Quick Sinus Relief: Natural Remedies for Congestion

Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne

Posted by Put some good ideas together (Toronto, Ontario) on 05/15/2009
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Sinus Congestion with Sore Throat:

I've always taken a dash of Cayenne Pepper (I'd say a teaspoon, but it's really as much as you can comfortably handle as an individual) with 2 tablespoons of Lemon Juice and 2 tablespoons of Honey in a mug of boiling water for a sore throat.

Great relief and tastes great too.

After reading other posts and some experimentation I am now changing my recipe to..

1 dash Cayenne Pepper
2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
2 tablespoons Honey
1 Mug boiling water

Same great taste, but better sinus relief as well as sore throat.

Chinese Hot Mustard

Posted by Bob (Tazewell, Virginia) on 06/26/2008
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Natural decongestant: Chinese hot mustard works very well to drain sinus congestion. It helps to do a nasal irrigation afterward.

Neti Pot Remedy

Posted by Linda (Studio City, CA) on 03/25/2008
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Try using the Neti pot with warm salt water. It flushes out your sinuses like nobodies business and it's safe and effective. You can use it everyday. Whole Foods sells them or you can get them off the internet. This and the Cayanne pepper drink saved me last night. My sore throat went away and now my PND is getting better. You guys are great.

Cinnamon Oil

Posted by Brigitte (Houston, Texas) on 01/11/2008
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Each year, I have sinus drainage which results in throat problems.

I read somewhere that cinnamon oil is a natural antibiotic so I thought I would try it to treat my sore throat and sinusitus. Sincerely, it works to assuage the complications that occur when these things are allowed to run their course without a series of antibiotics.

Note that if you do not catch the problem in its early stages and you begin to develop an ear infection this will burn like crazy when it hits the eustration tube of your inner ear. It will cause no harm but it literally feels like your inner ear is on fire.

It works to open sinus drainage if you use a dropper and place two or three drops on the back of your mouth's roof top. Larger doses cause minor stomach irritation.

Pregnant women should avoid all forms of cinnamon like the plague; as cinnamon can cause premature labor

Salt, Baking Soda, Lemon Gargle

Posted by Ratna (Pawtucket, USA) on 09/29/2007
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If you wake up with a heavy head and bad throat which usually causes body ache, try this,

step 1. take hot water mixed with salt, baking soda, lemon juice gargle, clean, wash your toungue, throat, upper part of inside of your mouth, it will make you want to throw up almost, eyes will be so red, but you feel relieved so much, this is cleansing the mouth.

Step 2. put some oil inside your both nostrils almond oil or may be olive oil (we in Southern India use coconut oil) you have to use your fingers as much deep you can reach to do this, then take hot water in a plastic mug which is pointed on one side (or if you can find NETI POT wich is shaped like Alladin's lamp use it) put the hot water inside of one nostril after another tilting your head and drain it out, you will find all the dirt - mucus come out at once, (some water may come into your mouth or through another nose), this you can do two times a day, this is keeping your drainage clean. you will find great relief in your head, eyes, even in shoulders, if the allergy cold is so severe.

Step 3. Take hot boiling steaming water into a wide mouthed vessel, add Vicks or drops of eucalyptus oil (Nilgiri oil) into it, bend your face into it, cover your head surrounding the vessel with a thick towel, inhale the steam as much heat you can take, your forehead, eyes, ear start to feel so much better, this is steam therapy.

I had been to a doctor, who is not able to diagnose my allergy sinus cold properly, instead when he is asking me questions like 'are you feeling depressed' I felt he needs to be sent to a therapy session on how to treat his patients well and listen carefully what they say.

Vicks

Posted by Cindy (BELLMORE, NY) on 09/23/2007
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An old remedy but a good one. I have a nasty sinus infection - they only thing that can penetrate the all the mucus is boiling a hot pot of water - add Vicks Vapor rub - a small amount will do - let the water cool down for a minute of two. Take a towel and put your head over the pot breath in through your nose the best you can. Do this up to tens minutes if you can. It is very strong. Vicks vapor rub has all natural ingredients- directions for this is on the bottle.

Garlic, Onion, Red Pepper, Thyme

Posted by Pattie (Gonzales, louisiana) on 06/05/2007
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i tried the tomato juice tea. it did not cure my sinus congestion, but it was a nice temporary fix. I also use one of my own. I take one white or yellow onion and chop it, 10 cloves fresh chopped garlic,1 tsp. red pepper, 2 tsp. thyme. Put in a pot with 8 cups of chicken broth. bring to a boil ,then let simmer for 45 min. or until onions are transparent. when it is ready add 1/4 cup apple cider vinager to it/ sip or eat like soup. salt and pepper optional. really opens the sinus

Neti Pot Remedy

Posted by Debrah (Oxford, Nova Scotia) on 01/31/2011
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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!

Steaming

Posted by Monique (Mansfield, OH) on 12/24/2006
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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.

Ajwain Seeds

Posted by Johnathon (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) on 04/17/2008
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I tried the ajwain seeds a couple of times yesterday and didn't see any results, i followed the instructions to the T, didn't experince any of the sensations that i read from other peoples testamonials, so i then tried the spicy tomato tea and only got minor results. So i made another tea about three hours later and still only minor results, it did however help me sleep better, without having to take my any pills which i normally take to help me sleep.. I woke up without any pressure in my sinuses, and no headache, so this morning a dank another tomato tea, and a couple more througout the day. Along with drinking the tea i decided to steam with apple cyder vinager which really helped loosen up my stuffy sinuses, i added thyme and fenugreek to the cyder, not sure if that helps? im going to try a few more cures from your site, and continue with the tea and steam, and keep searching till i find what works best for me...

Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Lori (Topeka, Kansas) on 09/08/2008
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This really DID work!!! I was suffering for day's and then I tried pouring the hydrogen peroxide into both nostrils. I even mixed equal parts of HP and water. It seemed to take the sting out of bit. Thank GOD I found this site. I can sleep tonight!!!

Garlic

Posted by Haywood (Arlington, VA) on 03/16/2006
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I cut up cloves like the size of pills, and took them with water. I did this treatment at night so I could go through the next day without being bothered with hay fever.

Steaming

Posted by Lisa (Plaistow) on 03/23/2005
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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.

Steaming

Posted by Ray (New York City)
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When I get sinus pains and stuffiness in my nose I usually fill my sink halfway with hot tap water and i make sure its steaming. Then I drop a small towel in it for about a minute and then I put the towel on my face until it gets cool. I put it over my forehead, eyes, cheeks and mouth. I breathe in the hot vapors through the nose. I usually put the hot towel on my face around 5 or six times in one sitting. Usually twice a day, one in the morning and one at night. After about a day or 2 the pains are gone. All that disgusting stuff drips out.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Ange (Houston)
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Having suffered with persistent sinus congestion and allergies, here's what has helped me tremendously.
1) Stopped eating dairy.
2) Take at least 2000 mg Omega 3 oil daily.
3) Take turmeric supplements daily (amount varies.)
4) Strong multi-vitamin and mineral daily.
5) Chinese medicine: Jade Screen and Xanthium during my worst allergy season (spring)
6) Acupuncture: 2 times weekly during spring, once every two weeks the rest of the year.
7) Homeopathic tablets for times when I have brief allergic symptoms: Allium cepa for runny nose, Euphrasia officinalis for itchy eyes. I use all the above and it has eliminated my allergies except for one or two bad days in the spring. As a side benefit, stopping dairy also cleared up the joint pain I was having in my fingers.

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.

Steaming

Posted by Angel (USA)
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I found that just taking a HOT cup of coffee, tea, water, etc.. And puting a towel over your head and breathing the hot vapour in through your nose and out through your mouth. Relieves Breathing difficulties as well as a stuffy or runny nose

Mewing

Posted by N. (Germany) on 01/16/2019
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I have a trick for stuffed nose, for when you have a flu. for example: Sleeping side/mewing: If your left nostril is stuffed, then you should sleep on the right side for 5 minutes, keeping the left nostril pointed upwards! You will hear a popping noise in your nostril. Also be aware of your tongue posture!!! Don't do mouthbreathing! Read about "mewing" Greetings!