Quick Sinus Relief: Natural Remedies for Congestion

Steaming

Posted by Millie (New York, NY) on 11/25/2006
★★★★★

i have been suffering from a cold/sinus infection this entire week. it put a damper on my 4-day thanksgiving weekend. i cannot take over the counter cold remedies because they make my heart race, so i've been overdosing on vitamin c and echinacea, but to no avail. finally today, after not being able to breathe and having a bowling ball headache for four days, i went online to seek out a natural remedy and found your site and talk about acv. i had forgotten about it and actually pulled out a book i have from years ago and started reading. i was feeling so awful today that i had no intentions of walking out the door, still in my pajamas and looking sick, so i called my local health food store and begged them to deliver me a bottle of acv. i drank an acv/water mixture and also tried boiling a mixture in a pot and breathing in the stream. i can't believe that i've been breathing now for over an hour (i sure hope it lasts). i had to write because this is really terrific. thanks for reminding me of the benefits of acv. now that i dusted off the book, it's staying out where i can keep on reading.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Anonymous (USA) on 06/28/2006
★★★★★

Tilt your head back and spray into nostrils with a 50/50 mixture of h202 and distilled water. This is great for colds and plugged sinuses. The peroxide will bubble and help to kill the bacteria. Hold for a few minutes then blow your nose into tissue. Warning -- it may sting for a minute or two!

Steaming

Posted by Rosa (Monterey, Ca) on 08/25/2011
★★★★☆

After reading this, I took a long, hot shower and I can already feel the difference. I am a Soldier so NOT going to work is NOT an option. I've been trying for 3 days to find relief from this severe congestion. Thanks!

Cayenne

Posted by Clew (Stephenville, Texas) on 09/30/2022
★★★★★

So I tried the cayenne pepper on a qtip with nasal solution and sprinkled cayenne onto the tip and then put in into my nostril and sniffed it. Yes it burned but that did not last too long and within 5 minutes my nose started to run and I felt drainage in the back if my throat. I will do this more often until I feel clear!!!! Thanks earth clinic and everyone here!!!

Smelling Black Pepper

Posted by Hossein (Iran) on 01/09/2021
★★★★★

Smelling black pepper helped my brother a lot for his sinusitis.

Elderflower Juice

Posted by Idot13 (Co. Dublin) on 07/15/2020
★★★★★

In reply to Christine on the acupressure page under myopia:

Posted by Christine (Virginia Beach, Virgnia) on 02/01/2009: "Modern day Chinese people have overcome myopia through the usage of acupressure massage techniques. Some of them are listed in the eBook you have mentioned. Today I started doing them. While it is too early to tell whether they will overcome myopia or not, I can tell you that my eyes already feel more relaxed, and my sinuses are draining better. Perhaps these exercises will help sinus trouble in addition to the myopia that plagues our nation."

For cure of sinuses the best cure is elderflower juice.

How to make:

Take one lemon and put into a pint of boiling water and let it get soft. Then put in about forty heads of elder flower and let it simmer for about twenty minutes.
Then let it cool or strain anď squeeze all juice out.
Put back into saucepan and heat up with half a bag of sugar and leave it heating until it melts the sugar.
Let it cool and bottle it.
Take about two teaspoons of juice every day.

You should be fine for winter plus summer, but it must be taken every day.

Enjoy yourself. May God bless.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Ted (Tx) on 06/12/2017
★★★★★

ACV sniff for sinus congestion.

It worked for me as well

Cayenne

Posted by Suzanne (Colorado Springs, Colorado ) on 02/21/2016
★★★★★

I dipped the 2 end of q-tips in cayanne pepper and sniffed it into my nose.. I could feel my nose fast became swollen and the burning sensation; however, I was draining from nose I blew my nose several times. I put Vaseline on the edge of my nose then after 20 minute I took a hot steamy shower and I felt a huge relief. I could breathe and smell better. The next day I did once more time and then it was gone. I've suffered from allergies and congestion for a long while but mostly Spring season. I have tried sudefed, mucinex and others but didn't help at all only made it worse.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Chloespeaks (Nyc) on 11/08/2015
★★★★★

I came home last night with a serious bout of sneezes after walking the dog through windy fall leafy weather. Immediate massive congestion accompanied by runny nose. I neti'ed immediately which helped the sneezing but everything else still present. I even took a Zyrtec, which again, helped but still massively congested after 3 hours.

Drank a warm glass of 8oz water, 2 Tablespoons honey, 2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar and it immediately cleared one nostril. Felt like 50% better but my sense of smell was still gone for about one hour. Then I took another, milder dose, 1 Tablespoon each of honey/ACV. I got less noticeable relief but went to bed and slept soundly (snoring though which only happens with congestion). Woke this morning with one side still congested, but now 2 hours later completely 90% clear with sense of smell back.

Black Seed Oil

Posted by Myway (Wilmington, De) on 02/11/2015
★★★★★

Hey Karen, run down to the health food store at your location and purchase some black seed oil (nigella sativa). It comes in an 8 oz bottle. 1 tsp in am and 1 tsp in pm. It really does handle the sinus inflammation, congestion and mucous pretty fast. It is an ancient oil that also has anti-viral properties as well. I use it daily to keep my allergy/sinusitis/congestion at bay. I can honestly say this one oil truly affected my breathing significantly.

Black Seed Oil

Posted by Myway (Delaware) on 01/14/2015
★★★★★

Black Seed Oil (Nigella Sativa) - hands down has completely kept my nasal passages clear and mucous free for over a week. Since it reduces the histamine response, my asthma symptoms, allergies are almost completely gone. The cat's sleep next to my face - and I wake up with a clear nose. Overall, reduces systemic inflammation in the body with a natural oil! I will be taking this for life! 1 tsp in am, 1 tsp in pm. That's it. Sure, it is bitter but the benefits are wonderful.

Here is a youtubevideo from Dr. John Gray - I can't imagine him talking about his sinus condition - but this is what he uses. A simple, but complete explanation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mnMk9BZbxo

MyWay, :D

Eucalyptus Oil

Posted by Ahimsa33 (Tucson, Az) on 01/08/2014
★★★★☆

A few drops of eucalyptus oil in steaming water did wonders for my congestion. I am still stuffy but able to breathe through both nostrils now!!! Doing this steam therapy actually released a huge nasty glob of mucus from way back that I think was causing the blockage (which is so gross, sorry, I know, but felt so good!! ). I got one ounce of the essential oil for about $5.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Acvworks! (Atlanta, Ga) on 08/10/2013
★★★★★

Wow... 4 days of being completely 100% stuffed up. I had been drinking tea with ACV and honey.. But obviously not ENOUGH. Measure it out... 2 TBS of ACV and 1-2 TBS of honey and 6 oz of water. Within a couple minutes BOTH nostrils completely clear... Ahhhhh! :) Now.. what to do for earaches that came from being stuffed for 4 days.

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

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 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!!!

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!

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!