeps the sinuses clear, although I don't think its a cure, just a great way of expelling toxins. Mixing 50/50 RAW rhubarb juice and colloidal silver [in distilled water] removes the sting but isn't quite as effective as just rhubarb juice. Anyway, variations on that theme give me immediate relief from sinus headaches. This is useful to me when I detox too fast, maybe it can be useful to others.
Riboflavin, B2
Posted by Karen (Alpharetta, Georgia) on 03/25/2008
★★★★★
Riboflavin B2 100mg right before bedtime will take care of sinus drainage.It will work in about 20 minutes. If not,try up to 250mg. I had severe sinus drainage for years.I found it hard to sit through meetings,church etc, without coughing my head off. I would eat and have a reaction to food and start coughing uncontrollably.Sometimes medications worked,sometimes not. Sometimes I would double up on medication. Now I take NOTHING!
Sage
Posted by Prov31J (Somewhere Over The Rainbow (KS)) on 11/06/2019
★★★★★
I was ALWAYS having sinus infections after ice creams especially in the 80's and 90's... at some point, I read of sage helping with sinus infections... Worked great and I've not had as much of the sinus infections (of course, I rarely eat ice cream and the chemically enhanced soft serve type "frozen desserts" either...).
Even the kitchen spice bottle like you use for cooking Thanksgiving dinner - just plopped a teaspoon in hot tea water and let it steep 3-5 minutes or longer.
At first I wanted it with stevia or honey to deal with the sage astringency/flavor - but now I can just shoot it straight. Be prepared to spend some time in the restroom bringing all the phlegm up - doesn't sound pretty, but the pain goes bye-bye with every glob that I spit up and out into the trash (I shouldn't have to tell you all to not "recycle" it by swallowing whatever you cough. It only buys you a little time until it comes back up so you still need to clear it out of your sinus passages!!).
Sea Salt and Honey Solution
Posted by Katherine (Mobile, Al) on 09/13/2016
★★★★★
I should be getting my hydrogen peroxide delivered today... but I use sea salt and Raw unfiltered honey in distilled water in a nasal mister I bought on Amazon ... was very very ill last week when I took my doctor recommended OTC Delsym (never again) all day in bed.... in the evening I mixed my Raw Honey and sea salt and started using it and my sinuses started draining all the gunk out next morning I felt much better... and by that evening incredibly better. My sinuses are still draining junk as I continue to use my sprayer.. going to give the HP a shot today...
Serrapeptase
Posted by Kayla (Pdx) on 08/27/2015
★★★★★
I had chronic sinus infection for three years. I saw three ENT and had sinus surgery which resulted in scar tissue and option of another surgery to remove scar tissue.
I can across a study on Serrapeptase. In a double blind study, 97.3% success rate in the serrapeptase group as compared to a 21.9% in the placebo group. That is pretty amazing results! Take serrapeptase religiously for two weeks to a month.
I took one three times a day on an empty stomach for a little over month. Cured!
Sniff Warm Water
Posted by Diane (Foley, AL) on 12/02/2008
★★★★★
I work with crafts nearly every day and more during the months of November and December working with fine glitter. That's when my sinuses start getting a little congested. When I am through with the work I walk into the bathroom wash my hands and then fill my hands with luke warm water and sniff the water into my sinus cavity and blow several times and Walla all clear. If I don't get to do it and an infection starts I use a few drops of peroxide and it's clear within 10 to 15 minutes. It took a couple of years to realize it was what I was working with that caused the problem. Yes, I wear a mask most of the time but that stuff just flies everywhere.
Replied by Beverly
(Texas)
01/05/2022
Spleen Connection to Sinus Infections
Posted by Greta (Hillsboro, Oregon) on 10/25/2007
★★★★★
Yes, ice cream, cheese, milk and even unsweetened yogurt all cause me to have sinus infections--even raw goat milk. The raw goats milk was the least innocuous. There are times when none of these bothers me. At one time, about four years ago, if I drank milk (yes, even raw) I would choke on a huge volume of white mucus. I discovered that if your spleen isn't working properly milk can cause a huge mucus buildup. I went to work on my spleen and, lo and behold, I could drink milk once more without any ill effects. I also learned that allergies and sensitivities to foods are related to how much of that substance is stored in our bodies, and certain deficiencies (vitamin, mineral or enzyme) deficiencies we may have. Some allergies may be overcome within seconds of taking the substance you are lacking. For instance 'swimmer's ear' can be 'cured' by taking the EFA'S that person is lacking. Swimmer's ear usually occurs on a hot sunny day when one has been out too long in the sun and gotten a burn, effectively burning up precious EFA's. So, I think this may help people understand why they may be sensitive to a substance at one moment, and not another, or why two people may eat the same food, but only one becomes sick
Replied by Gina K
(Charlotte, Nc)
03/10/2018
Steaming With H2O2 and Salt
Posted by Liz (Fairfield, CT) on 03/02/2009
★★★★★
hydrogen peroxide/water/salt steambath....Yeah, baby! There's always a guy with a BIG RED NOSE doing this in cartoons....but it WORKS! My sinus problem is WAY back, deep inside my head. This really got back there and started draining the sinus cavity. I got a free facial out of it, too! BONUS!
Steaming With Oregano
Posted by Michelle (Atlanta, Ga) on 10/28/2009
★★★★★
Sinus Infection Help: I am sure this is related to the use of oil of oregano, but after using my neti pot, I put two tablespoons of Italian seasoning into a pot or my veggie steamer, and then steam myself for 10-15 minutes. It works wonders for my sinus infections. I know the oil of thyme is used in things like mouthwash, so it might be as effective as the oregano, and the other herbs in it also have medicinal value. I use an organic herb mix.
Stubborn Sinus Infection Remedies
Posted by Susan (USA)
★★★★★
CURING DIFFICULT or STUBBORN SINUS INFECTIONS...
If antibiotics and/or the below-listed home remedies are not curing your sinus infection, you need to take a look at your diet and eliminate all mucus-forming/thickening foods or drinks. Milk, citrus, spicy foods, wheat, cheese, etc. are usually the culprits. Try eliminating them from your diet for a few days.
Then try all of the following:
* Grapefruit Seed Extract -- your sinus infection may disappear after a couple of days of grapefruit seed extract. We like the drops, but be forewarned -- they taste terrible!! Also, never take them on an empty stomach (especially first thing in the morning).
* Drink apple cider vinegar throughout the day in large glasses of water (ACV thins mucus).
* Let the water from a hot shower spray onto your face, especially the forehead and nose. While still in the shower, clear/blow out as much mucus from your sinuses as possible. Do this several times a day.
* Try Oil Pulling, a fabulous remedy from India which alleviates Sinus Congestion within about 10-15 minutes.