Sinus infections go beyond the sniffles. Pressure and pain around the face, headaches, and constantly blowing your nose are common symptoms, often mistaken for a regular cold. Some folks with sinus infections also feel tooth aches, assuming they need to book a dentist appointment right away. Colds should only lasts a few day, hence, anything longer may be an indication you have sinusitis. The sinus are connected cavities in the skull; found behind the forehead, nasal bones, cheeks, and eyes. The job of the sinuses is to humidify and moisten the air we breath. A blockage in the sinuses due to swelling and inflammation of fluid and bacteria, results in a sinus infection. Sinusitis can begin as a cold and develop into an infection later on. Nonetheless, there are home remedies you can try to ease the pain and discomfort.Post-nasal drip, fever and/or cough, and a cold lasting more than 10 days are signs you have a sinus infection.
Seasonal allergies, nasal polyps, and non-allergic rhinitis (coming into contact with allergen). A sinusitis causes the accumulation of mucus and pressure in the area.
You can also experience the feeling of having a heavy head and a lost balance. This is a result of all that mucus build up.
“When you lean forward, the inflamed mucus membrane and mucus—and your now heavier head—change the way your brain interprets head position and weight and give the sensation of fullness in your face and the sensation of being ‘off balance,'” he explained.
Lemons are packed with vitamin C which are known for their antiviral and antibacterial properties. Lemons are great to help boost the immune system.
Doctor Robert Graham, MPH, an internist at Lenox Hill Hospital and assistant professor at the Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine in New York City, says that drinking water actually helps to keep moisture in your sinuses. He also warns to stay away from alcohol and caffeine as they will have the opposite effect. To tell if you are drinking enough H2O, Graham says “If the color of your urine is clear, you are hydrated.”
The Journal of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery published a study in 2009, where researchers exposed two strains of bacteria found to cause sinus infections, to honey. They found the honey killed the bacteria at a faster rate than the antibiotics commonly prescribed for sinusitis.
Consequently, they help to thin the mucus trapped in the nasal cavity area. It also helps to curb the coughing that is aggravated by the post-nasal drip.
Capsaicin is the ingredient in cayenne pepper that gives it that burning sensation when it comes into contact with the tongue, nose, or eyes. Cayenne pepper has also been attributed to relieve inflammation.
The honey along with its powerful enzymes to combat sinusitis, will also soothe your throat from coughing and soreness. The lemon will boost the immune system.
Don’t throw out the lemon as the skin as well as the inside will be used for the drink concoction.
Add the lemon you used before, cutting it up in small wedges. Add one tablespoon of cayenne pepper, 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar, and one table spoon of raw honey.
Stir the contents together. Don’t let it cool down too much as the steam will also help with easing your discomfort. Make sure you are drinking it hot enough for your mouth to handle the temperature.
If the discomfort and symptoms persist, make sure you visit your doctor to rule out nasal polyps or a deviated nasal septum.
