Treat sinus infections
According to a new study antibiotics and nasal steroid spray are no more effective than placebo at treating sinus infections. The researchers say the results should encourage more patients to forgo antibiotics for sinus infections.
Sinus infections occur when the mucous membranes are irritated by a cold, pollutants, allergies or exposure to dry cold air.
Antibiotics can decrease the strength of your immune system leading to other infections resistant to antibiotic use, such as candida albicans, a fungal infection.
Natural treatments for sinus infections:
* Saline irrigation: add one teaspoon of sea salt to a cup of of warm distilled or boiled water water.
Directions: Place the above mixture in a nasal bulb syringe. The head should be tilted down, with the syringe placed into one nostril. With your mouth open, the syringe is squeezed with moderate force, so that the water can go through the nasal passages and out through the mouth. If this makes you gag or hurts your ears, squeeze more gently and have the water come back out through the nose.
You may notice that mucus comes out of the nose with the water. Keep rinsing one side of the nose until the water comes out clear. Repeat the same process for the other nostril.
Saline irrigation may need to be performed on a daily (or multiple times per day) basis for people with severe symptoms, or less often as symptoms improve.
Wait 30 to 60 minutes prior to placing any prescription nasal sprays into the nose. It is also not recommended to perform sinus rinses within at least 60 minutes prior to going to bed, as the saline will drain down the back of the throat, and could cause a cough. Salt is a natural antibiotic as well works at removing allergens and irritants from the passages
*Avoid sugar and grains (recurring infections are usually fungal infections that feed off sugar and grains)
*Eliminate infections caused by allergies permanently by getting tested and treated at the Wright Health Centre
* Drink hot liquids such as green tea or chicken soup
* Apply warm compresses to your face 3-5 times a day to increase circulation.
