Sabotaged By Your Sinuses

By Bonnie Jenkins, Advanced Natural Medicine Bulletin

I told her it sounded like a sinus infection, which unfortunately I was all too familiar with. Sure enough, when I talked to her a few days later, she said she had been to the doctor. The verdict? Sinusitis.

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, an estimated 37 million Americans are affected by sinusitis every year. And much to the delight of the pharmaceutical industry, we willingly spend millions of dollars each year for medications that promise temporary relief from the misery that a sinus infection can bring.

Airhead

Sinuses are hollow air spaces within the skull and we actually have four pairs of them: the frontal sinuses over our eyes, the maxillary sinuses inside each cheekbone, the ethmoid sinuses just behind the bridge of the nose, and the sphenoid sinuses which are located behind the ethmoids in the upper region of the nose and behind the eyes. Each of these sinuses has an opening into the nose for the free exchange of air and mucus – and each is joined with the nasal passages by a continuous mucous membrane lining.

Anything that causes a swelling in the nose – an infection, an allergic reaction or another type of immune reaction – can also affect the sinuses. Air trapped within a blocked sinus, along with pus or other secretions, can cause pressure on the sinus wall. The result can be intense pain. Similarly, when air is prevented from entering a paranasal sinus by a swollen membrane at the opening, a vacuum can be created that also causes pain.

Along with feeling like somebody just hit you in the face with a 2x4, a sinus infection can bring on a severe headache, pain in the jaw or neck, nasal congestion, a cough and the feeling that you’ve been run over by a truck. Since a sinus infection causes mucus to drain down the back of your throat, you can also have a sore throat.

Sinusitis can be caused by a cold or upper respiratory infection. Allergies, air pollution,, smoking, dental complications or even stress can also trigger a sinus infection. Dairy foods can just make the problem worse because it increases mucous. Consider eliminating all dairy if you have an acute infection. If you suffer from chronic sinusitis, you might want to think about dumping dairy permanently.

On the pineapple boat

Not surprisingly, my sister walked out of the doctor’s office with a prescription for an antibiotic, a decongestant and still another for pain. One problem with this approach is that, due to the abuse of antibiotics, many bacteria are highly resistant to various antibiotics. Another problem is that many pharmaceuticals, no matter how effective, only treat the symptoms and come with a host of side effects.

Many cases of acute sinusitis will end without antibiotics. And you can hasten that end with a few natural remedies. Topping the list is bromelain, an extract derived from pineapple stems. In one head-to-head comparison of bromelain and conventional treatments, German researchers from the University of Leipzig divided 116 patients with acute sinusitis into three groups: The first group was given bromelain, the second was treated with a combination of bromelain, a decongestant and an antiobiotic, the third group just received the conventional drugs.

After reviewing all of the data, the researchers found that the bromelain not only relieved symptoms faster, it cut the duration of sinus infections by almost two days. And none of the patients experienced any adverse side effects. 

You can also take quercetin, a bioflavonoid found in many fruits, vegetables and other plants, in conjunction with bromelain. Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties are similar to those of an antihistamine in relieving pain and halting allergies. And it’s a whole lot safer.

Front-line treatment

Eucalyptus is another drug-free way to treat a sinus infection. Not only does it help to kill the underlying bacteria causing the infection, several studies have found that capsules containing cineole, one of eucalyptus oil’s active ingredients, can help to relieve sinus symptoms.

In one recent double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 152 folks suffering from sinusitis, half were given 200 mg. of cineole three times a day and half were given a placebo. After just one week, those in the cineole group reported fewer headaches, less nasal discharge, and decreased pain and pressure in the sinus area. It worked so well that the researchers noted that cineole should be used before considering treatment with antibiotics.

But use caution if you opt for eucalyptus oil to ease your misery. While very small amounts are perfectly safe when taken internally, amounts as little as 3.5 ml. has proven fatal. It’s best to use a prepared supplement and to talk to your healthcare provider before using eucalyptus.

One last thing . . .

Aromatherapy can also help to reduce sinus blockage. Try adding a few drops of essential oils of eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree, thyme or pine to a pot of boiling water. Hold a towel over your head as you carefully breathe in vapor rising from the pot. (Don’t put your face directly over the boiling water or steam!) The vapor released by the oils relieves congestion and can soothe inflamed sinus cavities.

Another option is nasal irrigation using a neti pot – special pots used by practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine to treat nasal congestion. Available in most health food stores or on the internet, using a neti pot is a safe and easy alternative to OTC decongestants. In fact, some people swear that using a neti pot for nasal irrigation is even more effective than drugs. The reason is, as the liquid passes through your nasal cavities, it soothes inflammation and flushes out impurities, providing almost immediate relief.

Nasal irrigation is simplicity itself. Just dissolve one teaspoon of salt and one-half teaspoon of baking soda in one pint of lukewarm water. If you’re really congested, you can add a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil. Pour the mixture into the neti pot then lean over a sink and tilt your head to one side. Place the spout against your upturned nostril and tip the neti pot to allow the solution to flow gently into the nostril, across the nasal cavity, and out the other nostril.

This just in . . .

Throughout the holidays, it seems like we’re constantly tempted with candy, cookies and other sweet treats. But, along with adding unnecessary calories that can result in weight gain, all that extra sugar just might boost your odds of developing heart disease.

Researchers have long known that high blood sugar levels were a risk factor for heart disease in diabetics. But now, researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have shown that high blood glucose levels can impact the heart health of the rest of us too.

The researchers used data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC), a community-based cohort of almost 16,000 people. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were then measured in all of the participants. Unlike a glucose tolerance test, which simply measures the fluctuating blood sugar levels on a day-to-day basis, an HbA1c test gives you an average of your blood sugar over the last three months. Anything over a rating of seven indicates a diabetic range that can spell trouble for your heart.

The study participants were tracked over the next 10 to12 years and the Johns Hopkins team noted something interesting. Diabetics with high HbA1c levels weren’t the only ones at risk. The non-diabetics with HbA1c levels between five and six were also at an increased risk of heart disease, even after accounting for other factors such as age, cholesterol level, blood pressure, body mass index and smoking. In fact, those with levels of six had almost a two-fold greater heart disease risk compared to people with an HbA1c level below 4.6 percent.

If you don’t know what your blood glucose levels are, it’s a good idea to ask your doctor to schedule a HbA1c test. If the results show that your blood sugar is at level five or above, start by cutting back on the sugar you consume, eating more whole grains and veggies, and boosting your physical activity level.

If you need even more help, vanadium is an ultra-trace mineral that might aid in improving your glucose control. Clinical studies have found that doses of 75 to 300 mg. per day produces moderate improvements in blood sugar. Vanadium may also lower total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. But be aware that doses over 75 mg. may cause cramping and diarrhea, so check with your health care practitioner before taking this mineral.

***

References:

Braun JM, Schneider B, Beuth HJ. “Therapeutic use, efficiency and safety of the proteolytic pineapple enzyme Bromelain-POS in children with acute sinusitis in Germany.” In Vivo. 2005; 19:417-421.

Kehrl W, Sonnemann U, Dethlefsen U. “Therapy for acute nonpurulent rhinosinusitis with cineole: results of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.” Laryngoscope. 2004;114:738-742.

Selvin E, Coresh J, Golden SH, et al. “Glycemic Control and Coronary Heart Disease Risk in Persons With and Without Diabetes: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.” Archives of Internal Medicine. 2005;165:1910-1916.