Sinus Congestion
Natural Remedies

Quick Sinus Relief: Natural Remedies for Congestion

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.

Neti Pot Remedy

10 User Reviews
5 star (10) 
  100%

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!

Replied by Cindee
(Oakham, Ma.)
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.

Replied by Debrah
(Oxford, Nova Scotia)
01/31/2011
★★★★★

I've (always?) had a stuffy nose and finally got smart enough to check the internet and found out about using a neti pot for sinus congestion. So I tried it and the benefits that first time, have lasted overnight. I will do it again today and every time I start feeling slightly congested. Neti pots work big time!


Niacin

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by V (Seattle, Wa) on 02/11/2011
★★★★★

Niacin for sinus problems

I had not taken niacin for a long time. I also have a cold. One of those icky sinus congesting colds. My mouth is dry and my snot is thick and sticky and yellow (sorry for the imagery). I just took a high dose of niacin (1000mg) and when it kicked in and my body began to flush I had the urge to blow my nose and when I did my sinuses cleared out completely and they have not been this clear in over a week). I'm not 100% sure if niacin is related to my sinuses clearing but the odds of them clearing out for the first time in a week within 20 minutes of taking niacin would be low. After my niacin flush began to disapear my sinuses began to congest again. This could be a coinsidence but I don't think so.

If you have not taken niacin before you should know that it will make your capiliaries open and when they do blood flows much more easily. Because your capiliaries have expanded they are larger and more blood flows through and you can see this happen as your body turns pink/red. You can also feel the increase in blood flow with a tingling/itchy feeling as well as a warm/hot sensation which are due to vastly improved circulation. These sensations will not appear imediately, they will build up over a ten to twenty minute time period. Because the heat and itching will gradually increase do not be alarmed, after 10-20 minutes the effect will plateu and then decrease and the effect will be over, no matter how unpleasant it was.

I do not recomend taking niacin for the first time at least 2-3 hours before an event or meeting friends because the reddening of your skin may embarass you if you are not used to it (even if you are used to it, I can tell you it is not a flattering look, lol). Also while niacin itself (as far as I know) does not interfere with sleep the itching feeling can make it difficult to fall asleep if not impossible or may wake you if you fall asleep before it kicks in, so I do not reccomend taking it before bed until you know if you can sleep with it.


Oil Pulling

7 User Reviews
5 star (7) 
  100%

Posted by Majid khan (lancashire, United Kingdom) on 01/28/2008
★★★★★

I have tried OP pulling for several weeks and results have been incredible. I have had suffered sinus problems and after OP it has cured them. I have felt this calmness that I havent felt for A LONG TIME. The problem in life is that you get told so many solutions to health issues that you dont know which one to choose. I just think that the remedies that make you think "thats disgusting I dont want to try it" are the ones that really work. I feel that especially sinus sufferers are prone to mood swings, feeling low and feeling drained that OP is a BREATHE OF FRESH AIR (that sounds good!). So give it a try and dont be shy MAJID KHAN (happy dude)


Oil Pulling
Posted by Steve (Naples, Florida) on 01/17/2008
★★★★★

re: poor digestion -- yeast overbalence -- sinus congestion -- oil pulling (remedy). I tried the sesame oil pulling for the first time at the early hour 3:30 Am -- I could not sleep due to sinus congestion - my heart was beating 90 - 100 beats per minute mainly due to the yeast in my mouth and sinuses -- I took the unrefined sesame for 20 minutes and during the treatment my sinuses opened up completely -- after I finished I was so relaxed I could not believe it -- the thrust taste in my mouth was gone and my upset stomach had calmed down -- it has been 9 hours since the first treatment and I am as calm as a cucumber -- I can't wait until tonight to take my second treatment on an empty stomach right before I go to bed -- please spread the good word about OP and lets nip the pharma business in the butt - God bless everyone


Oil Pulling
Posted by Antoinette (Raleigh, NC) on 01/05/2008
★★★★★

WOW! I was just reading about the oil pulling. I have severe sinus problems, as well as a host of other ailments, which I will relate at another time. I woke up this morning severely congested, with thick green mucuous. I searched the computer under sinus treatments and found this website. I decided to try it although I was scared. I didnt have sesame or sunflower oil, I only had extra virgin olive oil, so I tried it. I just tried right now for the first time. Within 2 minutes....yes!! 2 minutes! my nose opened up, and I could breathe!!! I started feeling more alert in my mind, and I was so shocked. I just spit out the solution a few minutes ago...... and I brushed my teeth, and Im going to drink the 2 to 3 glasses of water. I will post again soon. I will do it again tonight. Thanks!!!

Replied by Yaz
(London, UK)
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.


Oil Pulling
Posted by Diane (Minneapolis, Mn) on 11/29/2007
★★★★★

I thought it sounded crazy. But I am always game for a healthier me. This morning was my first try at "Oil Pulling" and I had Immediate Results! my sinus cavities cleared up Immediatley. I can't wait until I reap the benifits from the Mollasses and ACV.. I'm turning everyone I know onto this site. thanks Earth Clinic


Oil Pulling
Posted by Valerie Wright (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) on 09/17/2007
★★★★★

Have been oil pulling for 12 days and taking coconut oil for 10. Am thrilled with the results. On the 2nd day of OP my sinuses started to drain (didn't know they were congested) and two days later my lungs started to expel mucuus. Also found that I was sleeping much better and had more energy.Of course, the mouth and teeth felt great. I am taking coconut oil about 3 times a day. It is all absolutely astounding. I just love your site. Aren't we lucky?


Oil Pulling
Posted by Sylvia (Laveen, Arizona) on 09/17/2007
★★★★★

I started OP two weeks ago. The results are amazing. My sinus problems have cleared up after much mucus building and spitting the first few days. Sinus med's are now a thing of the past. My teeth are brighter and my gums no longer bleed when I brush my teeth. My hair is thicker and shinier. I have adult acne that flairs up at times and the OP hasn't really done much for that. I will keep up on the OP daily in hopes that it will clear up my skin. This OP is amazing.


Oil Pulling
Posted by Tricia (San Francisco, California) on 08/28/2007
★★★★★

Oil Pulling: starting out. I've had a cold that wasn't going away, and seemed to be getting worse, if anything. My congestion, and the amount of mucus that was coming out when I blow my nose has been alot. I started wondering if I might have a sinus infection, so I thought I'd try oil pulling. Did it once in the afternoon yesterday, and once in the evening, and suddenly realized that, for the first time in a week, I could breathe clearly. Have done it twice today, and have just experienced a strange thing: I blew my nose and the mucus came out bright yellow, like egg yolk. I have never seen anything like this, and was wondering if Ted or any readers could comment?


Oregano Oil

3 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  67%
4 star (1) 
  33%

Posted by Demetrius (Austell, Ga, Usa) on 08/10/2010
★★★★☆

I have been suffering from post nasal discharge from one nostril for more than 15 years I had surgery 3 times but the problem persists to the point that has made my life miserable and quite embarassing since I have to deal with clearing the back of my throat from thick mucous that gets stuck there and requires a lot of coughing and effort to be cleared. I was reading some of the entries about certain remedies and I got interested in the remedy with the oregano. I went to my local herb shop to buy the liquid oregano but I found a nose spray which contains the essential oils of oregano, bay leaf, sage and clove in a sea water base. I tried it out and has made a big difference my problem did not go away but the phlegm is less thicker easier to clear and plus my problem sinus side feels less obstructed than before. It has to be the oregano.


Oregano Oil
Posted by Denver (Dayton, Ohio) on 01/22/2008
★★★★★

have used oregano oil to clear up my stuffy head a few times. I know this sounds crazy to anyone that has taken it before but i put a drop on my wet fingers and then snuff it!! ouch!! but instantly i can breath and the burning stops in just a few minutes. Dont even know if this is a good idea but it works for me Denver


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?


Peppermint Oil

2 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  100%

Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 05/19/2023
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Peppermint Oil for Sinus Congestion

Here is a trick you can do at home to un-clog your sinuses. This remedy must be done just before bedtime because the menthol and bioactive chemicals from the peppermint will make your eye water and tear. If your eyes are closed, there is no problem.

Peppermint oil is highly effective at relaxing muscles in your nasal passages and helping to clear out the muck and pollen from your respiratory tract during allergy season. It's considered one of the best essential oils for allergies because of its expectorant, anti-inflammatory and invigorating properties.

A lab study published in the European Journal of Medical Research found that menthol displayed potential therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders such as allergic rhinitis, colitis and bronchial asthma.

Take 20 drops MCT Coconut oil or regular coconut oil (since it's a light oil and penetrates easy into the skin). And add 20 drops Peppermint oil (I like Now Brand) ratio 1:1. Mix together in a small bowl with your finger til uniformed.

Apply this mixture over your sinus plexus, all over your forehead, temples, jaw, cheek, as close to the eye orbit as you can get (but not in your eyes!), nose bridge, in front and back of ears and back of neck. Immediately go to bed.

Have tissue handy for what will come next. Your sinuses passages will dilate and open up. Next, the flood gates of thick snot will start coming out. Depending on how bad you were congested will determine how long this will last. For chronic sinus issue's, you may need to repeat for a few days to completely clear the sinuses of infection.

If you have hyperactive skin, dial down the ratio to 5:1.


Peppermint Oil
Posted by Sabita (Orange City, Florida) on 04/25/2020
★★★★★

I just got instant relief from hardly being able to breathe by inhaling 100 percent Peppermint Essential Oil on each side of nostril. I held bottle up to right side, plugged left side and inhaled. I then repeated for the left side. 10 minutes later completely unclogged. It wasn't clogged by mucus so much as maybe swollen (Inflammation?!) Hope this helps!


Pickle Juice

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Paul (Wrangell, Alaska) on 02/21/2012
★★★★★

Reading your site on nasal congestion. Just tried a shot of pickle juice and water. 20 min later, nose has stopped draining. Cool.



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