Quick Sinus Relief: Natural Remedies for Congestion

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?

Eucalyptus Oil

Posted by Jessie (Tahlah)
★★★★★

I like to add a little eucalyptus with water in a bowl and microwave it for a few minutes and put a towel over my head and take in all the steam. It gets stuff out of your system so be prepared to clear up.

Smelling Black Pepper

Posted by Cindy (Illinois, USA) on 01/10/2021 554 posts
★★★★★

I used potato soup with lots of butter and lots and lots of black pepper to help finish off the sinus garbage. And I "sniffed" EVERYthing! The peppery soup, hydrogen peroxide, DMSO, ClO2 - basically just about everything I have. It was SOOOOO annoying and I just couldn't break it up. But the black pepper and soup seemed to do the trick.

Black pepper contains quite a bit of sulfur. As do potatoes - or, rather, they should but the soil is so depleted in the states that you have to amend the soil of your potato patch - if you grow your own.

Pumpkin Oil

Posted by Irina (New York, NY) on 01/14/2019
★★★★★

Pumpkin Oil for sinus congestion:

Pumpkin oil is working great for my sinuses, which have been clogged for years now - it is actually finally clearing up! I can't believe it & am so glad after all this time to find relief! Pumpkin oil is an antifungal, so it makes sense it would clear sinus issues.

Cayenne

Posted by Amanda (Des Moines) on 09/08/2016
★★★★★

Cayenne for nasal congestion. This worked for me. I snorted a very small amount. I proceeded to use some saline spray afterwards. I am pregnant and tend to use nasal spray daily.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Brenda (Columbus, Ohio) on 09/30/2015
★★★★★

Tried the 2 tbls coconut, vinegar (didn't have ACV) 2 tbls honey, dash of cayenne pepper, added quarter of raw onion and mug of hot H20 for sinus pain. Pain left quickly, w/in a few minutes. Woke up with sinus pain this AM. Not much mucus, pain was worrisome. Raw coconut Vinegar has 17 amino acids, minerals, vitamin C, broad spectrum B vitamins and has nearly neutral ph. It works faster for me for acidic stomach or indigestion. I use it with water for first morning beverage often. I get it at health food store.

Hydrogen Peroxide, Sea Salt

Posted by Dwight (S. Florida, US) on 12/19/2014
★★★★★

I mixed sea salt and hydrogen peroxide and squirted in each nostril to try to relieve my stuffy sinuses. The solution is very uncomfortable and it remains in my sinuses until I repeat the process about 3 times.Only then will it start to come back out the same nostril and if I keep it up some will eventually come out the opposing nostril. It just seems to get soaked up there.

Wheatgrass

Posted by Audrina (Los Angeles, Ca) on 07/21/2014
★★★★★

Wheatgrass (the juice powder) works miraculously well for clearing out sinuses! I feel relief immediately when I drink it, and if I keep drinking it everyday I have discovered that I can even eat foods like wheat and dairy that formerly made me stuffy. Wheatgrass does not have wheat. Make sure you don't take too much too soon, though! When I first tried it I took too much - 1 tablespoon and got very stuffy. I guess it was detoxifying stuff. When I cut back and started with just 1/4 teaspoon, my sinuses immediately cleared up. Now I can take 1 tablespoon, no problem. If you have chronic sinusitis or allergies that affect your sinuses, wheatgrass could be your cure! As an added bonus of taking wheatgrass, my hair is stronger and fuller than ever and has a very smooth texture.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Sarah (Us) on 05/29/2014
★★★★★

I get really bad allergies a couple of times a year and I'm usually just resigned to suffering through swollen sinuses and copious amounts of mucus, but it's really wearing thin. I just tried apple cider vinegar and much to my surprise, it actually helped. I'm still congested but the throbbing itchy feeling in my sinuses has finally subsided, and the congestion has lessened. Sitting here with eucalyptus oil in my burner now and hoping that will help with the remainder, but at least I have something I can take to make sleeping easier (that isn't a benadryl - that stuff really wrecks me). Thanks for sharing this.

Apple Cider Vinegar, Olive Oil, Baking Soda

Posted by Doddie (Georgia, Usa) on 03/14/2014
★★★★★

2T ACV, 2T Olive Oil, 1/4t baking soda in 8 oz warm water, was the only ingredients I did have. Been suffering from chest congestion and hacking up phlegm for 6 days. Relief from the coughing, congestion, within the hour! My nose drained and 2 hr later it is still working. Unbelievable! The worst thing I have ever had to drink down in my life (and I am good at drinking horrible tasting stuff for medicinal purposes) . I had use the last of my honey before I got sick. This really does work, and I did manage to drink it down. I will try the ACV, honey, baking soda, cayenne pepper, and lemon juice the next time. The coughing stopped almost immediately. I had to post because it worked so well!!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Caroline (Norfolk, Uk) on 12/06/2016
★★★★★

Just tried this and within a minute a clear nose, hope it lasts and I can sleep tonight...I'm amazed as I was completely blocked up.

Kimchi

Posted by Samantha (New York, Ny) on 07/30/2013
★★★★★

Kimchi for sinus infections/congestion: I have just recently discovered after adding other fermented foods to my diet like fermented veggies & sauerkraut that KIMCHI works wonders at clearing up sinus congestion!! It's a must try!!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Lori (Chicago Heights, Il) on 02/25/2013
★★★★★

I have been drinking the Apple Cider Vinegar tea for about 3 weeks 16oz a day. With that I have experienced loose stool and drainage from sinuses. Today I do not feel the greats but I am able to breath out of both nostrils and that feels great. I will continue to use ACV and the tea. Thank you

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Christine (Ma) on 06/04/2013
★★★★★

I was miserable and just tried this. It worked within minutes!!! Thank you! Could not breathe at all through my nose. Feel wonderful!

Camphor

Posted by Hippocrates (Odin, Missouri, U.s.a.) on 04/28/2012 9 posts
★★★★★

Hello all, I have suffered from sinus problems my whole life. This often leads to headaches caused by the sinuses being inflamed. I love to sleep with a fan for the sound, but this causes them often, so I must not. Drinking milk before bed does the same, so I must not. As does certain times of year, temperature too low in the house, humidity changes, smoke, etc, etc.

One thing I found helps lessen the pain is the "nose bullets" as I call them. Tubes you stick in your nose and inhale the vapors. They contain Camphor/Menthol. They do not "cure" a sinus headache, but lessen the pain. Heating up some "chest rub" in a jar does the same, but it is not as portable. Also, rubbing the "chest rub" onto your forehead helps soften the pain. I use Neti pots but add 1 teaspoon or less of Xylitol and several drops of hydrogen peroxide per each pot full to the standard salt/baking soda powder that is out there.

I post these not as medical advise, but something that has worked for me to make living with sinuses more bearable.

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!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Brenda (Manning, South Carolina) on 01/23/2012
★★★★★

I've gone through sinus surgery and suffer at least once a week with congestion and running. Got bad tonight that I could not breathe thru BOTH nostrils. I am pregnant so I can not take anything. I drank 6 oz of warm water with 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar and one tbsp honey. Warmed it in the microwave for 20seconds. After about 5 minutes, I can breathe thru left nostril. Right one is still blocked but I'm happy to have at least one to breathe from!!!

I do know that cutting sugar and caffeine will help. A nutritionalist also said that milk/dairy is mucous forming. Can't live without all three! I also learned thru study that continuous decongestants will actually worsen congestion. Hope this helps everyone because it is miserable not being able to breathe!

Anise

Posted by Shorty (Austin, Tx) on 11/07/2011
★★★★★

Another thing that works for congestion is a spice called "anise", you boil the seeds and drink it with honey & lemon. my mom swore by it when we were younger & I used it for my infant kids since it was hard for them to cough up the mucus.

I need to use it myself for I have been suffering from nasal congestion/mucus & acid indigestion. That combination makes it hard to breathe freely, and sleep.. I wish you a speedy recovery.