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.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Suntater (Danville, In) on 05/26/2013
★★★★★
Apple Cider Vinegar for Sinus Congestion: Just a side note, my grandfather drank a glass of apple cider vinegar and honey every day as a daily preventative. I remember him staying home from work for only one day with a cold when I was a kid, and I even lived with him for awhile.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sandi M (El Dorado Hills, Ca) on 05/23/2013
★☆☆☆☆
I'm so disappointed. I've had nasal congestion for 3 days now and have tried a few OTC and natural remedies, but everything only temporarily helped. Then I came across this site and gave ACV a try. I've now sniffed it, gave myself a facial steam with it and drank it with a mixture of honey and hot water.... Nothing. Well, maybe not nothing; on a scale of 1-10 (10 being able to breath clearly without obstruction and 1 being completely blocked) I'm about a 3. I can sort of still breath through my nose, but it's only mildly better. Bummer. I was really hoping this would work. :-(
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Rosie (Artesia, New Mexico ) on 05/15/2013
★★★★★
I was having such a hard time breathing so I googled home remedies and came across this one using ACV. I heated 6oz of water, 2 tblsp ACV and 1 tblsp honey on the stove and drank it warm. It was actually not bad tasting and worked great. In a matter of minutes I could breath. I will definitely do it again.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by I am a nut for home remedies (Bloomington, Indiana ) on 05/05/2013
★★★★★
Thanks so much, I just tried it. I had also read that drinking ACV in water daily and eliminating sugar for a couple weeks will also get rid of parasites in the bowels. Gross but it happens. It helped my sinsus but it many take longer for it to really help in the long term. It is a healthy way. Better than tons of antacids and foreign made toxic sinus meds. Decongestants, (so I've read online) will rise the blood pressure so it's good to avoid that in people with hypertension. I have to stand in the shower most mornings to get some relief of allergies. Washing the face daily and especially around the nose helps wash off any kinds of pullens that might attach to the face. Washing hair and clothing daily helps too, to avoid pollens.
Eliminate Bananas
Posted by Cherylee (Johannesburg, South Africa) on 03/14/2013
★★★★★
I have suffered with really bad sinus for over 2 years. It has been getting worse and worse to the point that I could not even smell or taste anything for over a year! I was in my local Dischem chemist looking for yet another cure when the sales assistant asked me if I ate BANANAS???? Bananas??? She said I should just try cutting them out for a month. Well, I had already cut out dairy, wheat, sugar all to no avail so it was worth a try.
Its been over 2 months now and no more sneezing, sinus and my taste and smell have returned!!!! JUST AMAZING!!!
Thank you Thank you Dischem lady!!!! <3
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!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lori (Chicago Heights, Il) on 02/25/2013
★★★★★
I have been drinking the Apple Cider Vinegar tea for about 3 weeks 16oz a day. With that I have experienced loose stool and drainage from sinuses. Today I do not feel the greats but I am able to breath out of both nostrils and that feels great. I will continue to use ACV and the tea. Thank you
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Holisticmama (Greensboro, Nc) on 01/18/2013
Robert: Try sprinkling a little Cayenne pepper on your food also you can squeeze some fresh lemon juice in a cup of spring water and add 1/8 tsp of cayenne with a tbsp of Maple syrup. Drink slowly. Great for chest congestion.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Citygirl27 (Richardson, Tx, Usa) on 01/05/2013
Check your dental health. My mom had heavy, severe sinus congestion for months and months, actually it went on for a year and a half before doctors found out what was the problem: she had an infected tooth under her gum that was seeping into her sinus area. Once the tooth infection was treated, her sinuses cleared in the space of a week.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Randy (Howell, Michigan) on 01/05/2013
★★★★★
I have been heating ACV and breathing the fumes for the last few years when ever I feel congested or like I'm getting a sinus infection. This has always worked great for me. Heat a small amount in a pan on the stove (I would not microwave, it may destroy the properties of the ACV) SLOWLY breath in the vapors and hold in as long as you can. You can even breath this into your lungs as long as you do it VERY SLOWLY!! To hard and fast will cause you to choke. You will find that it will loosen up phlegm and mucous like nothing else! You will get immmediate relief and the key is to not stop breathing it in just because you get relief so quickly. I try to keep breathing it in 3 times a day for several days to be sure the bug gets killed by the acv, which it will. I do like the idea of making a nasal spray which I am going to make up and try.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lloyd (Charlotte, Nc) on 12/20/2012
You've got the infection way back in the sinus and possibly in the ears and down the eustation tubes. Use an ear syringe and gently squirt colloidal silver into sinuses and ears. The CS will sting on the prominently infected side of sinus. Repeat ten minutes later. The sting will be gone. Repeat as needed. Infection will be gone in two days... Possibly in two hours. Lipid coated viruses are harder to kill. Be persistent. The silver will kill it.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Robert (Katy, Texas) on 12/19/2012
I must either be doing something wrong or my sinus issues are far more severe than the typical persons. I have tried both the ACV recipe and the recipe for Hypersonic Saline Solution( 1 quart of distilled water, 2-3 tablespoons of Sea Salt, 1 tablespoon 3% Hydrogen Peroxide) and while both recipes do get the sinuses flowing, now I'm left with draining sinuses down my throat and a hacking cough.
I need something to dry out my sinuses, any recommendations?
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jml (Denver, Co) on 11/26/2012
★★★★★
Thank you for the ACV remedy, it was helpful! ACV in water also works for heartburn. Sinus problems, among many other illnesses, are fungal related and the eating of grains and sugars definitely exasperate it. It's not that grains in themselves are bad, it's because many of our grains these days because of the way they are stored are contaminted with mold and fungus and most of the fungi are not tested in our food supply. For anyone who's interested there's a great site where you can read or listen to more info on the subject... The website is knowthecause.com and the man's name is Doug Kaufmann - he's been researching the fungus link to disease for over 30 years. Many have been healed of various illnesses by going on what's called the 'Phase 1' diet. It's basically a diet that eliminates sugar and grains and believe me it does make a major difference! I have veered away from it the last few months and my sinuses acting up again was the price I paid. Needless to say, I plan to get back on the diet since it's the only thing I've found that really makes a difference.
In any event, hope people will check out the site, there's tons of good information and it will definitely help you - it's been a lifesaver for me! Stay healthy!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Roxanne (Dallas, Tx) on 11/13/2012
★★★★★
I used 2 Apple Cinnamon herbal tea bags, after boiling a large cup of water in the microwave. I added 2 T. AC Vinegar and 2 large Tblsp. Honey. My sinuses instantly drained, and it tasted like hot apple cider! No gagging involved here. I might try the ACV in the Saline solution too, because I still feel pain in my sinuses, probably from being stopped up so long. They were throbbing so bad earlier, I felt like you could see it throb in the mirror.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Robert (Katy, Texas, Usa) on 11/13/2012
★★★★★
While this mixture did resolve my sinus congestion, its the chest congestion thats showing only moderate improvement. I've taken several doses ( 2 tbl. ACV, 1 tbl. Honey and 8 oz. Warm water), each seperated by 4 hours. My question is: How often can/should you take this before your body reaches overload?
For me and the time of year, this can develop into pneumonia if I'm not careful. EC, any thoughts?
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Big Joe (Chicago, Il) on 10/23/2012
★★★★★
I read about heating ACV and breathing the fumes. I bought a spray bottle of saline solution and I squeezed some of it out into a little dish. Then I put one drop of organic ACV into the squeezed out saline and then squeezed it to suck all back in the bottle. The result is a very low concentration of ACV that you can spray into you nose at any time. Works great! You need to really breathe it in deeply to get it all the way inside your nose. It stops congestion right away
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Angela (Gautier, Mississippi) on 10/23/2012
apple cider vinegar is great. But lets get to what has caused your problem. "your bottom line"your bottom line is your PH balance. Most of everyone started in april. What do you think you all did in april that was the same?ate easter bunny candy. Lol yep thats what I said. you lowered your bodies PH from eating to much candy/sweets/carbs.=acidics.and that goes for you halloween candy eaters also, cooler weather means we start indulging on sweeter items. Cause we arent going to the beaches any more, so we dont have to worry about a little pooch belly.
Your bodys PH is best around 7.4 when you eat those delious sweets you lower it to around 6.8 you start felling sluggish/slow/fatigue.you eat a few more the next fe weeks, days which lowers it to about 6.5 right here you start getting sick. Now what you have done is made a perfect place for bacteria, infections to live, fungus... Etc. So now what do you do?stop eating sweets? but you love them?
ok you have to put in your body a 70/30% ratio of alkaline/acidic foods every day. Small piece of meat or no meat at all, with lots of veggies, instead of that coke, drink water. Sweeten that tea a little less and do more activity. If you sit in front of the computer all day like me, you do not move enough to be able to endulge in to many sweets. If your active your body can burn some of it off. So now that your sick what do you do? the apple cider vinegar will help. I like to put a little alcohol in my ears when I feel like I have a infection or water in them. Not much just a little. And after one night of 1 drop or 2 in the ear the next night I use a little oil just so it doesnt get dried out. That hurts too. Dry nose, saline salution squrted up in there about 3 eimes a day for a week and use a little vaseline on a qtip to just lightly coat the insde of your nose so it doesnt dry out so quick. When I throw myself into that acidic sugar days and get sick, I put about half teaspoon of baking soda in water drink it just before bed. Its ok to drink water afterwards but nothing else. It kind of kicks it in gear so to speak. It also works for acid refux which most of the time is caused by too much sweets. Lol they also sell PH strips online cheap. I dont know what stores sell them. But they come in handy. I hope I helped ya'll. remember your bottom line is your PH balance no matter the illness type even cancer.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Newnerdmom (Salt Lake City, Ut) on 09/25/2012
★★★★★
I'm sitting here breathing and amazed! Truly did not expect this to work. I have had severe sinus congestion for days along with a horrible cough. I have heart arrhythmias so can't take most decongestants and antihistamines weren't working. Neti pot - helped for a few minutes. Steam - worked while steaming. Saline nasal spray - didn't get through the goo. I am a wife, mother, full-time student, voice teacher, and have two part-time jobs (no, there are not enough hours in a day) and don't have time to be sick one second longer. I tried 6 oz. Water, 2 Tbs. Vinegar, 1 Tbs. Honey and heated. Drank it down - gagging numerous times. Within minutes I could breathe through both nostrils. WOW!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Badri (Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia) on 07/28/2012
Apple Cider is good for many other things, not just sinus. It is good for lowering your colesterol level, cleanse your body in terms of detoxification process. Even washing your food, ie vegie, fruits, meat, chicken with ACV helps to take out some of the poisonous materials from your food, it purifies the poisonous material used during plantation/spraying. By dipping bread with just ACV is purely a healthy food already. It may not be delicious, but it is healthy. Regular ACV is a continuous health process and it is a source of natural immunization for the body against deseases. There are so many goodness in ACV, just continue taking it warm honey. After taking it (first timer), you will experience a bad smell in your urine, a sign that it is working/cleaning your body.... Oh another thing, it is good for your kidney too. As for honey, you already know. So, Honey ACV=natural goodness and solution for your entire health problem. Take it warm in the morning, and one before you go to sleep... But avoid heating it in your microwave oven... It will give less effect by doing this way. Natural heating for natural food will give a much better result to your body.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Cal (Denver, Colorado) on 07/18/2012
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Juniorsgirlnyc (Staten Island, New York) on 07/17/2012
★★★★★
I, on odd occasions, get severe nasal and chest congestion out of no where! I hate it I can't sleep I can't breath and all that OTC stuff makes me foggy, dried out and really sick to my stomach... And I don't trust doctors who are paid to push certain drugs. So I had enough after my 3rd night laying in bed hating the clock ticking I got up and searched for salvation! THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH! Nothing worked so well and so quickly. I don't feel dizzy, no nauseous and not dried out. I can just simply breath. Nasal inflammation and congestion is so annoying... LOVE ACV! I used a 1/3 cup ACV 1/3 honey and mixed it with my favorite pomegranite and blueberry tea! Never again will I suffer!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Nicole (Grand Rapids, Michigan) on 06/21/2012
★★★★★
Loved it! I add just a bit of coffee creamer to make it more palletable and a little more creamy. Within minutes my sinuses were almost cleared!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Felicia (Cope, Sc, USA) on 06/17/2012
★★★★★
I tried this 3 days ago and I must say I am amazed! I was suffering from sinus congestion for 2 days. I found this site and read about the results and figured I had nothing to lose. I put 2 tbsp of acv, 2 tbsp of honey and 8 oz of water, heated in mic for abt 30-45 secs and drank it. I felt relief in about 30 mins and could finally breathe! I slept better than I had in weeks! I did the same thing the next morning and now I have no problems! I have been telling everybody about this! It really works!!!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Linn (Maine, Usa) on 05/21/2012
★★★★★
Best remedy ever! I was skeptical. I have been sick with severe sinus congestion/infections since January, it is now almost June. Over the counter sinus sprays helped temporarily, then not at all. Tried Steam, and neti pots, flushes, etc. Doctors prescribed antibiotics, steroids, allergy medication. All temporary or no response. Out of desperation I tried 6 oz of water, two teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar, and approx two teaspoons of honey. Heated in the microwave. Within a minute I could blow my nose, within ten minutes I released all the pressure in my head. I still have tons to get rid of, this is the first thing I have tried that actually got rid of the congestion. I am thankful. Thank you so much for sharing!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lorraine K (Garner, Nc) on 05/12/2012
★★★★★
THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! My husband drank 1/2 a cup of 2T ACV, 1 t honey & 8 oz of boiling water. He had to stop drinking it b/c it was gross. When he stopped he was able to blow his nose which is awesome. Then this morning he woke w/NO head pressure/congestion or headache. Yes, he will try that again b/c he hates medicine. THANKS!!!
Camphor
Posted by Hippocrates (Odin, Missouri, U.s.a.) on 04/28/2012 9 posts
★★★★★
Hello all, I have suffered from sinus problems my whole life. This often leads to headaches caused by the sinuses being inflamed. I love to sleep with a fan for the sound, but this causes them often, so I must not. Drinking milk before bed does the same, so I must not. As does certain times of year, temperature too low in the house, humidity changes, smoke, etc, etc.
One thing I found helps lessen the pain is the "nose bullets" as I call them. Tubes you stick in your nose and inhale the vapors. They contain Camphor/Menthol. They do not "cure" a sinus headache, but lessen the pain. Heating up some "chest rub" in a jar does the same, but it is not as portable. Also, rubbing the "chest rub" onto your forehead helps soften the pain. I use Neti pots but add 1 teaspoon or less of Xylitol and several drops of hydrogen peroxide per each pot full to the standard salt/baking soda powder that is out there.
I post these not as medical advise, but something that has worked for me to make living with sinuses more bearable.
Neti Pot Remedy
Posted by Desigirl (Oakland Gardens, Ny) on 04/17/2012
★★★★★
Jalneti or neti done with jal (water) from the Indian Ayurveda is a process of gently cleansing the ENT (eyes) canal which could be done once a month or so.
About 4 Oz. Of saline-warm-filtered water is poured through each nostril followed by pranayam (preferably Bhastrika pranayam) for at least 5 minutes. This is like blowing into the bellows to dry up the leftover water moisture in the ENT canal.
The fast and deep breathing is done for drying the ENT and not cleansing the nose etc. As pointed out by another commentator. * If this drying of ENT is not done one may develop Pneumonia as water may seep through to the lungs causing infection.
The problem happens when half knowledge is passed on by these so called specialists leading to more danger to the patient than when he first started out.
Tomato Tea
Posted by Holly (Fresno, Ca) on 04/15/2012
★★★★★
I honestly can't believe this WORKED! I have had a terrible cold with a sore throat and the worst sinus congestion for four days straight. Fearing a sinus infection, I was preparing to head to the Dr. in another day. I had tried everything I could think of, Sudafed, Dayquil, and even Nasal Spray (which only worked for a couple of hours, not 12 like the label promised). Desperate, I went online to try a "natural" remedy. I was willing to try just about anything. And what do you know? It WORKED. Within 20 minutes my congestion felt less "throbbing" and one more cup and 2 hours later - my sinuses are TOTALLY CLEAR! My throat is starting to feel better too! I am definately going to use this remedy again if I ever feel a cold coming on. One thing, I added a little honey and I crushed my garlic with a garlic press. It seems to have helped get the garlic to juice out a bit more. THANK YOU so much for this amazing recipe!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jerrod (Tucson, Az) on 03/27/2012
★★★★★
Just wanted to say thank you I couldn't sleep all night so I looked up head congestion and found this site. Luckily I had a bottle of ACV I chugged what was left in the bottle down and now my head feels clear. I will go buy me another bottle tomorrow. Thanks again great tip, I will also be making some of that tomato tea sounds awesome.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Leanne (Toronto, On) on 03/23/2012
★★★★★
I just recently began to develop sinus congestion. I was completely stuffed up & had no decongestant in medicine cabinet. I decided to try a remedy that had read about in an old book my mom had.
I combined 1cup of water with 2 tsp apple cider vinegar & a heaping 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper.Within minutes my sinuses began to clear. The bonus of this recipe is that the cayenne is great for a sore throat. It makes it feel better & is anti-microbial.
Pink Himalayan Salt
Posted by Shana (Los Angeles, California) on 03/16/2012
Also I wanted to add that it's helpful to add 1 drop of ACV into the solution of pink salt (1/4 teaspoon) to irrigate. Drinking the ACV (2 teaspoons in 8 ounces of water 3X a day) is extremely helpful for clearing sinsuses as well. As well as taking large quantities of Vitamin C (Reactiva C works well). But irrigation (for me) is key!
Tomato Tea
Posted by Jennifer (Sunrise, Fl, Usa) on 03/15/2012
★★★★★
I can't believe how well this works. I'm still in shock!
2 days ago, I started to become sick with the flu when I was on a 18-hour flight. On came the chills and fever, and then my nose kept running non-stop. To make it worse, the changing cabin pressure on the descent gave me excruciating sinus pain and made my ears clogged to the point where I couldn't hear out of both ears anymore. I can't take cold medicine because I have thyroid disease, and I am slow to recover because my metabolism is very slow.
Yesterday my sinuses and fever got worse. I remembered reading about this remedy on Earth Clinic and I was eager to try it. Luckily I had all the ingredients on hand. I used V8 Spicy Hot juice, lemon juice (bottled), minced garlic, a lot of tabasco sauce (as much as I could stand) and a dash of celery salt for taste. I heated it in the microwave for about 1 1/2 minutes and then sipped and inhaled the fumes as directed. About 10 minutes after I started to sip it I noticed an increase of nasal discharge. I had to keep blowing my nose over and over again, but this time when I blew my nose I actually felt like I was clearing it out, instead of the feeling of blowing your nose and feeling like it gets clogged up again 5 minutes later. The pressure in my ears released about 60% and I regained most of my hearing. My fever increased and for a few hours I felt pretty rotten, even though my nasal passages had cleared. But in a few hours I felt at least 60% better, which is amazing considering that it usually takes me 3 weeks to recover from a cold! I slept all through the night with no problem.
This morning I made another tomato tea. While drinking it, I felt my left ear "pop" and the pressure released. I now have full hearing in my left ear and a 70% improvement in my right ear. I then took a hot shower afterwards (the steam helps to open the sinus passages) and kept blowing my nose. My nasal congestion is about 85% gone, I don't have a fever or chills anymore, I got most of my hearing back and I don't feel groggy anymore!
It doesn't seem so crazy why this works when you do some research on capsaicin. Capsaicin is also the active ingredient of pepper spray. Capsaicin is an irritant, and when you inhale pepper spray, your body pushes it out by forcing your sinuses to clear themselves and making your nose run uncontrollably. Have you ever eaten a really spicy dish and had your nose start to run?That's the capsaicin at work.
I have Vietnamese friends who swear by a similar remedy that works in the same way as the tomato tea. They swear by eating pho (a hot fish/noodle soup) when you are sick. They put a lot of Sriracha (Vietnamese hot pepper sauce) in the soup and breathe in the hot fumes. The steam and pepper helps open and clear the sinuses.
I have also been drinking echinacea tea with a tbs of coconut oil and I've also been drinking some ACV throughout the day. (I don't take the ACV too close to the tomato tea though, because ACV is alkaline while the tomato tea is very acidic).
Thank you, thank you, thank you Earth Clinic for this wonderful remedy! I can celebrate my 30th birthday this weekend without feeling miserable :)
Pink Himalayan Salt
Posted by Shana (Los Angeles, California) on 03/09/2012
★★★★★
I have tried forever to use salt to irrigate my sinuses, and I never could because I found the salt to be extremely irritating, and it actually made me more stuffy afterwards! That is, until I tried using Himalayan Pink Salt in a squeeze bottle (i have found a squeeze bottle to be much more effective than a neti pot bc it really gets the solution up into the sinus cavities). If you, too, find salt too irritating, try using Himaayan Pink salt - I don't have to use baking soda or anything else with it - it's soothing & makes a world of difference!
