Sinus Infections
Natural Remedies

Find Relief from Sinus Infections Naturally

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.
Probiotics
Posted by Cindy (Illinois, USA) on 03/13/2024 563 posts
★★★★★

Find an image of the structure of your sinuses. Do a regular neti pot rinse, blow your nose really well, then do another neti pot rinse with a purchased probiotic nasal rinse, tipping your head around, as per the structure, being sure to bend over forward AND tip your head back - as well as tipping side to side from all positions - straight, bent over and with your head tipped back. Do that to distribute it throughout the sinus passages. You'll feel it. Just keep rinsing, stopping to tip your head around, then keep rinsing and doing that until the pot is empty.

I've had 3 sinus "things" since I had "the" bug three years ago and this time, it rapidly began migrating to my lungs but this stopped it. I only did it one time, before bed, and bronchial tubes and lungs were both clear by morning. Sinuses still a bit stuffy but I used just a very tiny pinch of probiotics from a capsule. I'm going to try some cultivated microbes I'm currently preparing as I suspect this infection is rebooting.

Can't be sure, but I know that microbial drain cleaners (probiotics) travel through the pipes - even CLIMBING if there's gunk to eat which is why you also want to use the drain cleaners before bed so that nobody is running water through the drains, rinsing them away.

Not sure if that's what happens with the nasal rinse but it would make sense as even that tiny amount cleared all of the upper respiratory areas - save a single small area that I can feel in my sinuses - but it cleared my broncial tubes and lungs which were NOT rinsed, so...

We naturally breathe microbes - including the probiotics that usually keep us safe - all the time from the air, but when one is indoors all day, with unfriendly microbes floating around and procreating and one is constantly blowing one's nose, one is also constantly expelling the probiotics that get shut into the house or office with us. Or, at least, that is my suspicion.

ANYway - VERY exciting! I would say that if you use microbes you cultivate, yourself, for instance, if you make LABS - I would guess that it wouldn't take much. For soil, it's used in a 1/1000 ratio - or even MORE diluted so, just be aware. I've purposely not done it again as I expect there are CONbiotics in the house and hope it will come back, at which point I will try LABS, starting with a very diluted mixture and see what happens.

What I used this time was just a tiny bit from a PB8 probiotic capsule in about a half cup of warm water with a pinch of salt and a pinch or two of sugar, to wake them up, as I don't keep milk on hand because I don't use it for anything but LABS, so I was out of LABS, but I got a little bottle of milk and I'm cultivating some microbes as I write this so I'll have some LABS in couple of days.

Lemon or Lime Juice Snorted
Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 08/14/2021
★★★★★

Snorting lime or lemon juice to get rid of a sinus infection. Painful for a couple of minutes, but worked perfectly. Lemon/lime juice is anti-septic, anti-bacterial, fungal and viral. Some people use juice from the store in a bottle. I prefer fresh from citrus fruit.

It stings less when you dilute the lemon juice (or lime) with distilled water. But, most people say it works better full strength.

It's very simple to do. Squeeze out one teaspoon of lemon or lime juice into a spoon. Close off one nostril with your finger and snort up the juice in the spoon in the other nostril. Right after you do this you will have the feeling that you snorted a “blow-fish” up in your head. The pain only last a minute or two.

It worked for me. Cleared up the sinuses immediately.

Video: Cure sinus infection lime juice home remedy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZSkn6KbQdY

Video: Sinus infection (lime juice)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXE7VtbP7B0

Xlear Nasal Spray
Posted by Tiffany (Texas) on 05/29/2021
★★★★★

Use Xlear. It works. It is a premixed combination of xylitol and grapefruit seed extract. If you have dogs, never cuddle them after using it because xylitol, while safe for humans, is toxic to dogs. It may take a few days, but it will work. Start three times a day then do once a day after you are healed.


Lemon, Honey and Cinnamon Tea
Posted by Anna (Malta) on 02/08/2014
★★★★★

I have been suffering with a sinus infection for over 2weeks and had post nasal drip so badly that I could not sleep at night from the coughing. I used the neti pot about 3 times a day and that helped but not enough. Out of desperation after trying all sorts of remedies I made a drink and sipped it all evening. I squeezed half a lemon in about 18 oz of water, added 2 teaspoons of pure honey and a cinnamon stick. It worked a treat as for the first time in 2 weeks I slept through the night with no fit of coughing. In the morning when I got up and blew my nose loads of mucus came out and my head felt clear And I don't have the feeling of the mucus going down the back of my throat. I have been drinking this all day and I feel tons better. Thought I would share this as nothing has ever worked so quickly.


Mold and Sinus Infections
Posted by Anonymous (Olympia, Wa) on 08/12/2013
★★★★★

I was deathly ill for 16 mths and I had really bad sinus infection this was caused by our new 2 year old house had mold. We found that water was quietly leaking behind the wall into the insulation which cracked the sheet rock! The mold specialist were called apparently spores can be coming through the walls or even tiles and since spores are invisible, well it is easily overlooked, yet mold can be fatal.

Finally my sinus infection was cured the ND told me to fill up my neti pot with sterlized water, 1/4 baking soda , 1/4 tsp sea salt and 4 drops Lugols Iodine then I was instructed to hold one nostril closed and breathe in the water with the other nostril and tilt head slightly and keep inhaling the water, the water should come out to the back of throat just spit it out and repeat the process several times, alternate to the other nostril this pushed the water deep into the sinuses cavity.


Acupuncture
Posted by Wendy (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) on 06/05/2013
★★★★★

Yes- acupuncture is VERY helpful. I'm a chronic sinus sufferer and to some extent just have to live with it. BUT when it gets really bad, I see my acupuncturist 2 or 3 times over a week and the problem is much alleviated. There are good and bad acupuncturists so get a recommendation....


Colloidal Silver, Ascorbic Acid, Black Elderberry Syrup
Posted by Linda (Blue River, Wi) on 12/08/2012
★★★★★

i had sinus infections that would last months & went thru month long treatments from the doctors with antibiotics, to no avail. I thought I was resigned to live with it the rest of my life.... My brother in law gave me a bottle of angstrom silver 600ppm (angstrom is like collidal, but smaller particles, with no fillers, etc. ), and a bottle of ascorbic acid & a bottle of black elderberry syrup. I treated myself with a spoonful of each, several times a day, for 2 days & by the 3rd day, I could breathe & quit coughing. Have been sinusitus free since. Now I just take a shot or two a day of the silver & feeling fine. Thanks brett!!


Massage
Posted by Traci (Mesa, Az) on 09/23/2012
★★★★★

A vibrator works wonders to drain sinuses! Lying comfortably with your head propped up a bit, use a small handheld vibrator on your nose (the type that comes with multiple tips, I. E. For scalp, etc. I use the bulbous tip, but you could experiment), using the highest or most deeply vibrating setting your nose can stand. I start on the boniest part of the nose first and soon move to the cartiledge underneath that, following the "most tickle. " In other words, move the vibrator around from place to place (a few millimeters at a time), until you find the most ticklish spot. I press a bit, as this seems to help me find the ticklish spot. The most ticklish spot will move as the vibrations cause the sinus fluid to drain from one cavity to another. You might start to hear strange whirring and clicking sounds coming from your sinus cavities. I always do. Keep finding the most ticklish spot. After about twenty minutes, I start sneezing and the fluid starts draining. Once this starts you are well on your way! Go online and find a diagram of the sinuses. Try holding the vibrator on those sinus cavities on your face at the sides of your nose too. I have had success there. I have not had success with the cavities above the eyebrows, but do try there too. It is a slow process. It usually takes me an hour to complete a session. Sneeze, snort, swallow... , sneeze, snort, swallow... Etc. After about 25 sneezes, my sinuses are drained. What a relief.


Multiple Remedies
Posted by 007 (Jacksonville, Fl) on 12/04/2011
★★★★★

Great info. So after an awful infection for 4 days I woke up with the worst pain and was about to go to Dr. to get antibiotics. Didn't want to take them so I decided to goggle home remedies and I had everything already (candida) so I drank some homemade water kefir, took a dose of OOO (Olive leaf oil/ oregano oil) straight with kefir to wash it down. And made a homemade salad dressing for my salad. I used virgin olive oil, _____ liquid amino, a lot of _____ ACV, one pack of stevia, cayenne pepper, salt, garlic powder, a garlic clove diced up and some dried oregano. I ate my salad with my homemade dressing and drank my kefir and within one hour I felt great. Headache gone, balance back, swollen sinus pressure gone, and it doesn't hurt to breathe. I didn't want to believe it would work so quickly but it did. So ACV, water Kefir, and OOO (Olive of oregano/olive leaf oil) gets three thumbs up. I will continue treatment for several days.


Grapefruit Seed Extract, Sea Salt
Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tenn.) on 01/23/2011
★★★★★

I have been spraying my nostrils for the last 3 years with a concoction of sea salt, baking soda and GSE that I make myself. Take 1/3 glass of warm water, Add 1 tsp of sea salt, 1 tsp of baking soda and 8 drops of GSE. Stir , allow to cool and pour the clear portion into your sprayer. This keeps my nostrils open, but it has not dried up my sinus, which I guess is a good thing. If you look at any animal they all have nasal drainage. It seems that is just natural. What you don't want is for your sinus to dry up with no flow.


Multiple Remedies
Posted by Elizabeth (Nashville, Tn) on 09/11/2009
★☆☆☆☆

Nasal Fungal Infection? I have had nasal issues for the past couple of years since I have had septoplasty done. Since the surgery, I have had alot of post nasal drippage and a "smell" coming from my right nostril. Now, I am self treating for systemic candida so I am almost certain this is stemming from that. I have tried using 50/50 peroxide spray, tea tree oil spray, 50/50 ACV spray etc.. and have not had luck. Does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to get rid of this? My main complaints are stuffiness (like my nasal cavity is swollen and itchy) and nasal drip (which is stinky!!) and constantly blowing nose. Sorry, don't want to gross anyone out. I'm going crazy here!!!!

Multiple Remedies
Posted by Doris (Oc, Ca) on 07/16/2010

Mom-in-law had nose-sinus fix-alteration as young woman early-1960's. Ever since, she suffered migraines, spent most her children's formative yrs on the sofa in excruciating pain. No dr could 'find a fix'. Now nearly 50 yrs later, retired out-of-state (still suffering), went for routine ear exam, dr took a fast ear exam, said something's in there. He did an in-office extraction of a bone chip the first dr left in. She is totally different. No one can believe the change in her. Just a regular ear-light/magnifier exam. Dr said he saw it easy, just pulled it right out with a tweeze.


Iodine
Posted by Bev (Long Beach, CA) on 04/26/2009
★★★★★

Iodine for Sinus Pain:

Wonderful information on this site.

In Nov 08, I caught a cold and had terrible sinus. The cold cleared up but periodically my right sinus cavity would close and cause horrible pain. This area was on the right side of my nose about an inch down from my eye. I started using nasal irrigation and peroxide and water spray directly in my nose. This helped but I never seemed to be completely cured. The pain would start on the side of my nose, go around my eye, down my cheek to my teeth then into my neck and around the back of my neck. It rendered me useless. The addition of my favorite beverage, Chardonnay, would bring it on until I stopped having any. In searching this site, I read about Iodine (clear from Rite Aid) and painting it on certain areas of the body so I tried it on the side of my nose. I started doing this several times a day and last night was the test. I had my wine without any pain. I will continue to use Iodine until I'm sure it has cleared up. Who would have thought this would cure me. Thank you very much to everyone for your additions to this wonderful site.


Eucalyptus Oil
Posted by DG (Baltimore, MD) on 11/11/2008
★★★★☆

I have had some luck clearing my sinuses using Vick Vaporub as follows as described below (note it has some EUCALYPTUS OIL in it)

Caution: this mixture WILL bubble and splatter unless the Vicks is mixed in SLOWLY.

I heat a coffee cup of water to near boiling. Then slowly and carefully I dip a half teaspoon of Vicks into the cup just a little at a time while breathing the vapors into my nose. At first you have to go VERY SLOW or the mixing with bubble over and make a big mess. When I first did this there was some burning sensation, but it causes a lot of mucus to run and seems to open things up.

It has NOT been a cure all, but it is one thing I do and it might be a ready source of EUCALYPTUS OIL (at a low concentration) for those who want to try it without hunting around.


Betadine
Posted by Sabrina (Denver, CO) on 09/24/2007
★★★★★

Add 2 drops of Betadine (Povidone Iodine) to the NeilMed sinus rinse bottle along with the room temperature boiled water and salt packet. Betadine is an antiseptic. I tried this solution at the advice of a family physician, and it's the first thing that's ever worked. I did this rinse 4-6 times per day while I had the infection, and it got rid of it within one week. It's the first time I have kicked a sinus infection without antibiotics, and I usually get 4 sinus infections per year. I also added 1/4 tsp of hydrogen peroxide for good measure, but that's something I did, not the doctor's suggestion.


Fennel, Flaxseed and Fenugreek
Posted by Alexandra (London)
★★★★★

Just commenting: no idea about the tomatoes for sinusitis but will pass it on. Always avoid dairy products when you have any sinus congestion of any kind. This helps--plus try a infusion of a mixture of these herbs, readily available fennel seeds, flaxseeds (aka linseeds) and fenugreek seeds. Allow it to steep for a few minutes, stir and drink copious amounts. Really does the trick for any congestion lung and sinus. Try it! Cheers!


Iodine
Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 01/11/2025

Compound Solution of Iodine — Lugol's Solution 1893 – Liquor Iodi Compositus

The U. S. formula is:

  • Iodine: 5 parts or ½ ounce av.
  • Iodide of Potassium: 10 parts or 1 ounce av.
  • Distilled Water (replace with Alcohol 95% if making tincture of iodine): 85 parts or 8 3/8 fl. ounces

Dissolve the Iodine and Iodide of Potassium in the Distilled Water, and keep the solution in well-stopped bottles.

The Br. P. under the heading Liquor Iodi or Solution of Iodine directs Iodine 10 parts, Iodide of Potassium 15 parts, Distilled Water 200 parts. The percentage of Iodine is the same as in the U. S. formula.

Uses – Lugol's Solution, as it is popularly known, is given internally in doses of 3 minims (4 drops) to 5 minims (6 drops) diluted with water, as an alterative and absorbent.


Goldenseal
Posted by freeone (oregon) on 03/21/2023

The green tea extract is 725 mg. This is a high dose, but under the toxic level which are over 800mg. The Life Extension brand which I'm using has no caffeine, comes in capsules, and use one daily orally . As of today... my symptoms are almost GONE...So this along with the recent goldenseal droppers in saline in nostrils after eating, have changed my life.

I also use 1/4 teaspoon Vitamin C powder 1 to 2 times daily

ACV daily

Since hardly any symptoms last 2 days no goldenseal, as this is powerful and I'm only using if symptoms are significant.

The H2O2 and iodine did help, the baby shampoo did cleanse and drain but the draining was drip drip and lasted for hours so I don't know if I would recommend it, and I only used 1 drop of baby shampoo in salt in a cup of water. These remedies helped, but the symptoms still persisted.

To be sure ... check out any contraindications for you using green tea extract.


Vibration for Sinus Drainage
Posted by Morninglaurie (Michigan) on 03/01/2023

Actually, I went back to just saline in neti pot after noting some other contributors saying some of the other additions can slow down the action of the cilia…so 5 days later I am still feeling much better and still getting mucous out after doing the Heat/Vibration/Blow/Neti pot routine. Each day has become less “infected” and more clear.


Iodine
Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 03/30/2025
★★★★★

IODINE TINCTURE NASAL SPRAY:

It's been 5 years since I originally posted about the use of Povidone-iodine 10% in a nasal sprayer. Since then I've read ALOT of old medical books 1850-1930 about the use of iodine in the sinus cavities. So I want to share what I've learned.

The above recipe Povidone-iodine nasal sprayer worked great during the covid plandemic.

During the 1880's, doctors were spraying “Tincture (Alcohol base) of Iodine” diluted into the patient sinus cavities either in liquid of powder form (called dusting) along with other treatments like neti-pot sinus wash.

EXAMPLE:

Coryza. (acute inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose, with discharge of mucus; a head cold) — In chronic coryza, and especially in ozæna, we must recommend iodine. It is used in watery solution or tincture, applied within the nasal fossæ by a pencil or by injection or spray.

Dusting iodine powder into the nose is an excellent remedy for drying up an excess of mucus discharge, if this discharge originates in the nasal mucus membrane. Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, by F. B. BLACKMAR, M.D., May 1932.

Over 2 years ago, I started making nasal sprayer with lugol's water based iodine as an ingredient in my nasal sprays.

About 6 months ago, I made one with Tincture of Iodine (Humco Brand) and I could tell a big difference.

So, after a month of being a Guinea Pig, I am sold on using Tincture of Iodine 2% diluted in nasal sprays

Material needed:

  • 30 ml empty nasal spray bottle
  • Distilled water
  • Sea salt
  • Baking soda
  • 20+ drops Tincture of Iodine 2% (Humco Brand USA manufactured)
  • Eye dropper

Recipe:

1. Add 1 teaspoon sea salt and 1 teaspoon baking soda to empty “clean” water bottle.

2. Add distilled water to bottle, cap and shake til salt and baking soda have completely dissolved. This is your saline solution.

3. Add 20 drops Tincture Iodine to the empty nasal spray bottle. Top nasal spray bottle off with your saline solution q.s.. I only use 20 drops Iodine. You can try more to your tolerance.

4. Use this spray twice in each nostril as needed til it improves your condition.

Do NOT use if you are allergic to iodine



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