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.
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 Monique (Mansfield, OH) on 12/24/2006
★★★★★
Apple Cider Vinegar - Steam works like a charm! I've had sinus congestion and headaches for 4 months. Antibiotics didn't work - this works to clear the congestion. Jury still out on weather this will cure the problem, but I'm hopeful.
Steaming
Posted by Millie (New York, NY) on 11/25/2006
★★★★★
i have been suffering from a cold/sinus infection this entire week. it put a damper on my 4-day thanksgiving weekend. i cannot take over the counter cold remedies because they make my heart race, so i've been overdosing on vitamin c and echinacea, but to no avail. finally today, after not being able to breathe and having a bowling ball headache for four days, i went online to seek out a natural remedy and found your site and talk about acv. i had forgotten about it and actually pulled out a book i have from years ago and started reading. i was feeling so awful today that i had no intentions of walking out the door, still in my pajamas and looking sick, so i called my local health food store and begged them to deliver me a bottle of acv. i drank an acv/water mixture and also tried boiling a mixture in a pot and breathing in the stream. i can't believe that i've been breathing now for over an hour (i sure hope it lasts). i had to write because this is really terrific. thanks for reminding me of the benefits of acv. now that i dusted off the book, it's staying out where i can keep on reading.
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 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.
Replied by Rosa
(Monterey, Ca)
08/25/2011
★★★★☆
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.
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 Angel (USA)
★★★★★
I found that just taking a HOT cup of coffee, tea, water, etc.. And puting a towel over your head and breathing the hot vapour in through your nose and out through your mouth. Relieves Breathing difficulties as well as a stuffy or runny nose
Sugar Water
Posted by Vanessa (Brisbane, Queensland Australia) on 09/24/2009
sugar water, sinus
Try a teaspoon of sugar in half a coffee cup of water, a few drops in the nostrils at a time works. Would someone please comment on whether this is good to do or not. I do know that it works rather quickly and seems far less harmful than medication all the time.
EC: Is this a remedy for sinus congestion, sinusitus, or sinus infections? Please clarify for us! Thanks.
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 02/02/2025
★★★★★
I am a big supporter of inhaling hot steam through your sinuses for congestion. However, you can't be home 24/7 to do it. This is where this homemade Tea tree oil nasal spray comes in.
Materials needed:
– Nasal Saline Spray 1.5 oz. (found at any Dollarstore)
– Tea Tree Oil
– Needle nose pliers
– Paper towel
Directions:
– Remove cap from nasal spray.
– Wrap paper towel around nasal tip. Use pliers to carefully wiggle tip off of bottle. The paper towel protects the soft plastic tip from damage by using the pliers.
– Once removed, add two drops tea tree oil to the 1.5 oz. saline solution in bottle.
– Re-install tip on bottle. Re-cap bottle. It is now ready to use.
How to use: Shake bottle before each use so the oil mixes with the saline solution. Mist/Spray each nostril with solution several times daily. Do this til symptoms improve.
Why it works:
Saline nasal spray clears out mucus and crusts in your nasal passages that are causing you to feel stuffed up. Using saline nasal spray or irrigation also helps cleanse your nasal passages, washing away pollen and other things that cause allergy symptoms. Saline sprays can reduce thick mucus secretions in the sinuses and nose.
Tea tree oil can help relieve sinus congestion by reducing inflammation. Tea tree oil is known for its antiviral and antimicrobial properties. Its expectorant properties can loosen mucus.
Tea, Garlic, Cayenne, Ginseng, Royal Jelly
Posted by Ken (Arlington, VA) on 02/03/2007
★★★★★
Simple remedy that is working for me to assist in ridding your body of sinus issues and assisting in the reduction of sore throat is just this.... 1 cup of litely presweetened tea, 1 teaspoon of minced garlic, 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, 1 vile of ginseng and royal jelly. Heat in the cup for about 2 minutes, let set for another couple of minutes and slowly drink. You will start to feel the sore throat go away while your sinuses drainage. It also appears to help me relax. Always remember to discard of any excess mucus in order to get rid of the bacteria that has collected in your sinus cavities during the time of mucus build up. Good luck to everyone.
Tomato Tea
Posted by Holly (Fresno, Ca) on 04/15/2012
★★★★★
I honestly can't believe this WORKED! I have had a terrible cold with a sore throat and the worst sinus congestion for four days straight. Fearing a sinus infection, I was preparing to head to the Dr. in another day. I had tried everything I could think of, Sudafed, Dayquil, and even Nasal Spray (which only worked for a couple of hours, not 12 like the label promised). Desperate, I went online to try a "natural" remedy. I was willing to try just about anything. And what do you know? It WORKED. Within 20 minutes my congestion felt less "throbbing" and one more cup and 2 hours later - my sinuses are TOTALLY CLEAR! My throat is starting to feel better too! I am definately going to use this remedy again if I ever feel a cold coming on. One thing, I added a little honey and I crushed my garlic with a garlic press. It seems to have helped get the garlic to juice out a bit more. THANK YOU so much for this amazing recipe!
Tomato Tea
Posted by Jennifer (Sunrise, Fl, Usa) on 03/15/2012
★★★★★
I can't believe how well this works. I'm still in shock!
2 days ago, I started to become sick with the flu when I was on a 18-hour flight. On came the chills and fever, and then my nose kept running non-stop. To make it worse, the changing cabin pressure on the descent gave me excruciating sinus pain and made my ears clogged to the point where I couldn't hear out of both ears anymore. I can't take cold medicine because I have thyroid disease, and I am slow to recover because my metabolism is very slow.
Yesterday my sinuses and fever got worse. I remembered reading about this remedy on Earth Clinic and I was eager to try it. Luckily I had all the ingredients on hand. I used V8 Spicy Hot juice, lemon juice (bottled), minced garlic, a lot of tabasco sauce (as much as I could stand) and a dash of celery salt for taste. I heated it in the microwave for about 1 1/2 minutes and then sipped and inhaled the fumes as directed. About 10 minutes after I started to sip it I noticed an increase of nasal discharge. I had to keep blowing my nose over and over again, but this time when I blew my nose I actually felt like I was clearing it out, instead of the feeling of blowing your nose and feeling like it gets clogged up again 5 minutes later. The pressure in my ears released about 60% and I regained most of my hearing. My fever increased and for a few hours I felt pretty rotten, even though my nasal passages had cleared. But in a few hours I felt at least 60% better, which is amazing considering that it usually takes me 3 weeks to recover from a cold! I slept all through the night with no problem.
This morning I made another tomato tea. While drinking it, I felt my left ear "pop" and the pressure released. I now have full hearing in my left ear and a 70% improvement in my right ear. I then took a hot shower afterwards (the steam helps to open the sinus passages) and kept blowing my nose. My nasal congestion is about 85% gone, I don't have a fever or chills anymore, I got most of my hearing back and I don't feel groggy anymore!
It doesn't seem so crazy why this works when you do some research on capsaicin. Capsaicin is also the active ingredient of pepper spray. Capsaicin is an irritant, and when you inhale pepper spray, your body pushes it out by forcing your sinuses to clear themselves and making your nose run uncontrollably. Have you ever eaten a really spicy dish and had your nose start to run?That's the capsaicin at work.
I have Vietnamese friends who swear by a similar remedy that works in the same way as the tomato tea. They swear by eating pho (a hot fish/noodle soup) when you are sick. They put a lot of Sriracha (Vietnamese hot pepper sauce) in the soup and breathe in the hot fumes. The steam and pepper helps open and clear the sinuses.
I have also been drinking echinacea tea with a tbs of coconut oil and I've also been drinking some ACV throughout the day. (I don't take the ACV too close to the tomato tea though, because ACV is alkaline while the tomato tea is very acidic).
Thank you, thank you, thank you Earth Clinic for this wonderful remedy! I can celebrate my 30th birthday this weekend without feeling miserable :)
Tomato Tea
Posted by Julz (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) on 01/25/2012
★★★★★
The tomato tea is not only delicious, but it honest to goodness is the only things that's worked thus far for my sinus infection. Finally I can breathe!
Tomato Tea
Posted by Kaelyn (Rockport, Tx) on 12/19/2011
★★★★★
I did not have any V8 on hand, but I used a can of Amy's organic tomato bisque soup, I added 5-6 cloves of finely chopped garlic, fresh squeezed lemon. I only had taco bell hot sauce packets so I used those and added extra cayenne pepper. I did add a little worcestershire sauce for added flavor. I heated it on the stove as to not kill any of the nutrients by using the microwave. IT WAS DELICIOUS. Really spice but sooo good. I could breathe freely through my sinuses within the first five bites!!! I have been eating garlic for days to help my immune system but this cold has finally caught up to me. Thank you earth clinic! I love you!
