If you suffer pain from a sinus infection it is not always necessary to use antibiotics. It is definitely worth trying some simple home remedies first.
I have recently suffered from a sinus infection and I am very pleased to say that I was able to bring it under control and completely resolve all symptoms myself! This last infection came on quite quickly, I felt a bit of the distinctive face pain in the afternoon but by late evening I was in agony. For some reason I tend to get the most of my sinus pain on the left side of my face. My cheek and jaw become painful and I feel like I have a toothache! Yuk!
Not long ago I would have just gone to the doctor to get antibiotics. With this last sinus infection however I was determined to cure it myself.
When I had a sinus infection last year I had a half-hearted go at curing it myself but I didn’t really know whether I was helping or not. I treated myself and the pain went away. So I stopped and then it came back again – ten times worse! So I gave up and went to the doctor and was given antibiotics.
I had been using a nasal wash but I had stopped using it as soon as my original symptoms cleared up. I didn’t know that you should keep using it for a while to make sure all of the bad bugs are gone!
My latest sinus infection occurred about 10 days ago and I got straight into the nasal washes. I also started using the medicated nasal spray that my doctor prescribed for my last sinus infection. While this might help to prevent future infections I feel that it has been the nasal washes that have really helped me. This is because I have read that the medicated spray can take two weeks to have full effect.
It did take 3 to 4 days before I felt any real relief but now I am pleased to say that my sinus infection has resolved completely. I will continue to use the nasal wash for a bit longer and I’ll slowly reduce how often I use it.
Naturally I have also used a range of other home remedies to help me manage my symptoms.
My Tips for Treating a Sinus Infection at Home:
- get straight onto using a nasal wash system twice a day
- use some non-medicated saline nasal spray to help keep sinuses moist
- if the air is dry (humidity low) try to get hold of a humidifier to use in the bedroom at night
- suck on menthol lozenges as they are good to help clear the nose
Some people might be put off by the thought of doing a nasal wash (some in my family are!) but I feel that without them I would have had to resort to antibiotics.
It is important to follow the instruction on the nasal wash kit you use. I always use pre-boiled water in mine but I was shocked to discover that using plain tap water can be fatal!
If you want more information about other home remedies for sinus infection I have found the following links quite informative:
The Survival Doctor website: Sinus Infection Remedies (And Why You Might Not Need Antibiotics)
MAYO CLINIC website: Acute sinusitis – Lifestyle and home remedies
WebMD website: Help for Sinus Pain and Pressure
I have heard others say that their sinuses give them trouble at the beginning of autumn. This fits with what I experienced. I also had my last sinus infection at the end of winter. So maybe I can plan ahead and start taking some preventative measures at these times!
Lastly I would like to stress that you should only try using home remedies for a few days without getting any relief. If symptoms persist or start getting worse I would recommend seeing a doctor.
Hi, I'm Kaylene, and I'm a keen gardener,budding baker and wannabe DIYer!
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