The Ayurvedic Approach to Treating and Beating Sinus Infections

Do you frequently get a blocked or runny nose? Do you sneeze repeatedly? Do you get sinus pain or sinus headaches? If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to any one of these questions, you may be dealing with sinusitis. But what does that mean? And is sinusitis contagious?

Sinusitis is not always contagious, but it can be. To better understand this answer, one must first grasp what sinusitis is and what factors determine contagion.

Sinusitis Explained

Sinusitis is the inflammation of the sinuses. This inflammation occurs when mucus is overproduced and the lining of the nasal cavity swells.

The initial symptoms of sinusitis resemble those of a common cold (congestion, runny nose, sneezing), but may progress into more severe symptoms or persist.

Sinusitis can be either acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term).

Acute sinusitis is often due to a cold, viral or bacterial infection. When an infection is present, the virus or bacteria can spread from one person to another, particularly through the mucous where it is “trapped”. This type of sinusitis is contagious.

Chronic sinusitis, while more complicated, is usually due to recurrent allergies, rhinitis, or nasal deformities. This type of sinusitis is normally not contagious, but may too develop into an infection if not properly addressed.

So, no matter what can of sinusitis you are suffering from, contagion is a possibility.

To properly diagnose the problem, you must first consult your health advisor. To treat it naturally from the comfort of your home and prevent a full-blown infection from developing, you may want to follow a drug-free, holistic plan.

Ayurvedic Treatment Plan for Sinusitis

In our Holistic Ayurvedic Centre, we treat and prevent sinus infections by prescribing breathing techniques, nasal cleansing, massage, diet and herbs, all of which are completely safe and side effect-free. These would be included in a customised Kapha Aggravation treatment plan.

Here are some tips our Ayurvedic practitioner may prescribe you:

• Nasal irrigation (Jala Neti). This would include the use of a neti pot containing lukewarm salt water to cleanse your nasal passages, sinuses and even your throat. Neti pots greatly assist with mucous drainage and have been used by yogis for centuries. Try our own stainless steel Yatan Neti Pot for optimal relief.

Using the Neti Pot

• Nasal massage. Using an Ayurvedic oil to massage the areas around your nose and eyes works wonders for the sinuses by opening the nasal passages and improving breathing. A useful acu-point (LI 20) can also be found on the sides of each nostril.

• Herbal tea. Herbal teas such as peppermint, lemongrass and ginger tea are particularly beneficial for congested sinuses. A recommended herbal blend is peppermint, black pepper, liquorice, ginger and lemongrass.
• Ayurvedic diet. You may be advised to avoid eating dairy, as foods containing milk may produce more mucous. You might also need to steer away from sugar, gluten, cold foods, ice cream, seafood and even bananas, strawberries, pineapples and oranges, particularly if you’re dealing with allergic rhinitis. Opt for warm foods such as cooked meats, hot soup, roasted vegetables and spicy foods that contain ginger or turmeric.
• Yoga Therapy. Various types of pranayama (Yogic breathing) and asanas (Yoga postures) are often recommended for sinusitis, the most beneficial being Bhasktrika Pranayama (100 rounds) and Forward Bend breathing (11 rounds for the seated posture and 11 rounds for the standing posture).A more advanced breathing technique is Kapalbhati (21 rounds on each side), which is known to alleviate congestion and sinus headaches. Make sure to have an expert on Yoga Therapy show you how these techniques are done.

Looking for professional holistic advice on how you can best treat and beat sinus infections?  Contact us today for a free no-obligation Ayurveda consultation.

All information and resources referenced in this article, including medicinal preparations, exercise and dietary recommendations, are based on the opinion of the author. All content is intended to inform and encourage the reader to seek professional advice if the aforementioned conditions and symptoms are present. No information in this article should be considered a diagnosis or prescription.