Quick Sinus Relief: Natural Remedies for Congestion

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.

Cayenne

Posted by Nathan (Pittsburgh, Pa, Usa) on 10/30/2011
★★★★★

To relieve lingering sinus congestion due to allergies, I tried the method of snorting small rice sized amounts of cayenne powder.

Like Veejay25 said, there is about 30 seconds of fairly intense burning. For me, however, the burning continued for approximately 30 minutes after taking the powder. After the intense first few minutes, it gradually lessened. The pain is nothing that an average person could not tolerate. There was also about 6 to 7 minutes of intense sneezing, watering eyes, and nose blowing. If you plan to try this, make sure you have about 10 or 15 minutes to recover.

My sinuses cleared slightly, though not completely. I should stress that I did not have a severe sinus condition, so better results could probably be achieved during treatment of a worse condition.

One question to consider is the potential for cayenne to damage the nasal cavity if used chronically. Of course we should all realize it would never be recommended to use many (not all) of the remedies on this site for extended periods due to the lack of scientific research on long term side effects.

Red Pepper, Ground Pepper

Posted by Red9979 (Miami, Fl) on 09/06/2011
★★★★★

cayenne pepper might work better, but I did not have any at hand, decided to take a facial vaporizer, that has the nose attatchment, to the water, I added crushed red pepper and ground black pepper, smelled it for about 15 minutes, at medium or high setting made me sneeze instantly, did not burn and cleared me but then again I do not have chronic sinus. I guess for chronic sinus or bad infections with headaches and sinus pain- the cayenne would be more powerful .

but if your desperate enough and do not have it at hand, try my method might work for you.

General Feedback

Posted by Debbie (Melbourne, Australia) on 06/11/2011

Larry you write: "My alternative physician suggested using betaine HCl instead of ACV to alleviate my nasal congestion, thereby not ingesting vinegar that fungus thrives on".

The above is NOT true. Vinegar does "not" thrive on fungus. I totally cured by toenail fungus by ingesting ACV (and doing nothing else). I had it for many years and even took tablets years ago to cure it but nothing worked until I drank the ACV.

Knitted Hat

Posted by Dianec (Los Angeles, Ca, United States) on 01/31/2011
★★★★★

Hello I submitted the sinus help regarding accupressure and sinus rinse about a year ago! For a week now I have had very little problem with my decade long sinusitis nightmare. While the accupressure and sinus rinse helped this is what is working for me about 100%. I HAVE BEEN WEARING A WARM CAP ON MY HEAD DAY AND NIGHT AND I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH MY SINUSITIS! I'M NOT KIDDING! So far the draining, spitting, and post-nasal drip have stopped. It seems keeping my head warm keeps my sinuses normal! Try it and see if it works for you! Such a simple thing has me back to normal.I have been wearing a large green knitted cap that covers my entire head.Thanks Diane

Oregano Oil

Posted by Demetrius (Austell, Ga, Usa) on 08/10/2010
★★★★☆

I have been suffering from post nasal discharge from one nostril for more than 15 years I had surgery 3 times but the problem persists to the point that has made my life miserable and quite embarassing since I have to deal with clearing the back of my throat from thick mucous that gets stuck there and requires a lot of coughing and effort to be cleared. I was reading some of the entries about certain remedies and I got interested in the remedy with the oregano. I went to my local herb shop to buy the liquid oregano but I found a nose spray which contains the essential oils of oregano, bay leaf, sage and clove in a sea water base. I tried it out and has made a big difference my problem did not go away but the phlegm is less thicker easier to clear and plus my problem sinus side feels less obstructed than before. It has to be the oregano.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Jml (Denver, Co) on 11/26/2012
★★★★★

Thank you for the ACV remedy, it was helpful! ACV in water also works for heartburn. Sinus problems, among many other illnesses, are fungal related and the eating of grains and sugars definitely exasperate it. It's not that grains in themselves are bad, it's because many of our grains these days because of the way they are stored are contaminted with mold and fungus and most of the fungi are not tested in our food supply. For anyone who's interested there's a great site where you can read or listen to more info on the subject... The website is knowthecause.com and the man's name is Doug Kaufmann - he's been researching the fungus link to disease for over 30 years. Many have been healed of various illnesses by going on what's called the 'Phase 1' diet. It's basically a diet that eliminates sugar and grains and believe me it does make a major difference! I have veered away from it the last few months and my sinuses acting up again was the price I paid. Needless to say, I plan to get back on the diet since it's the only thing I've found that really makes a difference.

In any event, hope people will check out the site, there's tons of good information and it will definitely help you - it's been a lifesaver for me! Stay healthy!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Angela (Gautier, Mississippi) on 10/23/2012

apple cider vinegar is great. But lets get to what has caused your problem. "your bottom line"your bottom line is your PH balance. Most of everyone started in april. What do you think you all did in april that was the same?ate easter bunny candy. Lol yep thats what I said. you lowered your bodies PH from eating to much candy/sweets/carbs.=acidics.and that goes for you halloween candy eaters also, cooler weather means we start indulging on sweeter items. Cause we arent going to the beaches any more, so we dont have to worry about a little pooch belly.

Your bodys PH is best around 7.4 when you eat those delious sweets you lower it to around 6.8 you start felling sluggish/slow/fatigue.you eat a few more the next fe weeks, days which lowers it to about 6.5 right here you start getting sick. Now what you have done is made a perfect place for bacteria, infections to live, fungus... Etc. So now what do you do?stop eating sweets? but you love them?

ok you have to put in your body a 70/30% ratio of alkaline/acidic foods every day. Small piece of meat or no meat at all, with lots of veggies, instead of that coke, drink water. Sweeten that tea a little less and do more activity. If you sit in front of the computer all day like me, you do not move enough to be able to endulge in to many sweets. If your active your body can burn some of it off. So now that your sick what do you do? the apple cider vinegar will help. I like to put a little alcohol in my ears when I feel like I have a infection or water in them. Not much just a little. And after one night of 1 drop or 2 in the ear the next night I use a little oil just so it doesnt get dried out. That hurts too. Dry nose, saline salution squrted up in there about 3 eimes a day for a week and use a little vaseline on a qtip to just lightly coat the insde of your nose so it doesnt dry out so quick. When I throw myself into that acidic sugar days and get sick, I put about half teaspoon of baking soda in water drink it just before bed. Its ok to drink water afterwards but nothing else. It kind of kicks it in gear so to speak. It also works for acid refux which most of the time is caused by too much sweets. Lol they also sell PH strips online cheap. I dont know what stores sell them. But they come in handy. I hope I helped ya'll. remember your bottom line is your PH balance no matter the illness type even cancer.

Apple Cider Vinegar Steam

Posted by Beck (Tuskawilla, Florida) on 01/02/2010
★★★★★

I found home remedies with acv and thought it worked great. For those who can't handle the taste try steam inhaling to clear the congestion. For a simple and quick session, I filled a small pan with half water and half acv and boil on the stove. Once it comes to a full boil turn off the stove and just breathe in the steam. My husband thought I just worked a miracle on him with this simple procedure. Good luck!!

Cayenne

Posted by Pat (Hoschton, Ga) on 08/01/2009
★★★★★

I have been a chronic sinus sufferer for years. when I get bad and have to clear up in a hurry. I find a shot of tobasco sause opens sinuses as soon as you drink it. but I wouldnt advise it if you have an stomach ulcer. works every time for me.

Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne

Posted by Put some good ideas together (Toronto, Ontario) on 05/15/2009
★★★★★

Sinus Congestion with Sore Throat:

I've always taken a dash of Cayenne Pepper (I'd say a teaspoon, but it's really as much as you can comfortably handle as an individual) with 2 tablespoons of Lemon Juice and 2 tablespoons of Honey in a mug of boiling water for a sore throat.

Great relief and tastes great too.

After reading other posts and some experimentation I am now changing my recipe to..

1 dash Cayenne Pepper
2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
2 tablespoons Honey
1 Mug boiling water

Same great taste, but better sinus relief as well as sore throat.

Chinese Hot Mustard

Posted by Bob (Tazewell, Virginia) on 06/26/2008
★★★★★

Natural decongestant: Chinese hot mustard works very well to drain sinus congestion. It helps to do a nasal irrigation afterward.

Neti Pot Remedy

Posted by Linda (Studio City, CA) on 03/25/2008
★★★★★

Try using the Neti pot with warm salt water. It flushes out your sinuses like nobodies business and it's safe and effective. You can use it everyday. Whole Foods sells them or you can get them off the internet. This and the Cayanne pepper drink saved me last night. My sore throat went away and now my PND is getting better. You guys are great.

Cinnamon Oil

Posted by Brigitte (Houston, Texas) on 01/11/2008
★★★★★

Each year, I have sinus drainage which results in throat problems.

I read somewhere that cinnamon oil is a natural antibiotic so I thought I would try it to treat my sore throat and sinusitus. Sincerely, it works to assuage the complications that occur when these things are allowed to run their course without a series of antibiotics.

Note that if you do not catch the problem in its early stages and you begin to develop an ear infection this will burn like crazy when it hits the eustration tube of your inner ear. It will cause no harm but it literally feels like your inner ear is on fire.

It works to open sinus drainage if you use a dropper and place two or three drops on the back of your mouth's roof top. Larger doses cause minor stomach irritation.

Pregnant women should avoid all forms of cinnamon like the plague; as cinnamon can cause premature labor

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.

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.

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

Neti Pot Remedy

Posted by Debrah (Oxford, Nova Scotia) on 01/31/2011
★★★★★

I've (always?) had a stuffy nose and finally got smart enough to check the internet and found out about using a neti pot for sinus congestion. So I tried it and the benefits that first time, have lasted overnight. I will do it again today and every time I start feeling slightly congested. Neti pots work big time!