Cayenne for Sinus Infections

5 star (54) 
  84%
4 star (3) 
  5%
3 star (1) 
  2%
1 star (5) 
  8%
(1) 
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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.

Michael (Portland, Oregon) on 03/19/2013:
5 out of 5 stars

I just tried cayenne snorting, one bump in each nostril, and it hurts pretty bad for a few minutes. But my nose is now clear and I can breath, which I couldn't do 3 minutes ago.
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Momma.hambone (Detroit, Mi) on 03/12/2013:
5 out of 5 stars

I highly recommend snorting cayenne pepper! After reading reviews on Earth Clinic and being completely sick of being sick I finally decided to take the plunge. I am so happy I did. I did a small "bump" in each nostril from the end of a knife and immedietly could feel the pepper at work. It burned like something else for about 10 minutes but then, to my utter delight, I could BREATHE from my nose again! It has been 3 days; I can sleep at night, I can taste food again, I can breathe, I can talk to people without sounding like a weirdo. I still have some mucus, but its completely clear and nothing like it was before. Next time I even think I'm coming down with an infection I'm doing this straight away. Thank you all, and remember: your body is a healing machine. Be blessed in oneness!!
REPLY   10      

Jamie (Austin, Tx) on 03/05/2013:
5 out of 5 stars

This remedy really works.

I had a cold that turned into a sinus infection. After the sneezing/extreme runny nose symptoms of the cold subsided, I was left with a minor cough and a never ending supply of neon yellow snot to blow out of my right nostril.

I tried drinking warm milk with turmeric, but that didn't help much. After I discovered this remedy here, I intuitively knew that cayenne would kill whatever was producing this unnaturally bright yellow mucus. No pain no gain.

So I snorted up a bump of cayenne about the size of a pinky-nail in my right nostril... Sharp, severe burning pain in my sinus cavity that had me hyperventilating and gushing tears out of my right eye, occasionally rolling around on the floor. I sneezed a few times and finally after about 4 minutes the level of pain began to decrease. I could feel it killing the sinus infection, so the pain was reassuring to me.

I blew the rest of the bright yellow mucus out within minutes and haven't seen it since. It's been over 24 hours and I only had to blow my nose a few times today and it was clear snot. Cayenne snorting works.

REPLY   7      



Mary (Orlando, Fl) on 05/25/2012:
5 out of 5 stars

Thank you for the information ~ I have been battling severve sinus pain. I tried the cayenne pepper on the end of a wet qtip. Yes it burned but I finally got relief. I am alternating it with saline spray. I am finally without pain at the moment ~ this really works ~ thank you so much

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REPLY   4      

Irbgirl (Indian Rocks Beach, Fl, USA) on 05/20/2012:
5 out of 5 stars

I used Cayenne, Peroxide and Kosher salt, hot water and a bulb syringe. I eat really hot food, so thought I'd be prepared for the cayenne. I think I overdid it! It burned for a bit, but then felt refreshing. When I blew the solution from my sinuses, lets just say the results were effective! What relief! I did it once in the morning and once in the evening. I woke up for the first time in over a week being able to breath and my voice sounds almost normal.

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REPLY   7      

Susan (Garrettsville, Ohio) on 04/20/2012:
5 out of 5 stars

Well I just had my first experience of snorting Cayenne pepper. I have had a bad sinus infection for almost 2 days and nothing was working. It has been 7 minutes since I snorted the Cayenne pepper and I can actually breath out of both nostrils, and my sore throat is better. Make no mistake, it will BURN, but the after results are WORTH IT!!!
REPLY   7      

Anti-cayenne (Omaha, Nebraska) on 04/16/2012:
1 out of 5 stars

Warning

This is a ***WARNING*** about cayenne pepper snorting. I did this a handful of times to cure a cold and the last time I did so, I did it with particularly hot cayenne (according to the rating). There may be nothing more that I regret doing in my life. I really, really wish I'd never seen this website and gotten this idea into my head because after this time, my nose started running all the time. I thought I was just getting cold after cold, or that my hayfever was persisting into the winter months, but that didn't make any sense to me so I started eliminating foods to see if it was intolerance issues. Finally I found the most simplistic of elimination diets, one that got rid of practically every type of potential allergen including odd foods that contain salicylates, glutamates, histamine-containing foods, etc. It was an incredibly bland diet and I thought it was a good starting place to add foods back in and see what I react to.

Turns out I react to almost everything now, because cayenne contains lots of salicylates or phenols and these are substances in everything you eat to varying degrees. I find that I can now only eat things that are very low in salicylates and phenols - these are very, very bland foods. Otherwise, my nose runs, my eyes get puffy and red, I get this brain dead feeling, and basically can't function. Never used to be this way. I can't enjoy almost any of my favorite foods anymore, like spices, coffee, dairy, most fruits and vegetables, nuts, fermented foods like alcohol and vinegar, etc. Pretty much all plant foods are out if I want to be 100% well because I'm convinced the cayenne pepper activated something that made me sensitive to plant chemicals.

Anyway, this will sound dramatic but as someone who's found food to be a source of joy and creativity on various levels - nutritionally, gustatorily, socially, etc. - this has been the biggest blow to my wellbeing in many, many years. Sometimes I've found myself profoundly depressed about it, and there's not a day that goes by that I don't regret have done something so apparently dangerous. If anyone has an "earth cure" about how to get rid of "allergies to everything" caused by cayenne pepper, I'd be unbelievably happy. Sigh.

In short: please don't snort cayenne pepper, ever.

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REPLY   11      

Spiritgirl78 (East Islip, NY, USA) on 01/22/2012:
4 out of 5 stars

After being sick with a cold, left ear infection, sinus infection, and upper respiratory infection for 3 weeks, which then turned into borinchitis, I decided to try something more drastic, lol.

First, I made a mixture of 2 tbsp of ACV mixed with 8oz of cranberry juice, and it did not taste so bad- I dran it through a straw to reduce enamel damage. And my sinus pressure became relieved. THEN, I decided to also snort Cayenne Pepper- 3/4th of an inch in each nostril. I believe I did more than what was advised- 1/8th.. lol.

I did each nostril back to back, and let me tell you: the burning was immense, but it helped with doing a breathing exercise- inhale through your nose SHARPLY and exhale through your mouth SHARPLY. This helped with the exhaling because the urning sensation is BAD. lol.

After 5 minutes the burning started to dissipate and well, my sinuses started draining alot and its been 30 minutes, and my sinuses are not clogged. Bottom line: only snort cayenne if you are desperate, lol. BUT IT DOES HELP.

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REPLY   8      



Daisy (Jacksonville, Florida, U.s.a) on 01/04/2012:
5 out of 5 stars

I'm trying to nip a wannabe sinus infection in the bud before it goes from bad to worse, and I just tried this about a half hour ago to help open my sinuses. I only did one side because if it went nuclear I figured half pain was better than all pain. So I took the tiniest bit of powdered cayenne on the end of a teaspoon -- just the amount that would fit under my pinky nail as others have described, but on a spoon -- and sniffed.

Oh. Words do not describe. Whoever said this is not for the faint of heart was being extraordinarily gentle. It's like TNT for the nose. But the thing is, it worked, and it really wasn't that bad. When I first sniffed it up, it didn't go all that far up, so I kept sniffing to keep it moving up and back, which is when it went down the back of my throat, and also when I started to feel The Burn. That was less than pleasant, but the sneezing and nose blowing that ensued soon took it down a few notches. The burn was pretty intense, and tapered off over a few minutes, but was strangely good. I had a little bit of rebound congestion because the cayenne is an irritant (duh! ) but that was more than offset by the sinuses opening up, and it's almost entirely gone now.

Since I only did it on one side, I can tell the difference very clearly, and the cayenne side feels great! I had forgotten that cayenne has painkilling properties, but sure enough that nostril and the sinus passages on that side are numb, which is very welcome.

I wasn't nearly as badly stuffed up as some of the folks here have been describing, so I did not get 30 second relief, but I can totally see how you would get instant results if you were just completely closed up: the effect is nothing short of explosive. Seriously. Like C4 for your nose.

So basically, as soon as I recover my courage, I'm going to do the other side. :)

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REPLY   12      

Rory (Houston, Tx) on 11/22/2011:
5 out of 5 stars

This hurts, a lot. Do not use a lot! A little goes a LONG way. You do blow your knose a lot after, so that clears you up. Also, this pepper is a pain killer of sorts so it will make you feel better for a bit. But the initial pain was pretty amazing for me. Scale of 1 to 10 I'm thinking at least 7. It tappers off quickly, within a few minutes I'm down to a 5 or so. My nose feels like it's on fire. It seems to have helped. I used about 1/20th of a teaspoon, a very small amount. Then immediately blew my nose and most of it came out. I can now feel the pepper running down the back of my throat. Awesome.

My situation is I had a cold then got a sinus infection. I have had this for about 3 days or so.

I only did this 10 mins ago (etc) so I'm unsure of the long term effects but in the short term it does seem to have some beneficial effects.

REPLY   5      

Nikkilu (Houston, Tx ) on 11/15/2011:
5 out of 5 stars

I came on Earth Clinic last night to find a natural remedy for this horrid sinus infections that I've had for about three months. I hate taking meds. Furthermore the antibotics did absolutely nothing when I did decide to take them. UGH!

After getting over my fear of having burning nostrils I snorted the Caynne Pepper!!!!! And in minutes I could breath out of both nostrils. SERIOUSLY, and I slept like a baby... I was so happy to breath out of my nostrils. I'm currently at work so now I'm going to try the Hot Organic Apple Cider in some tea!! Lets see if this will work for me!!

YEEEAAA!! I'm on a natural remedy roll!

REPLY   11      

Candice (Vancouver, Wa) on 05/04/2011:
5 out of 5 stars

Up until earlier tonight I'd been feeling miserable from a sinus infection since last weekend, so a couple of nights ago I started researching home remedies. I decided to try an unconventional method that I was pretty skeptical of to (hopefully) cure my sinus infection. Snorting cayenne pepper. Sounded completly backward and awful to me! I avoid the doctor like the plague though... And I was getting tempted to quit toughing it out and just go to the clinic.. So I needed to do something drastic. I spent so much time researching just because.. Well.. My Mother taught me not to put things up my nose.

Well, I was a little too wussy to actually snort it so I put a dash in my neti-pot. Much to my amazement- it's working wonders! I took a four hour long nap and a bunch of mucus has drained out of my face. It did sting a bit but wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as not being able to breathe through my nose, just a relief to feel some shift in the pressure in my head. Anyway... Yay! If you've been feeling like you have a sinus infection, and you don't want to take antibiotics, what do you have to lose? (I'm super prone to these so I usually I can feel them coming on and know when I have one before I get diagnosed. ) Anyhow, I wish I hadn't been so skeptical, I could have been out of my misery much sooner.

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REPLY   6      

Daren (Trenton, Mi, Us) on 02/21/2010:
5 out of 5 stars

Dear EC, I too have used organic Cayenne pepper in my neti pot. My kind is actually the kind you squeeze not tilt your head and pour. My sinuses have been acting up like always. Along with my sinus cleanse saline solution (sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride (the little packets you can buy)) I added approximately 1/32 of a TEASPOON NOT TABLESPOON (1/8 of a 1/4 teaspoon). It was actually 1 dash of cayenne. But the holes on my container are a little bigger than typical so I did a light dash. I experienced great results! It cleared me up right away. It is intense for the first time so beginners may want to use EVEN LESS for their first try.

These ingredients were mixed with 8oz or 1 CUP of room temperature water. I have done it twice now in the past 18 hours and I am hacking out green stuff so I know it's working. I would advise not doing it more than 2 or 3 times in 24 hours and not more than a few days a week in time of need. But that is just my opinion.

I am curious if turmeric would be helpful in this application also has anyone tried it?

Thank you, and love you FOREVER EC!!!!!!

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REPLY   5      



Ray (Cranbury, Nj) on 02/04/2010:
5 out of 5 stars

Snorting Cayenne Pepper - Absolutely Amazing

Reading the other posts I figured I'ld give it a try. My temperature was around 102 and my head and sinus areas killing me. Lots of yellow discharge. Lots of pain. I was not doing well. So, rather hastily and unscientifically I put a couple of shakes of organic Cayenne Pepper into about a Tablespoon of water in a teacup. I used a Q-tip to put it each nostril a couple times each and snorted it up. I then bent over and kept snorting. I followed with a Q-tip dipped in water to get more movement and snorted some more. My mixture may have been a bit intense. It burned alright, my eyes teared as if I was bawling like a baby and I had a few sneezing fits. I hung on for a few minutes and then blew my nose. Put some more water in there and snorted a bit more. Ten minutes later there was a definite change. My head still hurt and my nose was on fire! Then after about another 15-20 minutes most of the pressure in my head left and when I tried blowing my nose, no colored discharge! My temperature went down to 99 and I no longer had the chills. It worked! It worked! One of God's amazing wonders! Thank you everyone for sharing.

REPLY   5      

Olodus (Victoria, Bc, Canada) on 11/28/2009:
5 out of 5 stars

I've been battling a cold / flu / strep, not sure but its been suppressed after a healthy dose of cayenne and ACV, but the sinus thing has been lingering and i am prone to infection on the left side so i figured i'd give this snort a shot.

This is not for the faint of heart.

I didn't measure out anything particular just a tiny pinch for each nostril and bam. In the past week i've probally consumed roughly an eighth of the bottle of cayenne and nothing could have prepared me for this experience.

Everything is drained, and my ear is feeling better already, my face is glowing and sinuses have been armed with napalm. This one is definately for the books.

REPLY   6      

Katie (Edwardsville, Il, USA) on 09/16/2009:
3 out of 5 stars

Worked Temporarily

Wow! What a rush! I woke up with sinus pain today, and came looking for remedies. After reading all the reviews on snorting cayenne pepper, I tentatively decided to give it a try. I sprinkled a pinch in my palm and used my pinky finger to scoop a TINY amount under my fingernail, and I inhaled it with my slightly clearer nostril. The burning got pretty intense within a few seconds, but within 30 seconds something shifted and I felt the pressure drop away. After a couple of minutes, I used it in the completely blocked nostril and it cleared almost immediately! Yes, the burning was INTENSE, but it was never unbearable. Honestly, it was a relief to feel something other than my sinus pressure and pain. I've heard of pharmaceutical companies using the chemical in pepper to find new ways to block pain- my experience shows that, at least temporarily, IT WORKS!

Unfortunately, the pressure is already coming back. So, it works in the short term, but no lasting relief. I will try reapplying. If I find different results, I'll post them.

REPLY   9      

Dave (Westminster, Md) on 08/22/2009:
4 out of 5 stars

I had sinus pressure for a couple of weeks every night i would start feeling worse around 6:30 then the drainage and drippy throat, even when i get antibiotics from the doctor it dont seem to go away for a couple months, so i checked a remedy book, 1 sugeestion was garlic, so i got some this morning, ate a clove still tasting it, went online to make sure i took it right, when i read about sniffing cayenne, told my daughter about it she said she wanted to try. She said burned a little, I tried with a larger dose a my pinky, did both sides real quick. it burns and still feels hot now about 12 minutes ago, but i am breathing clear out of both nostrills, dont get worked up thinking about it.

I recommend, will see what happens later or a couple of days and let you know the results.

REPLY   4      

Rachelle88 (Ellenwood, Georgia) on 08/04/2009:
5 out of 5 stars

i used the cayenne pepper and that may have been the scariest thing i have ever done..it really worked. i knew that i might burn so i was a little apprehensive..i used about 1/8 teaspoon and snorted it. OMG!!!! i tried to calm my nerves, but i was no use..i ran around the house sneezing..i had to blow my nose alot..once i calmed down, i was so exhausted that i went to sleep..but when i woke up, i was fine..i would reccomend it. i keep it in my medicie cabinet now
REPLY   4      



Rob (Anchorage, Alaska) on 05/23/2009:
5 out of 5 stars

I use cayenne in a neti pot. I use the point of of a knife to measure the pepper, add warm water and use half a pot on each side. I use a very small amount, none the less it can produce rapid results that last the day.

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REPLY   5      

Diane (Clovis, NM) on 04/08/2009:
5 out of 5 stars

I tried cayenne pepper for sinus pressure in my head, when every time I coughed I had excruciating pain. I put about 1/8 of an inch under my pinkie finger nail and snorted in each nostril. Wow! what a rush. I didn't cough or sneeze, it just burned for about 30 seconds, but the headache and pressure were gone. I hope it lasts longer than everything else I've tried. It works, for now at least.
REPLY   4      

Katherine (Springfield, OHIO) on 04/08/2009:
5 out of 5 stars

Sniffing CAYENNE PEPPER WORKS! It takes a few to get over the initial shock of the burn but just try to stay calm, use ice pack for your nose and pray no one video tapes you. LOL its crazy but it works!
REPLY   9      

Liz (Fairfield, CT) on 03/02/2009:
1 out of 5 stars

cayenne snorting....nah! Whew DOGGIES! I'm a tough 'ole broad, but this just kicked my ass! Damn, that HURT! It irritated my membranes and the back of my throat, causing uncontrollable coughing! Bad idea!
REPLY   4      

Megan (Cedar Falls, IA, USA) on 02/19/2009:
1 out of 5 stars

I tried snorting cayenne pepper to relieve my sinus headache. I used roughly 1/32 of a teaspoon in my most obstructed nostril. Though my sinuses were cleared temporarily, the burning was hardly worth it. The left half of my face was inflamed, my eyes were running, and blowing my nose hurt like sin. I used my neti pot after, to try and quell the pain, with less than optimal results. Half an hour later, the burning has stopped and my congestion is back. Maybe I did something wrong, but I would not recommend this remedy.
REPLY   4      



Amy (Ocala, FL) on 02/03/2009:
5 out of 5 stars

This has now become my favorite natural remedy for sinus infections!! My sinus infections are always so terribly painful that my teeth hurt...I woke up and knew I'd have to get on antibiotics if I didn't do something drastic so I snorted (as best as you can with both nasal passages clogged) cayenne pepper - not a huge amount, less than 1/8 teaspoon on the tip of my pinkie...it burns, yes, but I noticed almost immediate relief with breathing and pressure. Ten min. later and the burning sensation has dissipated (now it has a menthol type feeling) but the pressure/pain is completely gone. WORTH IT!!!!!
REPLY   4      

Ray (Tampa , Florida) on 01/29/2009:
5 out of 5 stars

For a few years I was getting sinusitis which was dripping into my chest and causing further havoc. It would last several weeks usually and leave me miserable with a low grade fever the whole time.

I had used Cayenne Pepper before but sporadically. I was told (don't remember where) that Cayenne Pepper in liquid form mixed with Fizzy Vitamin C would help clear it up. I purchased some CP and mixed it 20-25 drops into one or two packs of Emergen C and poured approx. 10 ounces of lemonade into the mix and drank it down. The effervessence of the Fizzy C seems to help deliver the cayenne pepper more actively to the mucus membranes. The CP must also kill some of the bacteria that is forming in the sinus cavity and mucus lining.

I usually drink it slowy over a minute or two. It doesn't take long but I begin to expell mucus that seems to be loosened up. During the beginning of a cold or sinus condition I start this immediately and have never had a full or even annoying recurrence in almost 10 years. You can do the same thing with a nasal wash but be careful to use only a partial drop of cayenne with some dead sea salt and water to clear stubborn nasal passages if necessary. I have only had to do it once or twice but it is effective. My wife even used a mild cayenne wash for her eyes when we first met and it helped clear up a stubborn infection. I hope this helps someone as it has helped me many times over the years.

REPLY   4      

Gary (Altamont, TN, USA) on 01/07/2009:
5 out of 5 stars

Cayenne: I just found your site and am responding to a message from 2006 about cayenne for the sinus. I have chronic sinus problems, it got so bad once that I was desperate. I usually put 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a large glass of warm water and snuff it up my nose. Well, I added a pinch of cayenne to the saline. I snuffed it up my nose, and it burned for about two seconds, then the burning quickly subsided. Yes, it stopped what I suppose was a sinus infection. Any way I felt better for a long time. Gary
REPLY   8      

Angie (New Bern, NC) on 12/27/2008:
5 out of 5 stars

Well I was hesitant to try pepper. I am now a believer in this natural remedy. i just tried it and I am not in pain anymore. It does burn and I sneezed alot and my eyes watered, but it was worth it to not feel the pressure anymore.WOWWWWW!
REPLY   8      

Sunday (Chicago, IL) on 12/23/2008:
5 out of 5 stars

Cayenne Pepper: Yes, this truly works!!!! I have chronic sinus problems. I tried the pepper, by snorting it, and within minutes it worked. I then put a 1/2 teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper in my green tea, and I was amazed the power of pepper! I didnt have to go to the doctor. We need to put this in cans. it works!
REPLY   3      



Veronica (San Antonio, Texas) on 11/20/2008:
5 out of 5 stars

I recently got a sinus infection and I tried many of the remedies on this site with mixed results. My mother gave me a bottle of Sinus Buster- a natural pepper spray- and I tried it.It stings some, but does it open up your sinuses. The sinus infection was gone in two days. I have since had another sinus infection and got the same results the second time I used it. It took about 1 spray in each nostril, 1x a day for 2-3 days.
REPLY   6      

Adeleine (Portland, Oregon) on 03/20/2008:
5 out of 5 stars

cayenne snorting: This crap works! Immediate relief. Lots of blowing the nose after, particularly if you don't manage to sneeze. Huge globs of infection came out after I tried this. However, I think I used too much cayenne. I would suggest using 2 lines, each one just one quarter to one sixth the size of your pinky fingernail (width and length). Anyway, great remedy if you have eyes you can't even move around anymore because there is so much pressure behind them causing pain.
REPLY   3      
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