Find Relief from Sinus Infections Naturally

Neti Pot With Saline and Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Anne (California) on 02/21/2016
★★★★★

I've had chronic sinus problems since I was a teenager (now 30 years old). I've had sinus inflammation for a few years that has been difficult to manage. A month ago, it progressed into a raging sinus infection. The past week has been horrible. I've had a ton of sinus pressure, headache, dizzy/foggy head, congested ears, and the wonderful yellow/green mucus. I cannot take antibiotics due to other health issues, but I've tried just about everything I could think of including OTC remedies and many natural remedies.

I just came across this Apple Cider Vinegar rinse and thought I'd try. I've been irrigating with salt water, but have not added the ACV. Last night, I added ACV to my rinse. I use the NeilMed Sinus Rinse bottle. WHOA! The amount of green crud that left my face was incredible. And I could actually breathe again. Got clogged again overnight, so did it again in the morning. Same story. Tons of green junk left my nose. There is a definite improvement, and I will continue doing this.

Bonus... the chronic ear pain I've had for two years straight is greatly reduced since doing the ACV rinse. We will see what the future holds for this! So far I'm impressed.

Neti Pot With Saline and Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Macy (Chaparral, Nm) on 02/11/2016
★★★★★

I am an asthmatic and an allergy sufferer. My allergies trigger my asthma. Usually after a cold I ALWAYS get bronchitis. It just never fails. I could never get rid of a cold because the mucus would build up into a sinus infection. After I start using organic ACV I started noticing that it helped me breathe better.

My health insurance rates went up this year so I decided to try and find cures for ailments without running to the doctor, so I decided to try what I read on here, an ACV sinus wash/rinse. the first time I tried pouring 1/4 tsp into the netty pot with 8 oz sterile water and a salt packet from the drug store, I went a little too much on the ACV. I accidentally dropped quite a splash in there, didn't really know how much went in. Well, it BURNED and I was so desperate for relief I just toughed it out. Well, it cleaned me completely out. That night I slept great and within 2 days I was clear. I did it 2 nights in a row, just before bed.

Then I got sick again, but this time I poured some ACV into a cup, the scooped out 1/4 tsp into my sterile salted water and it was not painful at all, didn't clear it up as quickly as it did when I used more ACV, but as long as I do it in the morning and at night, it keeps me feeling better, until I clear up on my own.

I also use a cotton swab and dip it in the ACV and clean my ears, because usually I get an ear infection along with my sinus infection. I just dip the swab in the vinegar and make sure it is completely drenched because I really want the ACV to get in my ear and travel up some, maybe even put a drop or two in there if possible.

This is not really a miracle cure (though for me it seems like it), but it makes life easier so that you can function while giving your body time to heal itself without the need of antibiotics.

Turpentine

Posted by Sandhya (Maui) on 09/08/2015
★★★★★

I had a sinus infection for about 6 months and tried many things to get rid of it. What finally took it away was organic turpentine oil.....lightly rubbed on the outside of the sinus twice a day for about a week. I then tried it out on my nephew and it worked on him too. Since then when ever I get anything sinus happening I rub a little on .... like if I have a sinus headache from a cold. Good luck....

Herbs

Posted by Elvis (Marina, California,usa) on 07/30/2012
★★★★★

After nose surgery, I contacted sinus infection. After 2 years and six doctor specialist, no cure. Lost of sleep, waking up with mucus in my mouth. Hacking all the time, cause I could never clear my throat and sinus headaches all the time, just frustrated me. I sent for 3 herbal extracts (thyme, clove, cinimon)to cure my postnasal drip, I took a chance. I put six drops of each in a container and set it by my bed side. In one week I was healed.

Herbs

Posted by B. Wilder (Nc) on 03/16/2016

I am prone to sinus infections and have a terrible one right now. Did you leave it by your bedside to breathe it in? Or did you drink/consume it?

Tomato Tea

Posted by Sue (Tauranga, New Zealand) on 05/07/2012
★★★☆☆

WORKED TEMPORARILY

I started reading this site this afternoon after a month of awful sinus problems, following a nasty cold. I've taken Prednisone, pseudoephadrile (?) and anitbiotics, some days felt better and some days worse. Would think it was getting better and then the next, like today, wake up with the right hand side of my face puffed out and unable to go to work due to the pressure in my head and face.

Well thank you Earth Clinic and all your writers. I went and got some ingredients this afternoon, made tomato tea and the apple cider vinegar mix. The relief was instant!! I was able to de-dust the entire house this evening, vacuum under beds etc etc. I wasn't able to get off the sette this morning. It's 6 hours since I took the first batch of tea and ACV, can just feel the headache coming back, so having more ACV before bed. I am 'looking forward' to trying the oil pulling in the morning and crossing my fingers that the misery may be over soon!

Oregano

Posted by Joyce (Dallas, Tx) on 09/24/2011
★★★★★

Hi everyone, I SWEAR BY THIS METHOD... Six years ago I came to Earth Clinic looking for a cure for my recurring Sinus infections that constantly left me with a feeling of phlegm being trapped at the back of my throat... I read a posting from someone and this was the remedy he posted on Earth Clinic... It has worked for me for the past 6 years and I do not have that phlegm or recurring sinuses anymore! Here is the remedy:

1. Go to Kroger, buy a nasal spray, empty nasal spray bottle and clean it out with water and soap.

2. Add a little water to nasal spray bottle

3. Add a little pinch of sea salt to water in bottle

4. Add a half capful of Oregano Juice

5. Stick nasal spray in nostril and inhale it, while you spray at the same time. Breathe in hard so that it reaches the Sinus or Nasal Cavity, where all the congestion is. (This is going to burn and your eyes will water, your nose will run instantly so get some tissue to wipe your nose and eyes! )

If it burns too much then it might be too strong. Try putting less Oregano Juice or add more water. You also don't want it to be too weak! The Burning is good, it works and it really burns the infection or bugs, whatever! I have used this for the past 6 years, I have told all my friends about it. I use it on my daughter whenever she comes down with a sinus infection... No more doctors office, no more antibiotics!

Also if it is a serious sinus infection that develops into a Bronchial or chest infection, then chopped up Garlic cloves in a glass of water will help clear up the Bronchial Phlegm or Garlic capsules, which will be less potent. But you will also need to take the oregano spray to take care of the Nasal congestion... In addition, if there is a suspected Ear infection or Drainage as well, you will need to put Hydrogen Peroxide drops in the ear and that will address the ears... All these things, to address the infected and congested Ears, Nose and Throat or Chest! If it gets that far...

Humidify

Posted by Grayson ( Colorado Springs, Colorado ) on 06/17/2011

Is it possible that a very dry climate can lead/add to sinusitus? When I travel to humidity I feel 100% better.

Humidify

Posted by Ruthie39 (Houston, Tx) on 01/30/2014

I have lived in the South all of my life. I have suffered from seasonal allegies and sinus infections for years.

Xylitol and Sea Salt Rinse

Posted by Allorganic (Tampa Bay, Fl) on 05/08/2011
★★★★★

I thought I would share some very good information and my experience regarding sinus infections or sinusitis.

I had been diagnosed with severe sinusitis after I had an MRI for something else. I've tried many things over the years and had suffered constant congestion/swelling and loss of taste and smell.

The neti pot was helping with salt, but I discovered some huge results after much research. Using DISTILLED water, not spring water in the neti pot with a half teaspoon of all natural sea salt and a half tablespoon of Xylitol. Both disolved in warm distilled water. Spring water can irritate the sinus membranes. Xylitol has been proven to kill and fight bacteria and really helps flush out mucus!

After flushing my sinuses with this sea salt/Xylitol neti pot mix, I then drink a glass of my favorite juice with my Spirulina Powder that has CHLOROPHYLL. Chlorophyll also is great for killing bacteria in the sinuses. As soon as I drink a glass of this, my sense of taste and smell come back within a half hour at 100%!

The powder I have been using is expensive and I don't feel everyone has to buy this exact brand, only the ingredients are important. The brand I've tried is contains: Spirulina Powder, Beta-Carotene, B-1, B-2, B-12, Calcium, Iron, Gamma Linolenic Acid and Chlorophyll.

If I do those two things as much as possible, I never have infections. There is also a saline/Xylitol spray. Anyone with sinusitis or chronic issues should really try these two things!

Tomato Tea

Posted by Pillowofwinds (East Islip, Ny) on 04/29/2010
★★★★★

I can only tell you that this worked for me. I had 3 painful sinus infections within a six month period, all treated with antibiotics. Sometimes the pains in my head were so painful I actually cried. When I got the fourth infection, I started to read about natural cures, that is how I found this wonderful site. As soon as I felt the infection coming on, I took 2 cloves of garlic and chopped them up. I added that to a coffee cup full of tomato juice and added some fresh squeezed lemon and cayenne pepper. I repeated this twice the first day, once after breakfast and once later in the evening. The next day I only had to do it in the morning. It may not be appetizing, but you can drink it down quickly. It was like an instant cure. I have not gotten another sinus infection since. (I started getting them when I began working in an office full time that used to be a gym...I believe there was mold there.) Every time I have felt something sinus/throat related coming on, I use fresh garlic, usually on a slice of pizza to make it appetizing, and I don't get sick.

H2O2, GSE, Sea Salt Rinse

Posted by Latanya (California) on 12/11/2015
★★★★★

I really appreciate all of the wonderful posts and options put before my eyes. I tried two of the remedies and they both worked. I used a tumbler with detachable straw to run the solutions thru my nostril and it is working. The post nasal has subsided.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Kathy (Dubois, Pa) on 09/11/2009

This is going to sound very off-the-wall, but are you sure the doctor didn't miss a piece of gauze or wadding or something up there during or after the surgery?

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Elizabeth (Nashville, Tn) on 09/13/2009

I have thought about that and have gone back to the Dr. multiple times. He has not mentioned anything being stuck up there. I notice I have a pocket along the septum which traps the mucus. Ugghhh..what a gross condition. My thoughts are, if I get rid of the source of the mucus ( bacterial, fungal, etc) than maybe I can get rid of these symptoms.

Grapefruit Seed Extract, Sea Salt

Posted by Kelly (Sherwood, Or) on 07/21/2017

Yes, I can relate! I've had a terrible sinus infection for seven weeks and the main symptom has been laryngitis. I initially had total laryngitis for two weeks at the onset of the sinus infection. It has still not completely cleared up. I'm on my fourth round of antibiotics and steroids, and I so want my voice back! My dr had a CT scan ordered which revealed near complete opacification of my right sphenoid sinus; the Dr.is recommending surgery. I'm still not willing to go that route til I've tried everything...my sister recommended nasal irrigation with organic grapefruit seed extract. Praying this works!!!

Reishi, Cayenne, Oregano Oil, Garlic

Posted by Logan (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) on 02/16/2009
★★★★★

I always make tea with a japanese/chinese mushroom called reishi (ling zhi in chinese - it is the best for boosting the immune system) and I had been chewing on a few cloves of garlic (this really helped, but only temporarily) but this wasn't cutting it alone for this sinus infection I had. So after checking this site, I decided to do a combo of many of the ideas. I added cayenne pepper to the tea. I also got some wild oregano oil which I both consumed and I inhaled the steam. Basically for 2 days I constantly chewed raw garlic, inhaled steam from the tea, drank the tea, repeat. This is the third day and I now feel almost back to normal... I feel no pressure and no blockage in my nose or allergy irritations, just a very slight drip. My sinus infection had started 3 weeks ago, and before this weekend it was actually getting much much worse.

Rhubarb

Posted by Avi (London, United Kingdom) on 01/26/2009
★★★★★

Thanks so much for the info on Borax, its doing an amazing job on my chronic candida infection. Sinus infection has been a big, BIG, painful problem, causing the kind of headache that occupies everything from the neck up. I recently learned that sniffing up 3% H2O2 can shift that, but I find it really painful and so I tried the advice of a local herb gardener who said to sniff up rhubarb juice, and it worked magnificently.
Stings a little bit, but clears out a lot within minutes and keeps working all day, so you might be slightly sniffy, but great relief, and doing it once every day keeps the sinuses clear, although I don't think its a cure, just a great way of expelling toxins. Mixing 50/50 RAW rhubarb juice and colloidal silver [in distilled water] removes the sting but isn't quite as effective as just rhubarb juice. Anyway, variations on that theme give me immediate relief from sinus headaches. This is useful to me when I detox too fast, maybe it can be useful to others.

Neti Pot With Saline and Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Theresa (Augusta, Ga) on 06/24/2010

You mentioned to try the solution from the neti pot on yourself first because sometimes it can sting. The only reason it would ever sting is if you have too much salt and then it will steer you away FOREVER. The best advice and porportions are to never use more than exactly 1/2 teaspoon of salt to 2 cups (16 oz.) of the purest water you can get (distilled, boiled tap, purified) and use 1/2 tsp total of soda. That way it will never ever burn or sting. Hope this helpd too. The Neti pot has been a well hidden secret for far too long.

Sniff Warm Water

Posted by Beverly (Texas) on 01/05/2022

same with working jigsaw puzzles..............it is amazing how dusty they are and cause me congestion.

Probiotics

Posted by Laurel (Garberville, CA) on 04/19/2008
★★★★★

I've had a sinus infection for 1 1/2 months now and took 2 rounds of antibiotics and tried all kinds of remedies but the only thing that seemed to finially work was taking Probiotic Supplements ( acidophilus pills). If youve taken 1 or more rounds of antibiotics and they don't cure the sinus infection it usually means that the infection is fungal, not bacterial.When you take antibiotics they kill all the benificial baceria in your stomach and intestines which the Probiotics replenish. I started taking Probiotics and started feeling better the first day.

Riboflavin, B2

Posted by Karen (Alpharetta, Georgia) on 03/25/2008
★★★★★

Riboflavin B2 100mg right before bedtime will take care of sinus drainage.It will work in about 20 minutes. If not,try up to 250mg. I had severe sinus drainage for years.I found it hard to sit through meetings,church etc, without coughing my head off. I would eat and have a reaction to food and start coughing uncontrollably.Sometimes medications worked,sometimes not. Sometimes I would double up on medication. Now I take NOTHING!

Spleen Connection to Sinus Infections

Posted by Greta (Hillsboro, Oregon) on 10/25/2007
★★★★★

Yes, ice cream, cheese, milk and even unsweetened yogurt all cause me to have sinus infections--even raw goat milk. The raw goats milk was the least innocuous. There are times when none of these bothers me. At one time, about four years ago, if I drank milk (yes, even raw) I would choke on a huge volume of white mucus. I discovered that if your spleen isn't working properly milk can cause a huge mucus buildup. I went to work on my spleen and, lo and behold, I could drink milk once more without any ill effects. I also learned that allergies and sensitivities to foods are related to how much of that substance is stored in our bodies, and certain deficiencies (vitamin, mineral or enzyme) deficiencies we may have. Some allergies may be overcome within seconds of taking the substance you are lacking. For instance 'swimmer's ear' can be 'cured' by taking the EFA'S that person is lacking. Swimmer's ear usually occurs on a hot sunny day when one has been out too long in the sun and gotten a burn, effectively burning up precious EFA's. So, I think this may help people understand why they may be sensitive to a substance at one moment, and not another, or why two people may eat the same food, but only one becomes sick

Spleen Connection to Sinus Infections

Posted by Gina K (Charlotte, Nc) on 03/10/2018

Hello!

The post from 2007 said she "went to work on your spleen".... how do you do that?

What do you take?

Red Wine Vinegar

Posted by Dolly (Melbourne, Vic, AU) on 03/22/2007
★★★★★

I went to the doctors re severe sinusitis becoming a bronchitis infection 3 weeks ago and got a cocktail of antibiotics. Recently got results of blood tests which showed I had a virus which of course antibiotics don't treat, doctor had nothing to give me for it. Don't know if it was the virus symptoms plus after effects of penicillin antibiotics. Last night my gland engorgement and bloating in stomach and pain in upper abdomen, swelling in neck and kidney with pain, had got severe I looked like I was in advanced pregnancy! There was another episode where my face and neck swelled in the night. Out of frustration and desperation to find a cure found this web site, (and because I didn't have any ACV, drank some red wine vinegar in water, and periodically cleaned my sinus's with FESS sinu-cleanse can, (contains salt). This morning everything is nearly back to normal. Is it possible that the properties in ACV are the same in all vinegars? My stomach bloating has gone down, sinusitis relieved, kidney pain usually intense in morning down) throat glands are no longer strangling me.