If you have sinus congestion and cannot breathe, you want relief right now! Natural remedies for sinus congestion are quite effective. You may have just what you need in your kitchen!
Instant Relief
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is one of Earth Clinic’s most popular remedies to clear sinus congestion fast. Our readers typically take 1-2 teaspoons in an 8 ounce glass of filtered water once or twice a day. Relief occurs in less than an hour typically.
Black Peppercorns
To use black peppercorns to relieve your sinus congestion, take 4-5 peppercorns and slowly chew and swallow them. Relief is imminent.
Cayenne
You know that when you use cayenne pepper on your food you only use a bit because it is so powerful. The same goes for using it for medicine – a little goes a long way. Take a cotton bud and dip the tip of it into the cayenne pepper. Carefully insert the cotton bud into the nose and apply the cayenne pepper to the inside of your nose. Have your box of tissues handy because your nose is going to run like a faucet! Be warned – this remedy does burn initially but that feeling passes quickly and is worth the relief it brings.
Vapor Rub
Carefully apply a menthol salve or vapor rub to your face over your clogged sinuses. (Be careful not to get it into your eyes!)
Herbs
Herbs can be taken in food or tea. They take a little longer to work than the above methods and actually work well when combined with the above methods. These herbs work to support the immune system and reduce inflammation to bring long term relief.
Nettle
Nettle is highly nutritive and is especially helpful if your sinus congestion is caused by allergies. Several cups of nettle tea can be consumed daily. Alternately, take 4 nettle leaf capsules twice a day, with or without food.
Garlic
Garlic will fight infection, reduce inflammation and support your immune system. You can add garlic to your meals or buy a garlic supplement.
Turmeric
Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory king! Additionally, it fights infection. Turmeric can be taken in capsule form, thought traditionally it is added to milk. ¼ teaspoon to up to a teaspoon can be added to a glass of warm or cold milk. Because dairy products often make sinus congestion worse, try a non dairy milk like almond or rice milk.
Foods
If you like spicy foods, you will be happy to hear that they are effective at fighting sinus congestion.
Horseradish
Have you ever tried horseradish? It is very spicy and you can feel it up in your sinuses in seconds after it enters your mouth. You only need a pea sized amount on a cracker or piece of bread. You may need to repeat the remedy every hour or so.
Hot Sauce
Hot sauce can be added to your food, soups or even hot tea to get your sinuses opened.
Tomato Tea
Tomato tea also makes benefit of spicy foods to open up the sinuses. This recipe created and refined by Jean has helped many people find relief from their sinus congestion.
Lifestyle Remedies
Exercise
Light exercise can help relieve sinus congestion. Walk around the room or up and down the staircase a couple of times. A rebounder is especially helpful and will also get your lymph moving to facilitate long term healing.
Wear a Hat
Grandmothers told their children to wear a hat and scarf for a reason! You lose a lot of heat through your head. Keeping it warm retains your body heat and energy and has even helped some with sinus congestion. Wear a warm stocking cap around the house and even to bed, especially if you have a chilly bedroom.
Baking Soda Bath
A warm bath is relaxing and healing all at once. At a cup of baking soda and a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil to your bath water and soak as long as you like. The baking soda helps to alkalize your body and the eucalyptus oil will help to clear your nasal passages.
Do you have a natural remedy for sinus congestion? Please send us some feedback!
I have a trick for stuffed nose, for when you have a flu. for example: Sleeping side/mewing:
If your left nostril is stuffed, then you should sleep on the right side for 5 minutes, keeping the left nostril pointed upwards! You will hear a popping noise in your nostril. Also be aware of your tongue posture!!! Don’t do mouthbreathing! Read about “mewing” Greetings!
Pumpkin Oil for sinus congestion:
Pumpkin oil is working great for my sinuses, which have been clogged for years now – it is actually finally clearing up! I can’t believe it & am so glad after all this time to find relief! Pumpkin oil is an antifungal, so it makes sense it would clear sinus issues.
Yesterday at 3pm, my head felt like it was in an aquarium. Ears clogged, headache, completely stuffed up. I took 2 TBSP of ACV (with the mother) in a mug of hot water with a few shakes of cayenne pepper. My sinuses did ease up a bit within 30 minutes, going from a cement wall to a moist sponge, but that was about it. This morning, I took the same thing again. It's 2pm and– compared to yesterday at this time –I'd say I've improved 70%. I can breathe through my nose easily and taste things. No headache, no clogged ears. Vast improvement.
***Important to note though: make sure you're downing tons of water and liquids in addition to this ACV tea. Also, be sure that the ACV is shaken up and has brown sediment floating in it, aka the "mother"; you don't want the clear, clean stuff.
Sinus pressure:
A very saturated ACV onto a q-tip and roll inside your nostril sniff back and pressure is gone. Great stuff.
I have had chronic sinusitus all my life. I use coconut oil for many different things but had gotten out of the habit of oil pulling. I recently have had such a problem with my allergies that I resorted to using nasal spray only to have the rebound effect worsen my symptoms. I though of coconut oil and just put some up my nostrils with a little relief. Then I found the reviews on here and tried oil pulling. Can I just say amazing!!!! Within 30 seconds of having it in my mouth my congestion opened and I was able to breathe! It lasted about 15 minutes so then I tried the qtip with coconut oil on in up my nostril and it worked as well! I will keep with this regimen as often as needed to get through this rebound from the nasal spray!