When it comes to treating the debilitating effects of sinus infections, most individuals are willing to try just about anything. With such an array of treatment products available, however, it can be difficult to decide where to start or what option to choose. Whether a sinus infection has just begun or has been hanging on for days (or even weeks), coconut oil is one of the safest, most effective natural remedies available.
Coconut Oil Remedy for Sinus Infections
In contrast to typical treatments, coconut oil actually relieves the condition. With its variety of beneficial properties, coconut oil is often considered a natural antibiotic and is an especially effective treatment for sinus infections. Organic virgin coconut oil is the best type of coconut oil to use in this treatment and is readily available in most healthfood stores and over the internet.
How Coconut Oil Works
Coconut oil is one of the unique foods that can actually be characterized as a “superfood.” This food contains a distinctive combination of fatty acids that give it exclusive medicinal properties. When digested, coconut oil forms lauric acid and monolaurin, two compounds that are effective at killing harmful pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. As such, coconut oil can eliminate the underlying cause of a sinus infection without harming the natural balance in the body.
How to Use Coconut Oil to Cure Sinus Infections
Coconut oil can be used in a variety of ways to treat sinus infections. Adding a tablespoon to tea or coffee and drinking it is one method. Likewise, the oil can be swished in the mouth and spat back out using an oil pulling method. Finally, the oil can also be used as a nasal rinse by using a dropper or neti pot. To use this method, the oil must be in its liquid form. Adding the oil to purified water with salt and/or baking soda is also effective for rinsing the nasal passages.
Many common treatments of sinus infections can actually lead to worsening of the condition. Coconut oil, however, naturally eliminates the infection, soothing the sinuses, and relieving inflammation as it does so.
Continue reading below for reviews from Earth Clinic contributors around the world who have tested coconut oil for sinus infections. Tried this coconut oil remedy? Did it work? Please send us your review!
Was skeptical but hopeful coconut oil would help my severe sinus infection I've had for a few days now. I put about a tablespoon of Coconut oil with salt solution in my neti pot bottle. I kept shaking it b/c naturally oil goes to the top. In minutes I felt like a new person where my right nostril had been very clogged all day, I even debated staying home form work. I feel amazing now, I don't know how long it will last but I will be trying the q-tip with coconut oil swabbed in my nose if I need to throughout the day!
Coconut oil worked for me! I have a terrible dry sinus infection. I tried everything but it only got more dry and painful. Out of desperation I got a baby dropper syringe and squirted a decent amount of coconut oil up my nose, as it dripped down into my maxillary sinus I could feel the relief and the dry pain went away. Not sure how long the relief will last but for now I'm pain free and not dry. It's amazing… I suffered for 6 weeks with dry bleeding sinuses and right now they are nice and comfortable. I will also be adding coconut oil to my sinus squeeze bottle rinse like others suggested, I agree the saline solution leaves the sinuses dry after a rinse.
Thanks everyone for the conversation and tips. Hope we all feel better soon!
Coconut oil for relief from sinus problems.
I put a teaspoon of coconut oil in my morning cup of peppermint tea and gargle with it. Make sure that it goes right to the back of the throats and if possible above the upper pallet.
I also oil pull with it every morning and take a teaspoon before every meal.
I had suffered sinus problems for years and all of the above have provided me with a new lease of life, especially gargling or any method of getting the CO onto the upper palle.
ACV is also v good mixed 50 / 50 with water (1/2 a cup of each) and inhaled as steam.
I suffer with chronic rhinitis that often leads to sinus infections, which I am currently dealing with. I do not have insurance to go to the doctor and it is getting worse. Will the coconut oil cure the severe infection?
Trick for including coconut oil in sinus rinse bottles.
I have two saline rinse squeeze bottles, and decided to modify one to make it better at delivering coconut oil with the saline rinse. Oil naturally rises to the top when mixed with water, which means no matter how much you shake the bottle, you'll get almost only water out until the mix is almost all gone, since the inlet to the deliver tube is at the bottom of the bottle. So, I took a tiny drill bit (you could use a hot pin or needle too) to put a 2 tiny holes in the plastic tube right up near the top. So when you squeeze water comes up from the bottom but some of the oil floating on the surface is mixed in through the tiny holes. In this way you are bathing your sinuses with the oil/saltwater mix with every squeeze, start to finish.
Sinus infection treatment:
I put organic coconut oil on a q-tip and suaved one nostril and tossed that q-tip in the trash, used a clean q-tip and started this process for the second nostril.
THANK YOU! I've had a sinus headache for 2 days! Grabbed my neti pot /salt/ and the organic virgin coconut oil we use in the kitchen. mixed it all up – Relief!! Instant. I can still feel that there is an infection but omg this is wonderful. An hour later it is even better! I usually heat my water a bit since I don't like cold neti, so it easily melted the oil.
Also along with my sinus issue I got a post nasal drip sore throat and cough…when my throat was super dry and I was having a hard time sleeping due to coughing/dry irritation in my throat just popping about a 1/4-1/2 tsp of coconut oil in my mouth and letting it melt and then swallowing coated my throat enough to allow me to sleep. Wanted to mention since it's another way to use this stuff that I buy in bulk and use in SO many ways.
I have been on a strong course of prednisone for yet another sinus infection without any relief. My daughter sent me a link to this page and I immediately made a neti pot with 1 tbsp coconut oil and salt solution. It opened my passages and has given me the relief I needed within minutes. Then I did a coconut oil pull for the mouth, again more relief. If only I had this information years ago I would have not suffered – THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
I'm totally with you! I feel almost euphoric that I might finally have found the solution to this debilitating issue. I've tried everything from rinses, anti-histamines, steroids, sprays, steam baths, decongestants, kimchii and even surgery – nothing has worked. And one go with the coconut oil in the netipot and it is feeling so much better. No dry, irritated feeling that usually accompanies it! How many times a day would people suggest doing the coconut oil in neti pot rinses?
Day 3 Update – My nose feels better than it has for more than 10 years. Along with it, all of my other feelings of viral infection (heavy head, aching, fatigue) have now also lifted as a result of the coconut oil. I'm sinus rinsing with it 3 times a day and also drinking a tsp dissolved in hot water (I don't drink coffee), as well as 'oil pulling' with it. All bases covered and I'm feeling so good! Thank you to whoever in the world found this miracle solution and thanks all for sharing it!
Thanks – Just tried it too after days of feeling awful – Went to Doc who said to try Sudafed nasal spray. Which worked for while, but did not solve my issue. So in desperation I found this conversation. I already had coconut oil which I use regularly but not for sinusitis, so gave it a go, and my gosh after 5 mins all the gunk is gone and I can breath so much easier! Thumbs up to you.
I am so excited about this remedy.. I suffer with sinus infections year round. I really suffer at night. I have plenty of coconut oil. Thank You Jesus!
Blessings
OMG I just used a little extra virgin coconut oil with sea salt and warm water in a neti pot. My sinus is opening up, it was so soothing to my nose and the back of my throat. I held a nostril closed and sucked it till it hit the back of my throat and came out my mouth. I put some warm coconut oil in my ears too. I'm going to brush my teeth and do some coconut oil pulling also. Coconut kills mono and strep throat germs. I've had tooth aches and stopped them by swishing the coconut in my mouth for 20 minutes. Its been over 10 minutes and I don't feel like I have a sinus infection at all. My left inner ear is a little sore. My sinus's were so bad I didn't know my ear was hurting. I don't know how often I should use this but I will start out using it every 3 hours. I didn't even use a 1/2 teaspoon. I will use a tablespoon next time.
I was thinking it was my imagination, but happy to see others experience the same results. It's cedar season in central Texas and I am highly allergic. I've been sniffing and sneezing all week, constantly congested. Tonight I made some biscuits using coconut oil … the coconut oil really came through in the biscuits, for me too strong (I'm not a fan of coconut), however 10 minutes after eating the biscuits I noticed that I could breathe again! I kid you not! Hello coconut oil, my new friend – I'll be adding you to my coffee in the morning!
Just tried neti pot with warm salt water and a teaspoon of coconut oil for my sinusitus and has cleared my passages fantastically. First time in a week I have been able to breath properly. Magic! Thank you.
It's about 9:57 am and I had just finished a slice of bread with half a tsp of coconut oil. My sinus activity seemed to have settled down and my nose isn't as runny and am not coughing as much. Can feel an improvement though it's only been a few minutes. Also throat is feeling less itchy.
I brought coconut oil to include in my pre-workout stack to begin teaching my body to burn fat instead of sugar… Anyway, the drugstore has been out of Claritin-D and I have been fearing the onset of sinus headaches because I can feel the clogging and then after two days of using this coconut oil my sinuses are clearing out. I didn't know why so I googled coconut oil and sinuses came here and Bam!
Coconut oil up the nostrils (you can use a dropper) is amazing – it really, really clears up sinuses and is a must-try for anyone suffering with any sort of sinus congestion. MAKE SURE the coconut oil is liquified first, though! You can just put a teaspoon or so into a plastic cup & run hot water over it until you see it change to liquid form. You don't want to put it up your nose when it's solid – it could stuff things up!
Yes!! Also try adding Extra Virgin Coconut Oil in a neti pot! Agreed that you should make sure the coconut oil is in liquid form before you put it up your nose! You can just put it into a plastic cup and run the cup under hot water before adding it to purified water and salt (and/or baking soda). It works wonders!
I have used coconut oil for external purposes and oil pulling sometimes, but never up the nose! I do suffer at times with sinus so I will definitely try this! How often is it recommended to be done? Thanks
Just a gentle reminder to everyone, especially in CA; you can put solidified coconut oil in the microwave for just a couple of seconds to liquify it. Try to avoid running the faucet unnecessarily whenever possible, drinking water is a limited resource, thank you-
Hi, how many drops of coconut oil in my nostrils? I hope it works. My problem is the bridge of my nose inside plus inflamed inside my left nostril, my nose on the left blocks as soon as I get in bed, my ears are congested, I can't use anything in my nose that would aggravate it. Thanks
Linda, have you tried oil pulling with coconut oil instead of applying it inside? I have found oil pulling to help PULL out whatever is up those sinuses.
Please do not ever liquefy coconut oil in the microwave, I burned my mouth horribly (I warmed it up to do oil pulling) this way and my whole mouth turned white with burns; it was a very painful and scary experience and I had to take pain killers etc.
I will add another additional note: I also put just a slight amount (what seemed like a few drops but could have been one short squirt from the bottle) of grapefruit seed extract in liquid form added to a tablespoon of coconut oil for oil pulling. It could have been the grapefruit seed extract that burned me or the warm coconut oil but I burned my mouth badly, so please be careful what you add to coconut oil and also never liquefy it in a microwave, please be safe.
Try leaving it out on a warm room. Also you could use a syringe. You can get them at a drug store. Many time they give them out free. Haven't tried this yet. But I am going to. I have also heard that many sinus problems are caused by fungus. From what I have read; antibiotics have cause fungus to run rapid.
I put it in my nose when it is solid, it is melting on my fingers as soon as they touch it.
Simply half fill a porcelain cup with warm water, or microwave it warm and then put the coconut oil in a container and immerse that container in the warmed water. Doing this rather than letting the tap run for a long time needn't use too much water. Good to see people who are conscious of water!
With all due respect, you clearly put it in the microwave for too long so it became too hot.
If one either puts it in for 5-10 seconds or sets the microwave to a lower temp and puts it in for 20-30 seconds — and then tests it with their finger to make sure it's not too hot — then putting it in the microwave should be perfectly safe.
After you do your oil pulling at night before bed, sprinkle some probiotic from a capsule in your mouth also. It works really good for sore throats, infected ears. etc. Just let it sit in there throughout the night so it can set up it's garden of good bacteria while you sleep. You'll be amazed of the power it has.
Yeah, you don't need to melt it. Just a q tip and it melts as soon as it hits the heat inside the nose.
I don’t think you should microwave the coconut oil, better to boil water and let the container holding the coconut oil sit in a hot water bowl/cup till it liquifies.
It's very easy to melt coconut oil. Just fill a saucepan with HOT tap water. Place the entire glass jar of coconut oil in the water. The coconut oil will start to melt and after @10 minutes will become mostly liquid. Then you can either pour the melted coconut oil straight from the jar, or dip a spoon into it to get the amount you need.
I was reading your blog on coconut oil because I had just purchased some and because I found out it was very health promoting. I was going to use it primarily for cooking.
I was currently on antibiotics for a possible sinus infection. I had sinus pain before but nothing like this my eye ached, cheek and forehead on my right side ached and after 5 days of antibiotics I was still suffering from pain… and on codeine and psudoephedrine for pain which only helped for about an our or so.
As I read the blog I noticed somebody posted of relief with sinus pain. I was desparate and I went and took 2 tbs. of the coconut oil. I kid you NOT the pain was completely gone in less than a 1/2 hour. I was in shock… it’s been 5 hours now and NO PAIN!!!! I am a believer in coconut oil and will take it everyday of my life.
Just swallowing 1 tsp of virgin coconut oil daily seems to have cleared my sinuses better than anything else (and believe me, I've tried EVERYTHING else out there for the last 5 years). I needed to take 2-6 capsules of Olive Leaf Extract daily just to fight off constant sinus infections. Now I breathe so much easier and can resist colds better too. I would have never believed it if I didn't try it for myself. I am also now trying a little directly in the nostrils too.
I began 5 days ago taking 3 Tbsp. of coconut oil by spoon (1 Tbsp. before each of my meals). I had recently had a sinus infection and had already finished my round of antibiotics, but was still having a lot of drainage I could feel down the back of my throat.
Last night, not feeling well, I went to bed early. I woke about 2 hours later and sniffed/coughed up a whole lot of very thick mucus several times. I immediately felt SO much better and the drainage down the back of my throat was gone. I have read several things through various websites of what coconut oil is good for and am anxious to see how it effects me through future use.