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Home remedies for sinus pain

A sinus infection can cause quite a bit of pain. Apart from the annoying stuffy nose, it also comes with symptoms like a headache, facial tenderness, a sore throat, a cough and facial swelling. Your sinuses are found by your forehead, cheekbones and the sides of your nose.

You may get an infection if your air cavities become inflamed within the passages of your nose. This can be caused by allergies or when chemicals or particles irritate your sinuses.

If you’re looking for a fix for your sinus or allergy symptoms, step away from the pills and try a natural, home remedy instead. Here are some options:

Flush your nasal passages

Keep your sinuses moist to help ease your symptoms. Flush them with a saline wash, which will thin out the mucus and flush out your nasal passages. You can make your own at home by adding half a teaspoon of salt and half a teaspoon of baking soda to one cup of distilled water in a clean container. The solution can be stored at room temperature for three days. Use it every day.

Inhale steam

The hot vapour from steam can help moisturise your sinuses. Take a steamy shower or bath to help loosen the mucus in your nose. Sprinkling drops of menthol or eucalyptus oil in your bath will also do the trick.  You can also fill a deep bowl or pot with hot, steaming water. Place your face over it and wrap a towel around your head. Now slowly inhale the steam – being careful not to burn yourself! If you’re experiencing sinus pain, try a cold compress.

Drink up

You need at least eight glasses of water a day to stay hydrated and keep your sinuses moist. Don’t drink caffeinated or alcoholic drinks which can dehydrate you. To check if you’re hydrated, look at the colour of your urine. If the colour is clear, you’re getting enough water.

Use a warm compress

Keep your nasal tissues moist with a warm compress. Apply pressure on your sinuses with a warm cloth, or a warm water bag. The heat will help stimulate blood flow to your sinuses, which can help open up the sinus cavity, and stimulate natural moisture secretions, to loosen the gooey mucus.

Eat something spicy

A delicious plate of spicy food will give your sinuses a helpful kick. Eat spicy foods like hot peppers, curry and wasabi. Adding hot spices, like chilli, jalapeno, paprika and pepper to your favourite dishes will also help clear your sinuses.

Allergy-proof your home

What’s worse than sinus pain? Sinus pain that comes with allergy aches! Making your home allergy-proof can help prevent your sinus symptoms from worsening. Vacuum regularly to get rid of dust mites, use bedding with allergen barriers and keep pets out of your bedroom. Consider installing an air filter system in your home.

Use a humidifier

Keep the air in your home moist to help your sinuses. You can do this by using a humidifier regularly. Remember to keep it clean though! A dirty humidifier can breed mould, which can trigger your allergies. Only use it during dry months and not when it’s humid.

Talk to your doctor

If the sinus pain doesn’t get better with home remedies or over-the-counter medication, or you have a fever that lasts for more than a week, talk to your doctor. He may do a scan to check that there aren’t blockages in your sinuses that need to be treated with surgery.

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