Gregg (Augusta, Ga) on 03/25/2013:
Like everyone else on this site, I have really struggled with my sinuses. I found this site about 3 years ago and it has made a huge difference for me.
I started out by drinking ACV and it does work to relieve the pressure. I still use it from time to time during allergy season when I feel the pressure coming on.
For those of you who can't stand the taste, I simply put a shotglass full of ACV (2 - 3 ounces) into 4 or 5 ounces of dark purple grape juice. The grape juice kills most of the bad taste and allows it to go down quickly.
I found that ACV isn't a fix all. An allergist suggested that I look into 'nasal lavage' - which is basically doing a saline rinse. It sounds gross, but by regularly flushing out your sinuses you get rid of all of the pollen, dander, dust, etc that causes sinus problems to begin with.
I am very cheap, so here is my solution. I kept an empty dishwashing soap bottle (dawn, polmolive, etc). I fill it with warm tap water (about body temperature). I pour in some table salt and shake.
Either in the shower or over the sink, tilt your head to one side and squirt the water into the higher nostril. If your sinuses are fairly clear, the water should pour out of the lower nostril (along with all kinds of gunk). If your sinuses are blocked, the water will go in and may not immediately come out of the other nostril. That's ok. The warm water will loosen up much of the crud in there. Have some tissue paper handy and blow to get rid of the water and the gunk.
Tilt your head to the other side and repeat to clear out the other side. You may need to do it a couple of times in each nostril to get stuff really moving. You may also need to blow your nose several times over the course of the next few hours as the stuff continues to work loose.
This will clear a lot of what's in there initially. The trick is to do it regularly (every day during allergy season) so that it gets the junk out before you have sinus issues. I don't do it as religiously as before, but even so, I breathe better than ever and I haven't been sick in 2plus years. I hope that this helps - it's been a Godsend for me.
Joseph (Cary, Nc) on 03/10/2013:
Here is a saline rinse you can do anytime for a sinus infection with no special equipment.I put together the following kit for my bathroom. You can use whatever you have. The idea is to make the solution the same every time, not too strong. You can adjust the salt level to whatever works best for you:
ITEMS
1. Baking soda in a small rubbermaid container.
2. Salt in a small container (not the same container as the baking soda).
3. 4 oz drinking glass (plastic or glass).
4. 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon (or a spoon the holds about 1/2 of a teaspoon).
WHEN TO DO THE RINSE
I do the sinus rinse before bed and then after I first get up. It's amazing how much mucus this clears out in your sinuses.
MAKING THE SOLUTION
I run the tap to get hot water (don't do a sinus rinse with cold water)! Fill a 4 oz glass with water. Put in 1/2 teaspoon of salt and pinch of baking soda. Stir.
DOING THE SINUS RINSE
Deep breath a few time to get oxygen levels up before "snorting" the solution. Hold your left sinus shut with your finger. Put the glass to your nose against you right sinus. Bending over the sink slightly so you don't get wet. Breath in with your right sinus to create a vacuum and draw the salt water into you right sinus. Stop when it is pulled into the back of your throat! Put the glass down. Blow and spit out all the mucus and water out of your nose and back of your throat. Switch sides and do the same procedure for the left sinus. Do this twice on each side or until all the mucus is gone. You probably will have to blow your nose a few times to stop it dripping during the process or when you are done.
Sinupetsa (Johannesburg, South Africa) on 12/14/2012:
Saline rinse has worked for many people so far and would recommend it only if it will be done properly. By this, I mean that sterile water will be used. View Entire Thread
Sue (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia) on 07/12/2012:
I just want to say that whilst traveling in China, without a neti pot or any kind of nasal spray or lavage equipment and no access to any pharmacy or medical clinic at the time, I successfully used a sterilised travel bottle, normally used as cabin bag 100ml toiletry bottle (like a little squirt bottle), as a make-shift saline rinse bottle.
I was suffering terribly with an acute case of sinusitis with heavy symptoms worsening day by day. I couldn't move I was in such pain in my head and body. I knew instinctively that I needed to do a rinse of some kind but had never done anything like it. I researched Earth Clinic and after reading other peoples testimonies about make-shift salt rinses, gained the courage to try a nasal rinse using whatever I had (travel bottle) and immediately gained relief. I continued it throughout the day with the symptoms improving every hour. Amazing results that honestly, I wasn't expecting to be so significant, so fast.
If you find yourself in unfavourable circumstances and need to use a travel bottle or squeeze bottle, it will be a little messy and it takes a bit of trial and error to work out the right squeeze action and angle of the head, but it still gets results and that's what matters!
I'm completely sold on the concept of a neti pot and will look to using this in my daily routines and also pack a plastic light-weight neti pot into my travel bag wherever I go! Thank you Earth Clinic, what a great resource to share globally.
Joanne (Victoria, Bc Canada) on 06/14/2012:
I had a SEVERE sinus infection with raw throat for 3 weeks and had tried everything except anti-biotics because they have never worked. When I finally went to the doc he said most sinus infections are viral and therefore the drugs don't work. He said if it went longer than 10 days (when I virus has finished running its course) then a person could consider the drugs. I didn't want them. What worked? Three days using sinus rinse system from the pharmacy with their mixture of one part sea salt and one part baking soda added to filtered and BOILED water, which had been cooled, twice a day. I used this plus sprays of GSE, then Xylitol-based and the one the doctor recommended was the capsicum (cayenne) based homeopathic spray. It did help but the final nail in this vicious infections coffin was sinus rinse. Make sure you don't push too hard as I accidentally blew water into my ear canal and could hardly hear for two days. No fun! Anyway, I recommend Neilmed plastic bottle as it works great.. I treated the top with hydrogen peroxide on a tissue and left the bottom and top out to dry. I rinsed morning and night... Good luck and thanks SOO much to Earthclinic for giving us all this space to share such crucial information. Bless you guys!!
Lezlie W (Los Angeles, Ca ) on 10/10/2011:
The best cure for sinus infection is a nasal saline rinse. I would get sinus infections that made me super sick for two weeks. At one point they kept reappearing every 3 months. I finally got fed up and went on-line for a remedy. I found a reference to this and decided to try it. It worked pretty effectively and quickly. I used The neilmed brand aftvies scoping out all the options on the drug store shelves. I chose it because it seemed simple compared with the other methods. When I used it, it stopped my cold flu symptoms from putting me in that I need to stay in bed and rest all day state. Then I noticed my running nose and stuffy head went away too. I was still able to function daily as the symptoms declined with the use of the saline nasal rinses. Big difference from the way the infections knocked me out ANC made me feel. I'd say after three days of the washes you feel a big difference and after a week of the washes there's no signs of the infection. Since using this twice, once in the midst of a full blown infection and once at the onset, I haven't had a sinus infection since. It's been a year and a half.
Cory (Lincoln, Ne) on 09/14/2011:
I had never had a sinus infection until 4 days ago. I woke up one morning and the left side of my face felt like it was going to explode! I couldn't eat because my teeth hurt so bad, I couldn't even touch my left cheek bone without a lot of pain. I am a single mom with 3 kids all under the age of 7, I couldn't miss work and I don't have the money to go to the doctor. I tried apple cider vinegar it helped a little but I needed relief NOW!! I tried this rinse and it was AMAZING!!!! Everything cleared and now 2 days later I feel great! One thing I did that helped a lot was I slowly inhaled through my nose, so the solution would get all the way into my sinuses, below my eye, where it hurt the worst. View Entire Thread
Jqueen (Atlanta, Ga, 30309) on 06/20/2011:
I went through a whole year not realizing I had a sinus infection & allergies. I took antiobotics and they did NOTHING! Doing regular warm sinus rinses cured the problem. OH! And eating something spicy! That helps a lot too. Make sure to drink vitamins if you're not getting enough from your foods. I recommend it in liquid form. What a difference!
Melissa (Kings Park, Ny) on 01/06/2011:
that was the greatest thing to ever happen to my nose! Best mixture! Ive been using the neti pot with a plain old saline solution for days with no relief. I broke out this mixture with a baby bulb and feel a million times better! View Entire Thread
Sheila (Coats, Nc) on 01/06/2011:
Thank you so much for the saline rinse with the baby bulb post! I have suffered from sinus infections for years. I was skeptical of the rinse at first, but decided to try it and wish I had known about this years ago! I couldn't believe what came out! I can finally smell threw my nose again. View Entire Thread
Kristin K (Santa Barbara, Ca, Usa) on 05/28/2010:
The CURE for SINUS INFECTIONS: Saline Irrigation with Sea Salt and Warm Water applied directly into sinus cavity.
My story: I had bacterial sinus infections on and off for 4 years and this last winter is the first year I did not have bacterial sinus infections. I saw 3 ENT specialists and have tried everything from antiobiotics through saline irrigation (netti pot) using Hydrogen Peroxide or Apple Cider Vinegar. The last year I have been finally free of sinus infections by using Sea Salt and warm water only in my irrigation. What I found it its the technique of HOW you use the irrigation; not WHAT you put in the solution. For me the trick was using an irrigation system that got the warm salt water all the way up into my sinuses. I was using the netti pot while kneeling on the batrhoom floor and holding my head upside down to get the water up into my sinuses. Now I use a water squirting devise (a brand name) that is sold to spray a stream of water to clean teeth. A friend told me about using a water spraying teeth cleaning machine for sinus irrigation years ago and I finally tried it February of 2010 with excellent results. The technique of daily squirting the warm water directly into my sinuses has what kept me from chronic bacterial sinus infections that I had in the past. I had tried Hydrogen Peroxide, Vinegar, Baking Soda etc all with stringing and irritation. The electric water spraying device has worked the best hands down.
I am writing this because this site helped me so much in trying different ways to treat my bacterial sinus infections. I was very depressed and frustrated because the ENT specialists I saw only wanted to do surgery on me. One told me specifically that I could not clean out the bacteria with sinus irrigation when I asked him about it. I believe that I can clean out bacteria and what the ENT said is not true. The sad thing is that MDs do not make any money off of telling people to do sinus irrigation at home. I just wish I had started doing sinus irrigation years ago!
Good luck, keep at it and listen to your body.
Tanya (New Delhi, India) on 04/18/2010:
did saline wash for 4-5 times and suddenly the pressure in the ear increased. what to do now? View Entire Thread
Carissa (Flagstaff, Az) on 02/20/2010:
Fantastic, fantastic, fantastic! I have been suffering for a little over two weeks now from cold turned into ugly sinus infection. I work with toddlers and I thought that it would take me forever to feel 100% again, which is very important when working with young, energetic ones! Dreading the money it would cost to visit a Dr. (as I do not have health care) I decided to try something natural first. Thank goodness for this website! I mixed just a little over 1/4 teaspoon of salt, a pinch of baking soda and a tiny cap-full of hydrogen peroxide in 1 cup of warm water. I used a baby ear/nose bulb and rinsed like there was no tomorrow. A whole mess of green/yellow mucus came right out of my nose and continued to after the treatment every time I blew my nose. Immediately after the all of the gunk came out I could breathe again, pressure was gone and I was happy! I am very grateful for this amazing website!
Pete (Springfield, Mo) on 01/18/2010:
Sinus Infection Remedy
I have been dealing with a sinus infection for over a week now and found the saline rinse suggestion this evening on earthclinic and could not wait to give it a try. After mixing the solution I realized that I was having a very difficult time getting the rinse into my sinuses, during the process however I had an epiphany of how it reminded me of scuba diving. In scuba diving when water gets into your mask you tilt your head back and blow out out your nose to fill the mask with air and push water out the bottom, inevitably rookie divers often pour water up their nose at the beginning of the process, myself being no exception. I got out my scuba mask, poured some saline rinse into it, pressed it to my face and simply tilted my head back and sure enough it worked like a charm. As long as the mask seals well there is little mess and it is a very controlled way to pour the rinse into your sinuses. I felt relief within minutes, the rinse really does work. I plan to buy a spray bottle, but have doubts about its ability to really flood the sinuses, when at home I think I'll keep using my scuba mask.
Alex (Hawthorne, California) on 10/31/2009:
This is how i cured my sinus illness. I read it in a comment from Mexico city. Boil water add salt, not the fine salt, but the grain one add some amount of hydrogen peroxide. drain your noses with a pump you get in the stores called sinus rinse. I suffered from sinus for 5 years. and to the point that i lost the sense of smell.
the next day i woke up spilling blood and mucus from my front forehead literally felt it where it was coming from. after three days of blowing my nose with ugly looking mucus, staring feeling the smell of chicken on a BBQ grill. I almost cried because i could feel the sense of smell.BELIEVE ME IT WORKS!!!!! Any questions email @ [email protected]
Darren (Dunstable, Bedfordshire England UK) on 07/24/2009:
Hello..just wanted to say a big thank you to Earth Clinic,I have been suffering from sinusitis for approx 2 months now following a cold & bronchitis. I,ve never had sinus problems before, that i was aware of, after reading about the salt water sinus rinse i gave it a try last night aronnd 6pm and again before bed at 11pm. the result was amazing and almost instant! I made up a solution of a tea mug of warm pre boiled water, 1 teaspoon of ordinary table salt and 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder. the 1st session was just with salt & after reading more added the baking powder later. I had a good sleep for the first night in ages and this morning woke to a virtually clear nose and head and feel great!! The method i used was simply to pour the solution into a handy small plastic bottle, and while over the sink tipped my head back and poured it up my nose until it came out my mouth and spat into sink/ while there blowing residue out my nose, result is instant. I have been on 2 courses of anti biotics recently to no effect. also my chesty cough has almost gone too, maybe due to no post nasal drip im guessing. Really hope this helps someoone else.. many thanks.
Jason (Fort Lauderdale, FL) on 06/30/2009:
Hi, I tried using coconut oil in my nasal rinse by mixing a 1/8 of a tsp of coconut oil into 16 oz of water mixed with one of those salt & baking soda mixes. I was hoping this would help my with my chronic sinusitis. I do not recommend doing this because now my nasal passages have been even more blocked then before and I am losing sleep over it. Please let me know if there are any suggestions how to counter this unexpected development from the coconut oil? Thanks! Again, do not try mixing coconut oil with your nasal rinse solution. Coconut oil works well on the outside of your body and with food but not in your nose.
Sheena (Glasgow, Scotland) on 06/11/2009:
I wasn't sure whether I had a cold or it was seasonal allergies, but I've had a sore throat & congested nose for a few days and then my ears became blocked. Without a Neti Pot I tried a saline rinse using a straw and it did produce a lot of snot and with it some relief. I bought a small water bottle with a spout small enough to fit up your nose, performed a proper saline rinse (same method as with the Neti Pot) and voila - I can hear again. This works - it may be a little icky but worth it. I used 500mls warm water and roughly a tsp of ____ Salt. Thanks folks.
Adina (Detroit, MI) on 02/13/2009:
it's simple but not every one can stand it...in your nasal saline rinse, just add one tbs of ACV and rinse your nostrils as you would normaly and do about 3 rinses a day for 2-3 days...it's miraculas how this works... but again not every one can stand the acidity of vinegar...if your tired enough as i was you will try anything...
Cindy (Alb, NM) on 01/04/2009:
Wow!!! After 8 weeks of pain from a sinus infection, 3 doctor visits, 4 prescriptions of antibiotics and 2 bottles of narcotics, I found something that finally worked! I was up in the middle of the night desperate to find something to curb the most excruciating pain I've ever felt. This was the website that did it for me. I went to the pharmacy and purchased saline water. Bought the seasalt in pressured can but I'm sure any would work. I immediately felt relief and by the next morning was beginning to truly feel better. Used the spray 4 times a day for 4 days and am now using it night and day. No more meds flowing through my body! I am so grateful for this website. I have already spread the word!! Thank you for all the info!
Betty (Saskatoon, Sask., Canada) on 12/10/2008:
How to use nasal irrigation:
I have had problems with sinus infections for many years mostly because of a deviated septum. Antibiotics greatly disturb my digestive system so I avoid them. I use the salt/baking soda solution rinse regularly, but the infection I have now is more resistant to the nasal rinse. I am going to try adding Hydrogen Peroxide to the rinse.
If you don't own a rinsing kit, use a small ladle. Mix your solution,( I use 1/2 tsp. salt and soda each to 1 cup warm water), fill ladle, dip nose in ladle while holding one nostril closed and inhale until you taste it in the back of mouth. DO NOT swallow. Hold solution in nose as long as possible. Let drain. Repeat with other nostril, then blow. You may want to use a paper towel. Repeat at least twice a day. Avoid use rinse less than 1 hour bed going to bed to avoid swallowing salty solution. Works well, and won't damage sensitive nasal tissues like a forceful spray may do.
Betty (Saskatoon, Sask., Canada) on 12/10/2008:
Warning
I have no medical training. However, I would strongly recommend NOT using these remedies for young children. They would likely swallow the solution. The sodium content is too high for anyone to swallow. Also there is the likelihood and danger of children choking, or inhaling the solution into their lungs causing further infections. Use a nasal spray to gently draw the mucus out instead.
Cynthia (Clarksburg, MD, US) on 11/07/2008:
Sniffing warm salt water helped my sinus infection. I gargle with it for a sore throat but never thought about my sinuses. I suffer from large sinus cavities, so large that every dentist/hygienist I see remarks about them on my x-rays and always warn that I would have major pain when I get a sinus infection. I had just used an anti-biotic to cure one infection about 3 months ago and did not want to get any more. Found this site after the pain got so bad and the fastest fix was to try sniffing warm salt water. Tried it first last night, then again this morning. The pain is less and the swelling is going down. Tonight I will try the Apple Cider Vinegar steam therapy and see what happens.Thanks soooo much to everyone who contributes to this website!!!
Sharon (Milton, USA) on 09/25/2008:
Saline water has long been a remedy from doctors, but I have improved upon the method of SNUFFING! I bought the cheap generic brand of saline and quickly used it then refilled it with a new solution of water and a pinch of salt. USE it frequently and liberally. Plus, an ice pack applied to the forehead helps. Don't let it stay too long but move it around. NO FROST BITE, PLEASE!
Bob (Melbourne, Florida) on 07/06/2008:
Salt rinse cures my sinus flare ups: I never had problems with sinus until recently when I was diagnosed with allergies from all outdoor things. I was taking shots but, had no luck. I moved and they wanted to start the damn shots over again from the weakest dosage. What a scam!!! So, I decided to do as I was always told. Spray the nose pathage with salt water. I first bought the solution from the drugstore and now, make my own and place in the bottle I bought. I spray up my nostrils in the shower, pinch my nose, shake and blow the crap out. Boy, the next few days I felt great. Now, I only use it as a monthly or so routine. If I sense I have an allergic affect or sinus flare up then, a spray or two a few days or a week or so will solve the problem. I've been sinus ache free and medicine free for a four years now. Darn glad I found your site to tell others and to learn how to take care of myself without a prescription (otherwise known as a low dosage poison). Thanks for the time, Bob!!!
Carlisa (Studio City, CA) on 06/13/2008:
I have has a stuffy head for 3 years. Due to lack of exercise and working indoors in air conditioning and pollution. I have even become VERY allergic to cigarette smoke and I used to SMOKE!I Live in Los Angeles but was visiting Miami and got a horrible sinus infection BACTERIAL with green boogers and sore throat etc. I used this mixture and felt relief in 20 minutes and have used it for 2 days and am draining everything and have lost all pain from the infection:buy saline nasal spray- $2 usually. I pulled the top off and added one cap full if HYDROGEN peroxide (store brand) and 4 drops of oil of oregano and 2 drops of baby shampoo. 2 squirts per nostril. leave it in there then blow out your nose. Use this throughout the day. I also oil pulled because of this infection and had a very messed up scratchy throat- that helped my voice sound more normal- and then before bed drank a hot cup of water with a whole clove of garlic cut in half with cayenne pepper. Its nasty if I could taste it! But by morning my coughs were effective and mucus is coming out! I am feeling much better. Don't forget your ACV and Vitamin C -- I get chewables I feel it also helps my sinuses pretty immediately.
Hope this help you all with SINUS issues and SINUS Infections. I also do Hydrogen inhalation and love it. THANK YOU EARTHCLINIC.
Beth (Greeneville, TN) on 03/05/2008:
I have chronic sinus problems. About a month ago, I developed a cold, which of course turned into a sinus infection. I did one round of antibiotics to no avail. Yesterday I started searching the internet for natural remedies and came across this site. First I tried the apple cider vinegar remedy (2 tablespoons in 8 oz. of water), which didn't seem to help. Throughout the day, I started feeling worse and worse -- achy all over with the chills, a bad headache, and of course, sinus pressure and a sore throat from the post nasal drip. Then I tried the saline rinse method. I didn't have a netti pot, so I mixed 1 cup of warm water with 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt, and added a few drops of hydrogen peroxide. I put this mixture into a plastic squirt bottle (the kind used for condiments -- with the pointy top). I tilted my head to the side, squirted the mixture up one nostril, rolled my head around, let it wash through my sinuses then tipped my head forward and let it run out the other nostril. I did this several times on both sides, and repeated it a few hours later before I went to bed. All day and all night I felt HORRIBLE -- chills and sweats alternately, achy, etc. When I woke up this morning, my head felt better, but my nose was stopped up. I went into the bathroom and blew my nose, and a GIANT wad of blood, mucous, and pus came out -- which was the first time I'd had something like that in a while -- previously I had been using Dayquil and Nyquil, and these kept me pretty dry, but it just left all that stuff up in there and hardened it, I guess, leading to pressure and headaches constantly. Well, the rinse cleaned ALL of that stuff out, and today is the first day I haven't had a headache in WEEKS. The chills and achiness are gone too. My throat is still a little sore (raw from the constant post nasal drip over the last few weeks), but I plan to continue using this remedy for the next few days... hopefully my throat will clear up too. I HIGHLY recommend this remedy.
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