Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the sinuses, usually a complication of viral or bacterial infections involving some other part of the respiratory system; can also be caused by injury to nasal bones, dental treatment, swimming, inhaling foreign bodies, or septum deviation; in very rare cases, infection may spread to bones of face and skull, or to brain.
Symptoms are a blocked up nose, nasal-sounding speech, and generally feeling unwell; if frontal sinuses are affected, there may be a Headache over one or both eyes, usually worse in the mornings and made sharper by bending forwards; if maxillary sinuses are involved, cheeks feel tender and pain may be similar to toothache in upper jaw. In susceptible individuals, condition tends to recur, especially in times of Stress; occasionally, recurrence may be linked with a food Allergy.
Conventionally treated with antibiotics, decongestants, or proprietary analgesics such as aspirin and paracetamol, but the remedies given below should be tried first; if these produce no improvement, consult your doctor if there is no improvements in 48 hours; if in severe pain, consult your doctor if there is no improvements in 12 hours. Recurrent sinusitis requires constitutional treatment.
Specific remedies to be taken every 2 hours for up to 2 days
- Stringy catarrh, feeling of fullness and congestion on either side of nose Kali bichrom. 30c
- Throbbing, tearing pain felt deep in bones of face, tip of nose itchy Silicea 30c
- Yellow catarrh, face very tender and sensitive, attack brought on by cold, dry winds and accompanied by sneezing, person feels chilly and irritable Hepar sulph. 30c
- Pain above eyes, nose occasionally stuffed up, yellow catarrh, symptoms worse indoors, frontal and right maxillary sinuses involved, jumpy neuralgic pain on right side of face, tendency to weep Pulsatilla 30c
- Condition comes on suddenly, with frontal sinuses affected, temperature higher than normal, face hot and red, bleeding from nose, symptoms aggravated by slightest pressure or by lying down Belladonna 30c
Self-help: Avoid dry atmospheres, humidify rooms and inhale hot steam; increase the amount of fluids you drink; blow your nose very gently, one nostril at a time. Have frequent walks in the open air. For pain try rubbing your sinus, and applying moist heat or ice packs. Vitamin C and Vitamin B complex, zinc and iron are also recommended. |