Wondering about home remedies for severe nasal congestion? Sinus congestion is something most of the population will be facing someday. Favored cures include steam therapy, humidifiers, drinking lots of fluids, etc.

1. Picture courtesy wisegeek.com

2. Sinus Congestion Treatment
What is sinus congestion?
Sinuses are hollow air-filled cavities in the skull. Under normal
circumstances, these cavities are all open to the nasal airway by means of
an ostium, which is a narrow opening in the bone.
All humans have 4 pairs of these cavities which are situated in the bones of
the face as follows:
 frontal sinuses: above the eyes in the middle of each eyebrow
 maxillary sinuses: in the cheekbones on either side of the nose
 ethmoid sinuses: behind the bridge of the nose between the eyes
 sphenoid sinuses: behind the ethmoid sinuses and behind the eyes
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The normal condition of sinuses, as mentioned earlier, is to be filled with air.
Sinuses have a thin layer of soft, pink tissue called mucosa (mucous
membrane) which helps to keep the inside of the nose moist. Blocked
sinuses occur when these sinus linings (tissues) become swollen due to
allergens, pollutants and dust which cause sinus passages to be filled with
fluid; creating the ideal environment for the growth of bacteria, viruses and
germs, causing sinusitis (inflammation of sinuses). Sinus congestion is thus
blocked sinuses or sinusitis.
Let’s consider some of the well (and little) known sinus congestion
causes:

3.  Viruses: colds are responsible for most sinus infections. Colds cause
nasal tissue to swell which block those holes which drain sinuses
 Allergies: those people who are prone to hay fever or allergies
should avoid triggers like pet dander, mold, dust mites, etc.
 Bacteria: most likely those known as Streptococcus
pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenza
 Polyps: are small harmless growths. Polyps originate from sinus
tissues. They prevent mucus from being drained, causing sinus cavities
to become blocked and infected. Headaches can be triggered when the
polyps restrict airway passages.
Picture credited to www.nycfacemd.com
 Pollutants: from strong odors such as perfumes, dust and air
pollution can contribute to irritate the nose, coughing and bring about
inflammation which in turn may lead to sinusitis
 Swimming for persons susceptible to sinus infection should be limited
to short periods in the water as chlorine may irritate the nasal tissue
and sinuses

4.  Diving: the pressure from diving may cause water to be pushed into
the sinuses and cause irritation and inflammation of the tissue
 Smoke of cigars and cigarettes cause irritation to the nose of most
people (myself included). The irritation may lead to inflammation
which makes people more prone to infection of the sinuses. This
obviously puts smokers at greater risk as the continuous smoking
damages the sinus-cleaning system. Lack of moisture and dry air in
the nasal passages make the development of sinusitis thus more
likely. Keep your nose moist by drinking lots of water, by avoiding
caffeine and by using a humidifier during the winter months.
Picture courtesy www.medpagetoday.com
 Abnormalities such as a deviated septum (a shift in the nose’s center
section to one side; often the cause of chronic sinus infection), tumors,
narrow drainage passages, a cleft palate, a chronic condition such as
cystic fibrosis and enlarged adenoids (masses of tissue in the passage
between the nasal cavity and the throat) can all greatly prevent the
drainage of mucus. It leads to inflammation of the nasal passages and
thick mucus developing; setting the stage for onset of sinusitis.

5. Sinus congestion symptoms:
 Pain: as mucus accumulate in blocked nasal passages, pain and a
feeling of heaviness in the face sets in. Pain is usually experienced in
the forehead, in the upper jaws and teeth, between the eyes or on
either side of the nose.
 Headache: blocked sinuses and inflammation cause muscles in the
forehead to tighten, leading to headache
 Sinus discharge: from either the nasal passages or flowing down
your throat may be yellow or green and comes from infected sinuses.
When it tickles the throat it’s called a postnasal drip.
 Stuffy nose: is probably one of the most prevalent signs of sinusitis.
As a clogged nose is also symptomatic of the common cold, the
duration of the symptom is the differentiating factor: stuffy nose
symptom lasts longer when it’s a sinus infection
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 Bad breath (halitosis) is the smell caused by the by-products which is
produced by the organisms which cause the infection; emanates from

6. the discharge which collects in the nose and sinuses and drips into the
throat
 Hurting teeth is not actual toothache, but sinus infection can feel like
toothache. It is however referred pain from the pressure which is
building up in the head, and usually presents itself on both sides of the
face.
Picture courtesy www.thedoctorstv.com
 Diminished sense of smell and taste: these senses normally work
when air movement in the sinuses gives a signal to your brain, thus
letting you know what you’re smelling or tasting. Once again, the
inflammation which prevents the sinuses from draining is the reason
why these senses become dull.
Home remedy for sinus congestion
The best home remedy for sinus congestion is to make sure your nasal
passages and sinuses are moist at all times; this is not achieved by the
thinking that dry air will clear up your runny nose however. Dry air actually
dries out the nasal passages and sinuses even more.

7. Here are some sinus congestion remedies which will help to keep the nasal
passages moist:
 Make use of either a vaporizer or humidifier
 A long hot shower produces lots of steam – breathe in the steam
Picture from healthyliving.msn.com
 Put boiling water in a bowl and breathe in the steam while your head is
covered with a towel. If preferred, add dried herbs such as peppermint
or rosemary to the water; alternatively, stir 2-3 tablespoons of
decongestant ointment such as Vicks into the water, making it one of
the most potent home remedies for severe nasal congestion.
 Steam therapy using chamomile tea is a sinus congestion cure favored
by many. Instead of a decongestant ointment, boil water in a pot and
add chamomile tea in any of its forms (dried, powder or tea bag) to it.
Put on the lid and leave for 10 minutes. Remove lid and breathe in the
vapors while covering your head with a towel.
 Take in lots of fluids; it thins out mucus thus preventing clogging up of
the sinuses. Drink peppermint tea as it contains menthol. Menthol
combined with the steam and warm liquid is great for thinning mucus

8. and opening nasal passages. Other herbal teas you can drink are sage,
chamomile, ginger, blackberry, thyme and eucalyptus.
Picture credited to background-pictures.feedio.net
 Apparently studies have been conducted which suggest chicken soup
may be very beneficial in reducing the production of mucus. As chicken
soup is well-known as a cold remedy, this makes perfect sense. Spice
up the soup with some garlic and pepper, and voila, you have one of
the tastiest sinus congestion natural remedies!
Picture courtesy homeremedieslog.com
 Another sinus congestion home remedy which is quite popular is to use
a homemade saline nasal spray (this remedy is not recommended for

9. anyone who has nasal problems such as a deformity or with the
septum – discus with your doctor first). Nasal sprays bring about the
thinning of mucus; also soothes the inflammation in nasal passages.
Courtesy www.healthtap.com
Diligent use of saline sprays can flush out bacteria or pollen which irritates
the nose. Take 1 pint of boiled water (let it cool first) and add 2 to 3
teaspoons of non-iodized salt to it. Squirt the mixture into your nose
towards the back of your head, and not upwards.
 Make sure you get a good night’s sleep by trying this sinus congestion
treatment at bedtime: Use ointments like Vicks or Tiger Balm. Apply a
little bit to your throat, forehead and nose. Prop yourself up on more
pillows so you sleep with your head in an elevated position.
Courtesy www.easybreathe.com
When to see a doctor
Can sinus infection go away on its own? Yes, but you need to seek medical
attention when

10.  your symptoms do not clear up in 10 days
 symptoms last for many weeks and keep on coming back
 You run a fever (while not impossible, fever is not a typical symptom
of sinusitis. An underlying condition may be the cause of your sinus
infection)
 headaches do not let up with over-the-counter pain relief medication
Hey there, my name is Sonia. I research minor illnesses, striving to
bring you the best treatment solutions which won’t cost you an arm
and a leg. For the full article on sinus congestion treatment as well
as on some of the best treatment options for a hangover, acne, sore
throat, overactive bladder, canker sores, constipation, morning
sickness, etc. visit sicknessnhealth.com.
If however you believe laughter is the best medicine, get your daily
dose, visit www.funnyhaha.info…
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