Sinus Congestion - Editor's Choice

Lloyd's remedy below of steaming with equal parts ACV and water that has come to the initial simmer/boil with a towel over my head is now my go-to method for onset of colds; change of weather that affects sinuses; and seasonal allergic responses.

I had come to have a chronic sinusitis which was triggered often and predictably.

The ACV steaming not only has an immediate relieving effect but I believe it has rid me of the root chronic condition, removing old infected mucus. I am soo grateful to finding this method on EC and I tell everyone about it.

The other method I use is to put 3-5 drops of either ACV (any more will burn), 3% food grade hydrogen peroxide, or Lugol's 2% Iodine into my neti pot or a refillable nasal mist sprayer combined with the warm saline solution. I'll rotate all of these methods during seasonal changes when my sinuses are more sensitive. Just fantastic!

I had had clogged and inflamed sinuses on and off for the last 20 years. Iodine is an inexpensive natural substance that is antiviral and antibacterial. I use about 5-7 drops of Lugol's food grade Iodine in a diffuser with distilled water and I run it all day. I think my infections are due to damage I had on my sinuses from inhaling pesticides and caustic chemicals over the years with my work. Now I'm am in my late 60s. I inhale the vapors when I pass by, and for the most part, I keep the diffuser running all day near my work space. It kills bacteria that causes infections and it helps. I learned about Lugol's iodine from a chiropractor when the covid virus started. To run an iodine diffuser in the home was a good way of keeping the virus from taking hold in the mucus membranes in my sinus passages.

Steam your sinuses with garlic water.

I have read here that some people actually stick garlic cloves up their nose! Why? Who would want to deal with the intense burning?

Use garlic water to steam away nasal infection and burning in your nasal passages and to clear your sinus congestion. Here's what I did:

My sinuses had been congested for more than a week and for the last two of those days my nasal passages were burning severely. It was so uncomfortable that I could not sleep. The saline spray I was using only helped a tiny bit to briefly help me breathe better but the burning was getting worse. I don't think the saline spray (arm and hammer) was causing the burning as it only has salt, water and baking soda.

Anyway, I must have developed an infection that was causing the burning sensation and making me miserable. I then had the idea in the middle of the night ( perhaps a God idea) to steam with garlic. The next day, I put about two cups of water in a pot, grated 3-4 garlic cloves in it...I used a micro plane but you can just smash them very finely. After the water came to a boil, I lowered the heat and inhaled the steam deeply through my mouth and nose alternating. I did this for three to five minutes. I covered the pot to save the mixture and steamed twice more that day. Some time after the first steam...maybe a hour or so later, I noticed that I did not have the burning. I was so thankful. It is a gentle but powerful way to ease sinus pressure and burning.

Use distilled water for the garlic steam if you have it but it's not absolutely necessary...it's just the purest way since the dissolved solids are distilled out. Furthermore, I have read that distilled water attracts toxins in your body for that reason (the water elements are no longer bonded to the heavy solids such as calcium, so excess calcium etc in your blood causing you issues like pain, will attract to the pure water and be flushed out). I don't know if it's advisable to drink distilled water for extended periods but it detoxes you so drinking it for a few weeks can help you eliminate toxins. You may have detox effects like mild headaches, sweating or etc when you start. It's different for everyone. I had the sweating the first day. Anyway, back to the steaming....try the garlic steaming for burning in your nose and to help clear up congestion, and drink distilled water for a few days to help you flush things out. God Bless you all.