Quick Sinus Relief: Natural Remedies for Congestion

Steaming

Posted by Lloyd (Tulsa)
★★★★★

I have found that bringing an equal amount of Apple Cider Vinegar and water to boil, then inhaling the fumes as it starts to boil, quickly relieves sinus conjestion/infections. Just a warning though, close your eyes and mouth when doing this...the vapors are hard to deal with.

Steaming

Posted by Rosa (Orlando , FL) on 07/28/2007
★★★★★

I was miserable last thursday night, I could not breath through my nose, my throat was so irritated and swallen I could hardly breath, I tried the nasal sprays and did nothing at all. without sleep and desperate for an immediate solution, I jumped on the internet and here I found the perfect remedy, I drank the ACV and it felt like burning at first but it sure cleared up my throat. I heated some water in the microwave with at a bit more than a third of ACV and very carefully inhaled the vapors, I felt such relief right away, This is the best remedy ever!

Steaming

Posted by Lisa (Plaistow) on 03/23/2005
★★★★★

I find that it works well to take a hot shower and let the bathroom steam up. Just relax and take deep breaths and be sure to blows your nose right away when down before everything hardens up again! also drink a warm cup of tee w/ some honey.

Steaming

Posted by Hana (Bayonne) on 07/25/2005
★★★★★

Remedy #2: Steaming Hot Towels: IS A BLESSING! THANKS TO WHO EVER WROTE THAT!

Steaming

Posted by Ray (New York City)
★★★★★

When I get sinus pains and stuffiness in my nose I usually fill my sink halfway with hot tap water and i make sure its steaming. Then I drop a small towel in it for about a minute and then I put the towel on my face until it gets cool. I put it over my forehead, eyes, cheeks and mouth. I breathe in the hot vapors through the nose. I usually put the hot towel on my face around 5 or six times in one sitting. Usually twice a day, one in the morning and one at night. After about a day or 2 the pains are gone. All that disgusting stuff drips out.

Apple Cider Vinegar Sniff

Posted by Kin (Auckland, New Zealand) on 07/31/2007
★★★★★

Hi all, just to tell you guys that I pour ACV on a paper towel and sniff it to clear block nose, this method helps me especially during night times woke up with a block nose. I started ACV for just couple of weeks, I will post again few months later on how I struggle with ill health and how this website helps me when my recovery is more concrete. Thanks for keeping this website free for everyone. (It meant so much to me). I am sure your good spirits will be rewarded.

Apples

Posted by Kera (Washington DC) on 04/18/2006
★★★★★

I have IBS and when I'm really stressed it flares up. So, lately I've been eating apples for regular fiber intake. In the last 4 days I've had...8 apples. After my second apple today I noticed that my sinuses were draining. In the 8 hours between my second and third apple the drainage diminished. But after eating apple #3 my sinuses began draining again and I had a sort of itchy feeling in the back of my mouth from the drainage. Is it possible that I've had a similar reaction to just eating apples rather than drinking the Apple Cider Vinegar?

Garlic, Onion, Red Pepper, Thyme

Posted by Pattie (Gonzales, louisiana) on 06/05/2007
★★★★★

i tried the tomato juice tea. it did not cure my sinus congestion, but it was a nice temporary fix. I also use one of my own. I take one white or yellow onion and chop it, 10 cloves fresh chopped garlic,1 tsp. red pepper, 2 tsp. thyme. Put in a pot with 8 cups of chicken broth. bring to a boil ,then let simmer for 45 min. or until onions are transparent. when it is ready add 1/4 cup apple cider vinager to it/ sip or eat like soup. salt and pepper optional. really opens the sinus

Vicks

Posted by Cindy (BELLMORE, NY) on 09/23/2007
★★★★★

An old remedy but a good one. I have a nasty sinus infection - they only thing that can penetrate the all the mucus is boiling a hot pot of water - add Vicks Vapor rub - a small amount will do - let the water cool down for a minute of two. Take a towel and put your head over the pot breath in through your nose the best you can. Do this up to tens minutes if you can. It is very strong. Vicks vapor rub has all natural ingredients- directions for this is on the bottle.

Vicks

Posted by Tanya (Orlando, Florida) on 12/06/2007
★★★★★

I was suffering about five minutes ago from one of the worst sinus infections I've ever had. I put some Vick's vapor rub in a pot of boiling water. I stood over the pot with a towel over my head. In less than three minutes, my sinuses opened. For the first time in two days I am breathing through my nose!

Salt, Baking Soda, Lemon Gargle

Posted by Ratna (Pawtucket, USA) on 09/29/2007
★★★★★

If you wake up with a heavy head and bad throat which usually causes body ache, try this,

step 1. take hot water mixed with salt, baking soda, lemon juice gargle, clean, wash your toungue, throat, upper part of inside of your mouth, it will make you want to throw up almost, eyes will be so red, but you feel relieved so much, this is cleansing the mouth.

Step 2. put some oil inside your both nostrils almond oil or may be olive oil (we in Southern India use coconut oil) you have to use your fingers as much deep you can reach to do this, then take hot water in a plastic mug which is pointed on one side (or if you can find NETI POT wich is shaped like Alladin's lamp use it) put the hot water inside of one nostril after another tilting your head and drain it out, you will find all the dirt - mucus come out at once, (some water may come into your mouth or through another nose), this you can do two times a day, this is keeping your drainage clean. you will find great relief in your head, eyes, even in shoulders, if the allergy cold is so severe.

Step 3. Take hot boiling steaming water into a wide mouthed vessel, add Vicks or drops of eucalyptus oil (Nilgiri oil) into it, bend your face into it, cover your head surrounding the vessel with a thick towel, inhale the steam as much heat you can take, your forehead, eyes, ear start to feel so much better, this is steam therapy.

I had been to a doctor, who is not able to diagnose my allergy sinus cold properly, instead when he is asking me questions like 'are you feeling depressed' I felt he needs to be sent to a therapy session on how to treat his patients well and listen carefully what they say.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Lei (Atlanta, Ga) on 11/14/2007
★★★★★

re: sinus infection/sinus pressure --
hot shower, breathe the steam
-hot packs placed on your fore head and back of neck
-vicks vapor steamer! this thing rocks! just add water and pinch of salt!
-inhale and exhale up each nostril salt water, it dries your nostrils
-antibiotics, just eat lots of yogurt after to replace the good cells

i suffer from chronic sinus issues all year long and these are some of my remedies. hope it helps you!

Chamomile Essential Oil

Posted by L. T. (Wilkesboro, N. C) on 12/09/2007
★★★★★

Chamomile is a very good antihistimine. I use the essential oil on each side of my nose whenever I begin to feel sinus pressure, congestion, burning, etc. Works immediately. Added bonus, very healthy for skin and complexion.

Honey and Cinnamon

Posted by Merle (Hillsboro, Oregon) on 12/23/2007
★★★★★

I have been struggling with a ongoing sinus congestion causing severe headaches on waking and thick drainage down the back of my throat for almost 3 months. I had been taking over the counter remedies but had resigned myself to a trip to the doctor for something stronger to knock out what I believed to be a low level sinus infection; it wasn't clearing up and today was worse than ever when I woke up. I remembered reading about honey and cinnamon remedy for "something" so thought I would look to see if there were something for sinus problems. On your site I found a remedy - 1/4t cinnamon with 1Tbl honey. Well, I tried it and within 15 minutes I could feel the pressure lightening, the drainage becoming thinner and less - I feel wonderful! I am not often moved to write a comment, but I just can't keep this one to myself - Thank you so much!

Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne

Posted by Tina (Helena, AL) on 12/15/2006
★★★★★

Hi There.

I ran across this website the other night as I was searching the internet in search of a natural approach to cure a sore throat that was so advanced that my tonsils were red and looked blistery and I could hardly swallow. It was very painful. I ran across the recommendation for the Cayenne pepper gargle but then saw that if I added ACV to this that I could drink it and it would cure my sinuses also which I have had a problem with for years and had a discharge of muscous every morning that was almost a reddish-brown color and tons of pressure in my head and had been taken Advil cold and sinus for it. I began drinking it yesterday morning and still did the Cayenne pepper and water gargle last night. My throat is already cleared up and I believe my sinuses are beginning but I am not sure what is happening with my sinuses. It seems to me like I am coughing up alot of stuff that has probably been there for while and I noticed that my mucous is now a light yellow color.

My nose is also stuffy and I feel like I am literally coughing up stuff out of my chest that I didnt even know was there (lol). I am still drinking this little mixture today and will continue to as I believe that what is happening is that I am healing and that all of this that has been there is beginning to come out and I can tell because although my mucous is not clear yet and is very light yellowish, it is not brown/reddish which says something (lol). Despite all of this (The stuffy nose and coughing up mucous) I seem to feel great with a very high energy level and no pressure in the head causing it to ache. So I will let you know the final result and am very greatful for this remedy and this wonderful website and will be consulting it regularly for my health concerns and my clients.