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.
Red Pepper, Ground Pepper
Posted by Red9979 (Miami, Fl) on 09/06/2011
★★★★★
cayenne pepper might work better, but I did not have any at hand, decided to take a facial vaporizer, that has the nose attatchment, to the water, I added crushed red pepper and ground black pepper, smelled it for about 15 minutes, at medium or high setting made me sneeze instantly, did not burn and cleared me but then again I do not have chronic sinus. I guess for chronic sinus or bad infections with headaches and sinus pain- the cayenne would be more powerful .
but if your desperate enough and do not have it at hand, try my method might work for you.
Neti Pot Remedy
Posted by Maria (Newmarket, Ontario) on 08/14/2011
★★★★★
This remedy was told by my mom, and she was told by her gradndma, if you have a nasal congestion, press your right nostril by your hand and pull up the warm salt water from your left nostril, and then press your left nostril with your finger and pull up the water from the right nostril and breath inside, this will open the blockage in your nose, and its really very effective, this is the same idea when the infants get congested the doctors always prescribe saline water drops to put in the nose, I tried by myself and it really works wonderful and you should pull the water from glass from your nostril that the water should come in your throat.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kalki (Mumbai, India) on 11/24/2011
Oops, I hadn't noticed the replies to my post. I put 4 teaspoons (2tbsp) of ACV in one litre (33 ounces) of water and drank it throughout the day for 10 days. Cleared my nose by the 3rd day.
Revised dosage: https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/acvinegar.html#drinkacv "2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in 16 ounces of water. Usually 1-2 tall glasses of the concoction are all you'll need each day."
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ronnie (Oak Island, North Carolina) on 07/07/2011
★★★★★
Was suffering for three days with head congestion. Breathing through my nose was impossible. I mixed up two tblspns Apple Cider Vinedar and two tablspns honey. I heated it in microwave for 18 secomds to soften honey for smoother mixture. Within minutes (maybe 3 to 4) I felt my nose begining to run. After thirty minutes my nose was clear!
General Feedback
Posted by Larry (Fairfax, Va/usa) on 06/11/2011
I've suffered from congested sinuses for years, so after reading on the site about ACV, I was quite enthusiastic about drinking ACV/honey/water to overcome my problem. But, just after twice drinking the suggested ACV mixture, my chronic systemic fungal infection flared-up, big time.
My alternative physician suggested using betaine HCl instead of ACV to alleviate my nasal congestion, thereby not ingesting vinegar that fungus thrives on..... Anyone have similar experiences with ACV increasing fungal growth and/or tried betain HCl for relieving sinus congestion?
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Karen (Mi) on 02/11/2015
I have been bothered with sinus congestion due to the flu. I cannot sleep, have to mouth breathe, then wake up constantly because my mouth is beyond dry. Frightening to lay down at night too because of fear of suffocation. Mine is so blocked up I could not smell my grandson's dirty diaper I had just changed. Those things do not smell like roses let me tell you! I am going to try the vinegar mixture as it has always helped with bronchitis and strep throat or just being run down. Just want to share with people, you are not supposed to heat the mixture up in the microwave as it can destroy the enzymes in both the vinegar and honey. Hopefully I can destroy this bug!
Salt Water
Posted by Muhammad (Abudhabi, Uae) on 05/16/2011
★★★★★
yes my dear friends it really works the cleaning of nose with salty water is very effective I tried and I am doing it on daily bases.. Thanksssss
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Hiria (Auckland, New Zealand) on 05/14/2011
★★★★★
Wow - 2 minutes ago I mixed up 6 oz water, 2TV ACV and 1 T of honey. I warmed it in the microwave to melt the honey and help it mix in and cover the taste of ACV. For the first time in nearly a week I can breathe freely through both nostrils. Amazing. I know vinegar - white and brown is useful for a thousand and one things around the home and for other health purposes so I tried this with a positive attitude and maybe it helped that I decided to believe it would work. Highly recommend.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Colleen (Greenwich, Ny) on 02/12/2011
★★★★☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
I've been suffering with severe head congestion for almost two weeks now. Ironically enough, after I gave in and got antibiotics my congestion and ear infection started to get a lot worse. Can antibiotics make me sicker? Has anybody else had this happen or was I already so sick that coincidentally enough the day I started them I got worse?
Thanks so much for your sight!! Love it!! And PS. Hydrogen peroxide in a netti pot worked WONDERS for my congestion. It just doesn't last.
Wearing a Warm Cap
Posted by Freqman (Bayshore, Ny) on 01/18/2015
★★★★★
I agree with the hat trick. It has cut down episodes.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by David (Grand Rapids, Mi) on 01/28/2011
★★★★★
My elderly father in law has been struggling with sinus congestion for more than a year. Unable to take decongestants because of heart medication, he has been suffering to the point of panic attacks and sleepless nights. Long story short, tried the acv/honey mix and almost immediately his congestion disappeared and finally is able to breath easily. My sinuses (sinusii?) began to clear from across the room. Thank you for this post.
Garlic, Salt Water
Posted by Alex (Toronto, On. Canada) on 12/01/2010
★★★★★
Hello, I have had so much success over the last few years with many of the remedies here on Earthclinic and I finally feel like I need to add my comments. I was coming down with a cold and sore throat so I started taking ACV and honey , gargling with cayenne pepper and took Vit C. I thought I had licked it in a couple of days so I stopped taking everything - big mistake - my sinuses and chest started getting very congested so back I came to the site and I tried the garlic up the nose trick. 1 clove of garlic, minced finely with about 40 drops of salt water. I dropped about 2-3 drops in each nostril and it was very painful for a minute or so but I have continued to do this a couple of times per day. My sinus pain is completely gone and they are almost clear. Now all that is left is a cough which I will try and get rid of quickly next. Thank you to all of you for your contributions to this site and my health!!
Garlic, Salt Water
Posted by Anon (City, State) on 12/17/2010
For chronic cough and congestion try this. Take a laxative for a few days, eat nothing heavy or with gluten or casein in it, and consume ginger/cayene/honey tea, and fresh grated horseradish. Cat's claw might help, too. Plain oatmeal with only unrefined coconut oil, fresh lemon juice, dandelion root tea, plain vegetable and fruit salads, hot thin soups and unsweetened teas are also good. Valerian root tea, raspberry leaf tea, chamomile, ginseng, blackstrap molasses are also good.
Oregano Oil
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.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Arsieiuni (Arley, Al, United States Of America) on 11/02/2010
★★★★★
I drank the suggested 2TBS ACV in 8OZ water last night because I really didn't want my sinus to remain congested today. I slept incredibly well and did not wake all night with stuffy head like the day before. This morning, the congestion is markedly less. I still have some congestion in my sinus and some has gone into my throat around the voice box region. Yesterday I did Oil Pulling, Cayenne gargling and ACV and it has turned my horrible sore throat, severely stuff sinus and headache (no fever) into a mild congestion in my nose and throat. I love this site! Thank you, and another YEA! For ACV please!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Heather (Venice, Ca) on 03/05/2010
★★★★★
I'm amazed. I have a wicked cold. I tried over the counters all day to no success. Sat in the shower and tub with steam for tiny respite. Tonight my nose was so congested i thought my face might pop off. So i googled home cold remedies and found this. My husbands out getting the goods for the tomato tonic but in the meantime i put 2tbs apple cider vinegar in a warm glass of water and 10 minutes later i can close my mouth to breath and my ears have opened up. Thank you apple cider vinegar. Oh and I'm 37.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kayla (Orlando, Fl) on 03/19/2010
★★★★★
I tried using generic cold flu medicine for a couple days, which made my cough go away but then I developed horrible congestion. I tried acv, lemon juice, garlic and salt heated with water and the congestion started to go away the second I inhaled the mixture. Relief was immediate.
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 Julieann110 (Alexandria, Va, USA) on 12/03/2009
★★★★★
I have had severe head congestion for nearly a week now and the over the counter stuff isn't working much. I just tried two swigs of ACV and wow! The relief is instant. Much like eating spicy foods. I suspect the amount of relief one gets is directly related to how diluted (or not diluted) the ACV really is.
Neti Pot Remedy
Posted by Jennifer (Dallas, Tx) on 11/16/2009
★★★★★
Nasal Irrigation/Neti Pot for Sinus Congestion
I developed a terrible cold over the weekend. Sore throat, drainage, etc. As the cold cleared up I developed a terrible sinus headache due to congestions behind my left eye. I am very prone to these type of headaches. I was already doing cayenne & ACV for the sore throat, but my head was still killing. My mom has used a neti pot in the past and suggested that I try that. Not having a neti pot on hand, I tried nasal irrigation using a bulb syringe. My headache was gone immediately. Will definitely be doing this every time I feel a sinus headache coming on.
I used a mixture of 1/4 ts salt in 2 c luke warm water. Fill the syringe as completely as you can. Lean slightly forward, insert the tip of the syringe approx. 1 in into nostril, and angle tip towards outside of eye. Squeeze syringe to flush saline mixture. Allow the saline mixture to drain back out (may drain through other nostril or back of throat). Repeat twice on each side.
Cayenne
Posted by Pat (Hoschton, Ga) on 08/01/2009
★★★★★
I have been a chronic sinus sufferer for years. when I get bad and have to clear up in a hurry. I find a shot of tobasco sause opens sinuses as soon as you drink it. but I wouldnt advise it if you have an stomach ulcer. works every time for me.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lady T (Tallahassee, FL) on 05/27/2009
★★★★☆
Awakened with nasal/sinus congestion on right side and irrigated with spray. It is now the end of the day, and the congestion has spread to the right ear with throbbing and pressure. I have a job interview tomorrow and HAVE to be alert and healthy. Decided to "google" sinus congestion remedies and found this amazing site. I found an unopened bottle of ACV, and I mixed about 2.25 TBS with a tall glass of room temperature water. Within the first couple of swallows, my sinuses began to drain, and my ear pressure was reduced. The taste is horrible, but I am encouraged already by the results. Will update my post in the A.M.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Amine (New York, Ny) on 02/24/2011
★★★★★
I finally can breath!!!! thank god it worked... and thank you guys for sharing this with everybody ...i was in bed for three days.. I was feeling better.. Nd flu was going away.. Yet, nasal congestion was killing me.. it`s only now that I could breath .woof!
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!
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.
