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.
Emma's Hot Pepper Steam
Posted by Emma (Houston, Texas, USA) on 03/23/2009
★★★★★
Remedy for sinus/chest congestion
This remedy will unfortunately make you miserable before it makes you better! You will need: cayenne pepper or chili powder (either works), garlic pepper, black pepper and red pepper. In a medium saucepan, add 3-4 tablespoons of each (enough to where you can really smell the pepper - it might make you start to sneeze, that's good). Bring the water to a simmer - not a boil, that will make it too hot. Put your face over the pot - not too close - and breathe in the steam through your nose and mouth. Make sure you have plenty of tissues handy, since you will start sneezing and coughing up all the gunk that is in your sinuses and your chest! Once you are done with this treatment your sinuses/lungs will feel much better, though.
Optional ingredients: mint leaves, ginger.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Oregano Oil
Posted by Jennifer (Vancouver, Canada) on 02/07/2009
★★★★★
Oil of Oregano and Apple Cider Vinegar cured my sinus congestion in minutes.
The idea popped into my head after trying various other remedies with minimum results. I took roughly 5 drops of Oil of Oregano and 2 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar, and my sinus congestion cleared in about 5 minutes. I now have my taste back!! :) I take my OoO by taking a large sip of water in my mouth, then dropping it in on top. As for the ACV, I take it straight with cold water. It shocked me how quickly and efficiently it worked!
Dosage: 5 drops Oil of Oregano
2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar, Oregano Oil
Posted by Jennifer (Vancouver, Canada) on 02/07/2009
Hello, I forgot to add in my post that I used a Neti Pot before taking the Oil of Oregano and Apple Cider Vinegar for my sinus congestion. The Neti Pot alone didn't leave my sinuses clear; but the combination of the Neti Pot, followed by 5 drops of OoO, and 2 tablespoons of ACV kept my sinuses clear for half the day. I also had my sense of taste back.
I've used this combination a second time now, and it is just as effective as the first time. This one's a keeper!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Greg (Walla Walla, Wa) on 12/05/2008
★★★★★
Hello, after suffering the last few months with constant congestion both in my sinus's and my upper chest I checked myself into a hospital. After being poked and monitored for 3 days they discharged me after filling me with the same off the shelf Mucinex you can buy yourself. Of course after a day I started feeling bad again as the drug wore off. Out of desperation I turned to the Internet as I felt I was suffocating from the congestion. I found this website with all the testimonials on the wonders of using ACV. I went to the local market during lunch and bought a bottle of Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar...for $3 I'd take a chance...why not? That evening (four days ago) I started taking a tablespoon of ACV in a coffee mug I filled with water. In an hour my sinus's started feeling clearer. I had forgotten I could breath through my left nostril. I started drinking my "tea" in the morning and evening. Well, now its been 4 days and my chest is starting to clear also. Just yesterday I was still having the chest constrictions but today I feel great. I'm anxious to try the natural unfiltered ACV when and where I can find it. Also interested in adding local hometown honey if I can find it as I have read about the benefits here also. Now, I need to say that I'm an old crouch, 57 years old, and set in my ways. But I have to admit to you all that this has helped me. No voodoo magic stuff for me. Try it. I did and I'm happy. And the wife is happy too! She says I haven't snored in the three nights I've tried this. Of course I didn't think I ever snored!!
Apple Cider Vinegar, Tomato Tea
Posted by Diane (St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.A.) on 11/26/2008
★★★★★
Yesterday I went to the internet in search of a natural remedy for my terrible sinus congestion. Usually irrigating my sinuses with the neti pot (warm water, salt, baking soda) does the trick, but this virus seemed to be getting the upper hand. I tried the apple cider remedy (hot water--about a cup--2 T natural honey, 2 T organic apple cider vinegar) and the tomato tea. I had two cups of both. Within a half hour my sinuses started to clear. I could breath through my nose all night long and here I am--next morning--breathing easily. I don't know which did the trick--maybe both. No matter. I'm very happy. Thank you!
EC: Receipe for tomato tea is here.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Karen (Hicksville, NY) on 10/18/2008
★☆☆☆☆
Had nose congestion after a cold. Tried apple cider vinegar in very warm water with a little honey...for at least 2 days and, sorry, it did nothing! Perhaps it was the quality of the vinegar? Perhaps I should've tried capsule form? I was so encouraged by all of the positive stories but alas, mine didn't work out that way:(
Neti Pot Remedy
Posted by Jennie (Stony Brook, New York) on 06/14/2008
★★★★★
I have had a terrible cold with sinus congestion, and couldn't get any sleep last night. I had always found the idea of nasal irrigation a little "icky," but out of desperation I decided to try it. I mixed 1 teaspoon of salt in a large coffee mug (sorry I don't know the ounces!). I don't have a neti pot, so I used a drinking straw to pick up the solution and drop it in my nostrils. It took me a couple tries to figure out how to get it to come out my other nostril instead of going down my throat (spit it out when this happens), but I got it. The result is amazing! I can breathe clearly, and I just wish I had tried this last night when I couldn't sleep!
Oil Pulling
Posted by Yaz (London, UK) on 02/10/2015
I did oil pulling, I use sunflower seed oil to cure my tooth ache which was really bad. I find sesame seed oil is better than coconut oil although both cleaned my teeth brightly and also made my gums healthy looking. I just put a bit of sesame seed oil in both nostrils although way upto the top of each nostril and within 5 minutes found that my sinuses are a lot clearer.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Lei (Atlanta, Ga) on 11/14/2007
★★★★★
re: sinus infection/sinus pressure --
hot shower, breathe the steam
-hot packs placed on your fore head and back of neck
-vicks vapor steamer! this thing rocks! just add water and pinch of salt!
-inhale and exhale up each nostril salt water, it dries your nostrils
-antibiotics, just eat lots of yogurt after to replace the good cells
i suffer from chronic sinus issues all year long and these are some of my remedies. hope it helps you!
Apple Cider Vinegar Sniff
Posted by Franklin B. (Summerville, South Carolina) on 03/08/2013
★★★★★
Poured a little on a paper towel, sniffed it a a dozen or so times and my sinuses started clearing up quickly. This is the first time I've done it, so I'll keep my fingers crossed!
Neti Pot Remedy
Posted by Carla (Syracuse, NY) on 05/19/2007
★★★★★
My ears were plugged solid due to a head cold. I happened to watch 'Oprah' that day and saw a Dr using a 'sinus wash' to clear out sinus. He used a 'nose biday (sp?)' with warm salt water. I found in my house a sippy cup with a straw attatched. Stand over the sing. Tip your head sideways and pour the warm mixture in & up that nostril...until it starts coming out the other nostril. I found it helpful to push the back of my tongue up against the back of my throat so it wouldn't come down my throat. When the mixture starts coming out of the opposite nostil, stop. Do the other side. The blow the hell out of your nose. IT WORKS! OMG I was so happy to HEAR again after a week!!
Vicks
Posted by Amanda (Coats, NC) on 05/01/2007
★★★★★
I found that putting a table spoon full of vicks vapor rub in a pot of hot water and bringing it to a boil when the pot comes to a boil turn it down to low and hang your head at a safe didtange from the pot and put a towl over your head and breath in breathe deeply with your nose. it will be difficult to breathe in at first but it gets easier with each inhelation of your nose. HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEONE
Tea, Garlic, Cayenne, Ginseng, Royal Jelly
Posted by Ken (Arlington, VA) on 02/03/2007
★★★★★
Simple remedy that is working for me to assist in ridding your body of sinus issues and assisting in the reduction of sore throat is just this.... 1 cup of litely presweetened tea, 1 teaspoon of minced garlic, 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, 1 vile of ginseng and royal jelly. Heat in the cup for about 2 minutes, let set for another couple of minutes and slowly drink. You will start to feel the sore throat go away while your sinuses drainage. It also appears to help me relax. Always remember to discard of any excess mucus in order to get rid of the bacteria that has collected in your sinus cavities during the time of mucus build up. Good luck to everyone.
Salsa, Cayenne, Garlic
Posted by Ken (Arlington, VA) on 02/03/2007
★★★★★
I have been getting more involved in home remedies. Just worked out the sore throat issue then I had to focus on the sinus drainage which will also contribute to having a sore throat due to the thick mucus running from the sinuses down to the back of the throat. I read that you can use tomato juice and certain herbs. This is what I had to do since I do not have tomato juice in my home. One cup of medium spicy salsa, 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, 2 teaspoons of minced garlic, 1 tablespoon of honey. I heated this up (covered) in the microwave for 2 minutes, let it set for 5 minutes. Then I drained all of the juice into another cup (leaving out any salsa chunks) then I slowly drank the spicy concoction. Man, did the drainage begin. REMEMBER: when sinuses are draining, always blow your nose and spit out the mucus. You will start to get rid of any bacteria that might have collected in the membranes during the time of mucus build up. Also try to drink clear fluid. I prefer warm lemonade with 1 teaspoon of garlic juice. It really does the trick.
Neti Pot Remedy
Posted by A.C. (Atlanta, GA) on 01/07/2007
★★★★★
I had a cold for about a week and a half. It finally developed into one of the worst sinus infections I have ever had---to top it off, I am 6 months pregnant. After 2 days of pure misery, I went to the doctor. He gave me an rx for an antiobiotic. After 2 days of taking it and pseudoephedrine round the clock, I was still miserable. My head pounded, my nose was totally clogged on both sides, and my head felt like it was going to explode. Desperate to try anything, I went to Walgreens and purchased "SinuCleanse"--a product complete with a neti pot and saline packets. I used it every 2 hours for the first day, along with drinking the ACV/water mixture 2x's/day, and by the second day, I had relief. I could breathe and could tell my head was starting to clear up! By far the best thing that I had tried! Thanks for your website! It has helped tremendously!
Neti Pot Remedy
Posted by Cindee (Oakham, Ma.) on 09/16/2009
★★★★★
Allergies -- 20 yrs. ago I had allergies, to mold, dust, grass, trees(oak). I had head aches everyday for two years. I finally moved out of the house I lived in. It took two years for the headache to go away, ecept that in the spring they came back. It led me on along journey to health. I changed my diet to a healthy one. Fruits and veg. less red meat, more fish, pork and chicken. I also juiced and now grow seeds. in a jar for salads. One of the best things I did was the netti pot to clean my sinuses, especially when the allergie season came. I also made a tea with sliced garlic, and filtered water, (1clove in 1cup water). let it cool and put it in a spray bottle. I used it to spray my throat and nasal passages. Garlic is a antibaterial.You can use oregano too.(1tsp.in 8ozs.water) I do this when ever I feel a cold or a soar throat coming on. The next day its gone. If your ears hurt use 3% pure hydrogen peroxide. A few drops in ea. ear. I haven't been sick for three years now. Recently I read a website about vitamin A. It is so vital to our mucus membranes. My thoughts are that maybe we are defficient in vit. A. I think that everyone who has allergies should read that site. She was a very important figure in nutrition after world war I or II. I recently went on cod liver oil pills.(vit A} I remember years ago mothers gave 1tsp. of cod liver oil to their children. Why, I don't know. Adelle Davis has old books on health an nutrition. My elderly Aunt told me about her. Its amazing what you can heal yourself, with the knowledge. Research is everthing. Dr.Oz, on Opha said, if you give the body what it needs, the body has the amazing ability to heal itself, and I never forgot that. Life is wonderful.
Steaming
Posted by Monique (Mansfield, OH) on 12/24/2006
★★★★★
Apple Cider Vinegar - Steam works like a charm! I've had sinus congestion and headaches for 4 months. Antibiotics didn't work - this works to clear the congestion. Jury still out on weather this will cure the problem, but I'm hopeful.
Oregano Oil
Posted by Jennifer (Albuquerque, NM) on 12/03/2006
★★★★★
I tried ACV, the spicy tomato tea, the onion halves with brown sugar, and the garlic soup. Especially the tomato tea and ACV brought some temporary relief from a month-long cough and sinus congestion that I'd had almost as long. As far as I'm concerned, though, the #1 choice and remedy should be Oil of Oregano. I bought a jar last Tues. and began taking three per day with meals. I am so encouraged and feel at least 95% well again. After doing some research on it I now know that this is an amazing product! Perhaps it doesn't work the same for everyone but it has done so much for me in six days. I've also been using a good quality colloidal silver in a nasal spray bottle. This has probably worked alongside the Oil of Oregano for the sinus congestion. It cured a month-long cough/bronchitis and sinus congestion. I'm wondering now if I could have increased the dosage of Oil of Oregano to say four a day. I've stayed at 3/day since I couldn't find any info. to let me know if more would be too much of a good thing. Any thoughts on that?
Salt Water
Posted by Erin (San Diego, CA) on 09/15/2006
★★★★★
My 12 yr old son just did this when he woke up this morning. He has chronic allergies and sinus troubles from Sept-May and a nurse friend suggested this to me many years ago. It has worked wonders for my kids anytime allergies or congestion kick in. He went from not being able to breathe at all this morning, to breathing comfortably.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Ty (Columbus, Ohio) on 11/20/2008
★★★★★
WORKED WELL, MADE ME SNEEZE A BUNCH. AND HURT LIKE HELL TOO
Steaming
Posted by Lisa (Plaistow) on 03/23/2005
★★★★★
I find that it works well to take a hot shower and let the bathroom steam up. Just relax and take deep breaths and be sure to blows your nose right away when down before everything hardens up again! also drink a warm cup of tee w/ some honey.
