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, Cayenne
Posted by Put some good ideas together (Toronto, Ontario) on 05/15/2009
★★★★★
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.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Hoss (Galloway, OH) on 04/20/2009
★★★★★
Belinda, your posting could have been me. I've been to the doc twice with 2 different prescriptions for antibiotics and then when my congestion got so bad that I couldn't breathe out of either nostril then I went to the pharmacy to buy over the counter drugs. I, even, talked with the pharmacist as what I should take. Nothing seemed to help and I was down to just one day of antibiotics left - I thought I should probably go see my doc again. Then for the heck of it I went online and typed in 'severe nasal congestion' and found this website. I had some apple cider vinegar in the basement so I got it out and mixed 2.5 tablespoons with an 8 oz. glass of ice water. I wasn't sure if I could drink it, but it wasn't too bad - a little bitter like lemon or limes. It was amazing within an hour both my nostrils were open and I could breathe. I fixed another glass to sit by my beside during the night and if I got up to go to the bathroom or simply started coughing, I'd take a little sip. I slept the best last night that I have in over a week and I didn't elevate my head to help me breathe. I'm not sure how drinking this gets up to my sinuses, but it surely seems to work - - and I was a big skeptic. Thank you!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Belinda (Reynoldsburg, OH) on 04/10/2009
★★★★★
This is truly amazing! I haven't been able to breathe through my nose in three days, the congestion has been so bad. I couldn't even sleep last night because of it! I've tried five kinds of over the counter cold and sinus medicines and nothing phased it. I just drank a glass of water with 2.5 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, and now I'm able to breathe freely. The effect was immediate. Thank you so much!! This site has been very helpful to me.
Horseradish
Posted by Natasha (Denver, CO) on 03/25/2009
★★★★★
If you are suffering from cold and can not breathe- eat a bite of bread with a quarter of a tea spoon of horseradish. It works in seconds! But for a short time. So you will have to eat another bite in half an hour or so. But you will appretiate the life.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Susan (Phoenix, AZ) on 03/24/2009
To Tasha from Springfield:
I make my own juice and put my apple cider vinegar in it. 1 apple, 3 carrots, 1/6 lemon with peel, 1 cup spinach and 1 Tablespoon ACV. I use organic ACV with the brown stingy stuff floating in it! This juice is so GOOD! You will not even notice the ACV in it, but it sure adds to the delicious taste.
You can find the organic, unfiltered ACV at your local grocery store. It will not be with the see-through stuff, but it will be in the same isle. I wish I could give you the name of the one I use, but it is against this wonderful website's policy (for good reason). ACV also cures hot flashes! It's a miracle tonic!
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, Brown Sugar
Posted by Tuffy Sourdough (Newell, S.D.) on 03/18/2009
★★★★★
sinus congestion relief: Mix 2 or 3 teaspoons of brown sugar, 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar. Tastes great and relieves congestion. Even better: add 1/4 cup raisins and boil, then allow to cool.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lois (W Bloomfield, MI) on 03/12/2009
The pure unfiltered ACV can be found at health food stores, Trader Joes and Whole Foods, etc. It's superior and well worth looking for.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Hector (SSF, CA) on 03/01/2009
★★★★★
My sinus symptoms are gone! I can breathe through my nose now. Thank you all so much. I used 2 tablespoons of honey, 2 tablespoons of ACV, and about 6 ounces of hot water.
Soda Cystals
Posted by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand) on 02/19/2009 392 posts
★★★★★
The reader in Lebanon uses a brand name, Tricel from Holland which if I remembered correctly is an equal combination of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate mix along with some other. Since I don't have the details of Tricel product with me, it might also have some potassium bicarbonate in there, but I can't be so sure, since Tricel is not available here locally. However in my mix, it's suppose to be 1/8 teaspoon of sodium carbonate, 1/8 teaspoon of potassium bicarbonate, and 1/8 teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate. That's why I assume she needed only just Tricel. However, in the U.S. the product in U.S. maybe different.
In most encyclopedic definitions a soda crystals is simply sodium carbonate. However, in commercial applications they appear to have made a mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. The difficulty appears that in an American product, which is not Tricel, they sell them under another brand name, which if I remembered correctly is Arm and Hammer's washing soda.
However in the U.S. a washing soda is sodium carbonate only, but they don't use the word soda crystals. Ideally her dose is something more akin to this, since U.S. versions uses a pure sodium carbonate (washing soda) without any sodium bicarbonate. But my "carbicarb" mixture also requires the potassium to help the required sodium and potassium ratio, which I believe is important to ALWAYS add the potassium in a carbicarb + potassium formulas. Hence a more general dose appears to be closer to this: 1/8 teaspoon sodium carbonate, 1/8 teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate, 1/8 teaspoon of potassium bicarbonate dissolved in 1 glass of water. I would take maybe some water to rinse the bitter after taste if I should take it.
A person's sinuses maybe relieved from either of this depending on the person's unique biochemistry. As in the case of the person who posted it it appears to be an allergy problem or excess blood pathogens, where the body is highly acid. As a result acidosis caused regularly sickness from metabolic acidosis. In that case, the acidity of the body is what triggered the sinus problem and hence the dose use is the carbicarb plus potassium remedy.
As for me, I live in a different environment and conditions. My sinus is from cold virus rather then a regular sinus issue. And also my body is on average alkaline, since I take baking soda most of the time (I like to take more frequently though!). The climate in which I live in Thailand is a lot warmer then the country such as Lebanon or Eastern European area or even most parts of the U.S. since I live in Thailand I sweat more from hot weather. Hence, I am more depleted of salts lost in the sweat, which caused runny nose and sinus problems. So if the body were somewhat more depleted of salt, I would go for the sea salt remedy, to reduce the sneezing or runny nose would immediately stopped, or mostly within 15-30 minutes. The dose is only just one single dose per day and it is between 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt. It's difficult to measure since my sea salt granules are much larger then that of a table salt. I WOULD NOT use any table salt, it just worsens the condition as well as common table salts are ACID, where the pH is closer to 5, compare this to my ordinary sea salt where pH is at 7.5. So there's a big difference just from that alone. When taking sea salt the body becomes somewhat more dehydrated and it kills opportunistic virus or bacteria from increased levels of salinity. The runny nose would reduce because the bdoy won't need to produce fluids since the increase blood salinity would eventually pull out the liquids of runny nose into the body. Perhaps the runny nose occurs as the body tries to rid of fluids to increase the level of salinity necessary to kill the pathogens. This appears to be the case as sneezing and allergy on the nose is significantly reduced after the sea salt remedy is taken. However, if the body doesn't lack the salinity to kill it, at least runny nose would reduce, but allergy and sneezing should technicall be at the same level from pathogens attacking the sinus just the same. In my case it appears that my salinity level are low so sinus, allergy were helped with sea salt. But don't let that fool you since I also alkalize myself especially whenever I do have the cold, also using baking soda, but sometimes a stronger carbicarb+ potassium (equal mixes of sodium carbonate + sodium bicarbonate + potassium bicarbonate) dissoled in 1 glass of water. A sea salt of 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon is also dissolved, but I may either use 1 glass or 1/2 glass of water depending on the conditions.
Hopefully this may help clear up some of the problems concerning this use. It should be noted that it was Benjamin Franklin that first used sea salt water drinking in large quantities of water, - around a 1/2 liter of water (my guess) to ward off the cold virus. Of course he was not able to explain in great detail why. But an ordinar sea salt water has a pH of around 8.0 as well as being high in salt. So basically his remedy is similar to mind, although Benjamin Franklin had to take a small canoe out in the middle of the water to drink a fairly large quantities of water between 1/2 to 1 liter of water is just my guess. He was in fact not the originator of that idea either. He heard news that someone drank sea salt in as a way to ward off the cold. As for me I don't believe it will ward off the cold, but definitely it does help REDUCE the symptoms of cold, especially the runny nose and sinus issue, where the body is depleted of salt causing the body to shed more water to increase salinity killing off the pathogens by dehydration along the breathing passages.
Ted
Soda Cystals
Posted by Peggy (Montgomery, Al) on 02/18/2009
what exactly is soda crystals? I am interested in trying this remedy. Thanks for the feedback....
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, 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
Fresh Ginger Root
Posted by Cay (Perth, Australia) on 01/31/2009
★★★★★
For a sinus remedy try Ginger tablets (travel sickness tablets) or chewing on raw ginger. Crystalised doesn't work.
NAC
Posted by Robert (Manhattan, New York) on 01/23/2009
★★★★★
I occasionally take NAC, (n-acetylcysteine) which is an amino acid that helps flush out mucus by turning it into fluid. I take 500 mgs once a day, on & off and noticed my sense of smell is a little better with the ability to breath through my nose which is usually stuffed.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Terra (Wayne, Michigan) on 01/17/2009
★★★★★
Thank goodness for this site! I've had this horrible cold for 5 days now, I don't like over the counter cold remedies and I have no health insurance so I can't go to a doctor. About 5 minutes ago I mixed 2 Tablespoons of ACV with 8 ounces of water and BEHOLD!!! I can breathe again!! My sinuses are not all the way clear yet but the pressure is gone and one nostril is completely unblocked. I feel a lot better. Thanks eveyone for the great idea.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Tasha (Springfield, OH) on 01/05/2009
Hi Stacey, glad to see the AVC helped you but have a question you might be able to help me with. I am going through the same thing right now but gagged when trying to drink it down I am having a hard time believing people really drink AVC on a regular basis, anyway needless to say a sip was all I had and dumped the rest down the sink I just cannot force myself to drink it, is it possible to mix it with something else to help the taste. Thanks for any suggestions you or anyone else may have, Tasha
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Stacey (Aurora, Ohio) on 01/04/2009
★★★★★
I have been struggling with re-accuring head colds/sinus issues since late Fall and don't you know, it hit me again. I have been using a nasal spray, which did help however it can only be used for three days. Last night was the last dose and of course, I woke up this morning all stuffed up and my ears are blocked, so I hopped online to see what I could find.
I mixed 2 tablespoons of ACV and filled the rest of the glass (regular, tall) with water and drank it down. That was an hour and a half ago and I am already feeling much better. The congestion in my head is breaking up and my ears have already "popped" once and are less blocked than they have been.
I am SO thankful that I found this site and all of the recommendations/testimonies for this home remedy.
Honey and Cinnamon
Posted by Tina (Malvern, Pennsylvania) on 12/18/2008
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
I tried the tablespoon of honey with a teaspoon of cinnamon to try to cure my sinus infection. It helped initially, but only for a few minutes. I don't believe this actually works.
Eucalyptus Oil
Posted by Rosy (Orlando, Fl) on 12/09/2008
★★★★★
I had the worst allergies when I was a kid. I would be given Nyquil so I could sleep, and other OTC cold medicine to deal with the congestion. After so long the OTC products didn't work anymore and I suffered for a couple of years without any relief. I then thought of the ingredients in a lot of the OTC products and saw that Eucalyptus was in a good portion of them, so I went to the herb store and bought a bottle of it.
I then went home and added a few drops, about 10, to a small sauce pan and heated it to a boil. I then breathed in the steam with a towel over my head, and for the first time in years the pressure went away.
After a week I had no more symptoms, and my allergies are much better. I never get sinuses that are quite as swollen any more. This is fantastic. I add about 10 drops to a cup of unscented bath salts and take a bath in it if I feel sick. If I am having a cold I add Menthol oil to it as well and it clears up any congestion that I have and makes my body feel less yucky. I love this stuff. I wanted to share it with every one, as I hadn't seen it on here. I recommend this over anything else for congestion.
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
Posted by John R. (Chicago, IL) on 11/30/2008
★★★★★
I've been having rough sinuses all year, mainly headaches but have had difficulty breathing through both nostrils.
Been doing ACV 2 tbsps + some hot sauce + soy sauce (this part for flavor) + hot water. First two days had major relief and drainage. Have been two days on, one day off since then, and the relief is noticeable. Plus I have not been taking over the counter pain remedies at all and I was talking a lot even just the day before.
I will say it tastes bad, and I will try prune juice once I get some.
I will also say it's better than neti-pot, neti-pot never did much for me.
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.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Ty (Columbus, Ohio) on 11/20/2008
★★★★★
WORKED WELL, MADE ME SNEEZE A BUNCH. AND HURT LIKE HELL TOO
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ernest (Saratoga Springs, UT) on 11/19/2008
Funny, I lived in Orem for 15 years before I moved to Saratoga Springs, which is on the other side of Utah lake for anyone who is interested.
Everytime I lay down, my sinuses clog up, and I feel like I am suffocating. I have tried everything. I take an ambient sleeping pill, sometimes I use Benadryl, and 800 mg of ibuprofen. This works about half of the time. Other times I use a nasal decongestant. Every other day, I can't sleep or breath and by the time morning comes around I am nauseated, exhausted and really struggle with a host of physical problems and mental focus. It is literally killing me. I am going to try the apple cider vinegar again. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Trevor (Orem, UT) on 11/14/2008
★★★★★
I used nose sprays or decongestant at night with a breathe right strip on my nose just so I could breathe at night while I slept. I have been doing that nightly for a couple years now. I finally got tired of being congested, even after using nasal sprays. When I came upon your site here, I figured I would try the ACV and see how it goes. I bought the cheapest and smallest bottle of ACV at my local grocery store and started immediately taking 2 TBSP ACV with about 8-12 ounces water then followed it up with milk or something to cover up the taste. Then I started combining ACV w/about 8 oz prune juice (it's not so bad!) which made it even easier to drink and didn't leave such a bad after-taste. I started to see a difference within a couple days. I could breathe a lot easier at night and daytime. It's now been 1 week without ever using my allergy medicine, decongestants and nose sprays. With just using the ACV, I feel great! What can I say? Apple Cider Vinegar cleared me up!
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:(
