Sinus infection

I have a painful sinus infection in one sinus.    I'm treating it by irrigating with saline water and oregano infusion using a netti pot.  Normal body temperature.

What would you do to treat it without resorting to antibiotics? 

Sinus infections are lousy!   

There are two herbal formulas that I get from my Naturopath and that she gets from Wise Woman Herbals that are amazingly effective with sinus infections. You might be able to make these yourself and/or come up with some decent substitutions.

The first is an essential oil mix called Vapor Inhalation. It has thyme, lavender and eucalyptus. You shake it up, add 7-14 drops to boiling water poured into a bowl, then hang your head over the bowl with a towel over your head. Breathe deeply. It can burn a bit at first, but as that passes you'll feel a LOT better!

The second is a tincture she has Wise Woman custom make for her called Dr. Taylor-White's Sinus Formula. The label says it contains:
3 parts euphrasia stricta/eyebright
2 parts hydrastis glycerite/goldenseal
2 parts verbascum glycerite/mullein
1 part glycyrrhiza glycerite/licorice.
Take 1 teaspoon of this nasty-tasting stuff 3 times a day and voila! No more sinus trouble. My son now swears by it.

Btw, I once tried to make my own Vapor Inhalation combination and it wasn't nearly as good as Wise Woman's.

Oh, and gluten gives me sinus infections. I just don't eat wheat, rye or barley any more 'cause it's so not worth it.

Good luck!

Thank you for that info!  I don't have ready access to most of those herbs, but I might try a lavender and rosemary vapor inhalation tomorrow.  I chose the oregano for the irrigation because of all herbs oregano is supposed to have the strongest antibiotic properties.  Kind of hurt going through the sinus, but it seems to have helped!  I'm going to do one more irrigation this evening, if I can get up the nerve. 

Re: gluten - I am essentially not eating any grain products anymore,personally, having been on a modified paleo diet for a couple months now.

I tend to rely on preparations including large amounts of garlic, and have had a lot of luck with sinus infections.  I am a bad sinus case and deal with crud all the time.  I like a common recipe known as "super tonic" "super 5" or other similar names.  Made of equal parts cayenne, garlic, onion, ginger, and horseradish tinctured in apple cider vinegar.  Taken 1-2 oz at at time several times in a day, most illnesses are toast.  I also have used a Dr. Christopher product called "anti-plague" that can be bought online.  It can be made at home, but it is a major hassle so I won't go into it here tonight.  Another trick for bypassing the need for antibiotics is a garlic foot paste.  Equal parts minced garlic and petroleum jelly spread onto the soles of the feet - only the soles for some reason, I was taught.  Cover with gauze or cotton, and pull a sock over it and go to bed.  Petroleum jelly is gross, but it's the only oil that won't be absorbed into the skin leaving the garlic to cause a chemical burn.  I have seen this work fantastically.  Irrigation is a wonderful idea, keep it up.

Here is herbalist Jim McDonald's advice, which I can't begin to touch.  His favorite herb for sinus infections is yerba mansa, but check out his precautions first.

http://www.herbcraft.org/survivingsinusitis.html

Thanks, John!  Looks like the patient might not survive that tonic!    But I will try it.  Is it equal parts by weight or by volume?

I want to make sure to let you all know the oregano infusion worked like a miracle!     The sinus is clear this morning and the pain has gone completely.  I'm going to continue the oregano irrigation throughout today to make sure any remaining bacteria are removed.

All I can say is, wow, this worked so much better than antibiotics from the doctor!  And no side-effects.   

Chemical database for oregano, for you scientific types:  http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/duke/farmacy2.pl

Good for you, and glad to hear you're feeling better!! 

Thank you! 

I always go by weight.  It's not so bad to take it either.  A little intense, but rather tasty otherwise.  I've heard more than one herbalist joke that they are often without their supply because they used it all as salad dressing.

Glad to hear the infection passed!

Thanks, John!  

I thought that Thyme(Thymesol?) was the best anti biotic? I have both oregeno and thyme and I use them with Basil for all kinds of things including face wash and moisturizer.

I do think thyme is amazing. I have a habit of calling it "anti-microbial" because I think it works against all kinds of germs and bugs. It's in the vapor inhalation essential oils I use, and if it's a bad flu or bug, I think a thyme bath can work wonders.

Rob, how do you use your herbs as a face wash and moisturizer?

Jocelyn,

For a face scrub, I use aloe vera as a base and at to it some lightly coarse sea salt, lemon, thyme tea, basil tea, and raw honey. Its not a soap per se, but I find that it helps exfoliate really well. For the moisturizer, again I use aloe vera as a base, and then add thyme tea to it. I put it in a little squeeze bottle, and then use it every day and night. I am still in the process of experimenting with what works best for my skin. I have used not so healthy soaps etc on my skin for over 25 years and I am trying really hard to put nature to work, its not always easy though 

Wash your face with cold water only. No scrubbing and no soap unless you accidentally get something like engine oil on your face. Your skin produces it's own moisturizer. It doesn't make sense to scrub it off and replace it with something not as good.

Yeah I went with that theory It works great unless you have really oily skin like me, when you don’t remove the debris from your face you end up looking like a teenager again! Ive always felt that if I lived in the tropics and had clean water that my skin would be much better, but alas no can do.

Ludi, i don't know what your modifyed paleo diet looks like so, ... do you drink milk? When did you stopped consuming grains products?

At one stage I was taking sinus tablets almost daily. I stopped drinking milk and noticed a huge improvement. I later found out that wheat can also be a culprit in sinus problems so I cut that out too and improved even more. I can't remember if I cut out all dairy all at once but I remember experimenting with having just one knob of butter a day for a few days and then started having mucus problems so I cut the butter out and within a few days I was ok again. I have not needed to take one sinus tablet since completely cutting out dairy and grains but I will occasionally get a very minor sinus attack that might only last a couple of hours.

Rob S. aka Blitz wrote:
Yeah I went with that theory It works great unless you have really oily skin like me, when you don’t remove the debris from your face you end up looking like a teenager again! Ive always felt that if I lived in the tropics and had clean water that my skin would be much better, but alas no can do.

Thank you Rob. I shall definitely keep that it mind next time I start handing out beauty tips. 

Ha ha no worries! I agreed with you completely on it, it just didn't seem to work for me


I noticed that my wife and I have less allergy, sinus type problems since we both diligently cut out gluten, dairy, corn and soy. All of them make my wife sick, and they don't sit too well with me. It is amazing how much better we feel off of it.

I like to take a hot bath with epsom salts and eucalyptus oil when my sinuses are plugged. 

They used to have colloidal silver for infections, but I guess that stuff is pretty much off the market now due to someone turning grey or something?

I have been reading up on tea tree oil (mellaluca) and it is an antibacterial, antiviral essential oil that you can add a drop to your drinking water and it helps infection, parasites, and candida.

I used to grind up oatmeal and use that to wash my face.  I have also used cornmeal to exfoliate.  Gently.  I also made a bar, using Pure and Natural soap, water, cooked oatmeal and honey.  It left my skin really soft.  That was back in my makeup days...goop on, goop off.

Nowadays, I try to get whatever I need from my kitchen or garden.  For sinus problems, I do salt water irrigation (o joy), sniff some eucalyptus that I have around here and complain a lot.  A shot of brandy kinda opens everything up, too.   Also cuts down on the complaining.

from my experience, nothing cleans up a sinus infection like  H2O2.  put into a nasal spray bottle and sprayed up into the affected area. at first it burns a bit.  I have also used Olbas a lot before I discovered H2O2.  My mother would make an infusion and had us put our head over the steamy bowl with a bath towel over the head.  What can I say, H2O2,  works best for me.

Elfriede B wrote:
from my experience, nothing cleans up a sinus infection like  H2O2.  put into a nasal spray bottle and sprayed up into the affected area. at first it burns a bit.   I have also used Olbas a lot before I discovered H2O2.   My mother would make an infusion and had us put our head over the steamy bowl with a bath towel over the head.  What can I say, H2O2,  works best for me.

What preparation and/or percent H202 do you use. Read something similar at http://www.landrights.com/Hydrogen_Peroxide.htm

Dr_Temp wrote:
What preparation and/or percent H202 do you use. Read something similar at landrights.com/Hydrogen_Peroxide.ht

I can't get anything at the link Doc. What's up?

To Elfriede:
I use Hydrogen Peroxide for many things, but I kinda worry a bit about the oxidation 'fizz' going on in the respiratory tract. I would also like to know more about the dilution (if any) and have you ever had the H2O2 cause any problems when sprayed into your nose?

ronie wrote:
I can't get anything at the link Doc. What's up?

fixed the link. Helps if I include all the letters.

http://www.landrights.com/Hydrogen_Peroxide.htm

I dilute it to ca.2%,  fill the bottle 2thirds full with Hydrogen peroxide and add water to fill it up.  Right now we are inhaling 3% because everybody and his brother is sick around us.  Basically we spray a mist into our open mouth and inhale that. Never had a problem.  It does not work on a virus it seems. Unless you use it on a regular basis as a preventive measure, which I always forget to do when I am feeling fine. When I use 3% in my nose it burns more and yes, it fizzes, but that is not a problem. . I am very susceptible to sinus problems, a cold wind blows on the left side on my face and bingo. So I use it mostly for my sinus infections, and probably ought to use it longer and not quit the moment I feel better.  It works about as fast as antibiotics. the worst I ever had, and it was bad,  every tooth in my head was hurting,  my head felt like a very sore stuffed pumpkin,  it took three days to start working, then it went fast.  I would say cheap and effective.  But that is my experience.

Have you tried Quail eggs?  We recently started raising a few Cortinix quails for eggs and they have done wonders for my asthma, allergies and my sinus infection and they taste just like a chicken egg but the yoke is much creamier.  I am going to also start adding them raw to my morning green drink.

Also another alternative to Hydrogen peroxide is MMS (acidified Sodium chlorite) and please do not let FDA scare you away it can work wonders.  MMS is a milder oxidizer than hydrogen peroxide.

Chronic sinus infections are usually related to food allergies which can also trigger pollen allergies.  Taking bee pollen daily can help, or raw honey which would have a little pollen in it.
Cow's milk is a common allergen.  Cayenne and ginger can both bring heat to the sinus area (and stomach), and flushes the sinuses.  I make it up in capsules and take two about two or three times a day.  Works for me.  It makes the sinuses drain like crazy for a short time, then dry up as they seem to heal.  When I have an actual infection (mucus color will change from clear to yellowish if infection is present), I add a little goldenseal to the mix, and take it for about a week.  Make sure to take some acidophilus (you can get dairy free), after taking goldenseal to replenish your intestinal flora. 

Constant sinus drainage is very acid to the stomach and usually also causes stomach distress and pain.  Keep the stomach flushed by sipping liquids frequently while sinuses are draining. 

You could try some home remedies for sinus infection. The article in the website below lists some home remedies which worked for many people.

http://yourhomeremedies.net

Hope it helps.

One of the best things I have found was "Oregano Oil" (extract) 3 drops mixed with water in a teaspoon. Its a little strong tasting but it works great.

Wow, this thread is a little old, but always good to review.

I had a sinus infection a few months ago. I treated it with Oregon Grape Root tincture. It was my right sinus that was affected. I was surprised to find that the OGR new EXACTLY where the problem was. The mucus from my right sinus was the color of OGR, while the mucus from the left one was the normal color. It only took a couple of treatments and the problem went away. I am sure that goldenseal or barberry would have been just as effective.

I just wanted to say breathing in four drops of oregano oil in boil water is great when I have a sinus infection. I agree about someone saying it seems to find the yucky stuff and attack it.

It's funny the amazing things you can find on this website.
I have had chronic, and I mean awful chronic sinus issues my whole life.
2 surgeries, every antibiotic under the sun, and a whole lot of misery have left me essentially where I began with chronic sinus issues.
I had another ENT consult and essentially was told I will just have to deal with it and it's going to be an issue for the rest of my life.

I began to think about the problem in a new way a few weeks ago. I had just finished another antibiotic run to clear up an infection.
I was left with the intestinal issues that often accompany antibiotics, a cough that somehow was untouched by the drugs, and a returning sinus infection.
Then I read this thread and began my own journey of knowledge on the potential of herbs helping my cope with these issues.

I started last Sunday waking up with awful sinus pain, nasty discharge, and an overall sick feeling. A full blown sinus infection 2 weeks after antibiotics. Damn.
I decided to add probiotics, kefir, and as much healthy food as I could to my diet.
I also began drinking an elderberry tincture, chamomile, and raw honey tea before bed.

I tried eating horseradish/ginger/cayenne to get the mucus going. That didn't touch it. I can't really recommend that one at least for me.

I began with steam inhalation as the Jim Mcdonald article suggested. Steam with Oregano, Rosemary, and Wild Bee balm essential oils, then rinse with a nasal saline wash. It was nice and seemed to help.
Steam with just water too, always followed by a nasal rinse.
I did that for 2 days, some relief although the discharge was still clearly full of nasty. I decided to add an oregano infusion as Tyler did.

I have to admit some trepidation at putting the greenish brown tea up my nose with the nasal rinse, but I figured it's no worse than anything else and I'd be back on antibiotics if is doesn't work anyway. I strained the oregano out in a coffee filter and steamed first as always.

The oregano rinse seemed to do something. I can't describe it but it just seemed to get into the problem up in there in a more powerful way.
I did the steam/oregano rinse for 2 days until friday. I still had nasal discharge nastiness, though less. I figured I'd attack the issue all weekend and see if it was just a time/patience thing. It is a chronic issue for me after all.

I noticed I still had some wild bee balm leaves on my plants outside. To be honest the wife planted them for the flowers and I like them for the bees they bring in. I'd never used it as an herb. I picked a bunch of the freshest leaves I could find and added them to the oregano infusion. Steam first, nasal rinse with the bee balm infusion.
My goodness. The bee balm stung right away then I almost felt like it was dragging the infection out by it's hair. I ran 4 bottles though the right sinus which was worse and a plug of nasty came out that I can only describe as evil looking. The right side was clearer than it's been ever.

I continued to run through my aromatic steam/rinse several times a day and found myself feeling much better, not always with the oregano, I'm out of bee balm now too.
The tea at night I think also has helped. I now felt a bit "worked over" in the sinuses so I did some more research and thought I'd try a demulcent to help rebuild my tissues. I bought some marshmallow root and it did seem to help lubricate things up in there.
I now stand here 8 days later feeling healthy and breathing very well. I do believe i will need to continue my steam/rinse but maybe without the herbal infusion and maybe just once a day. In the future I will be harvesting bee balm and perhaps I now will breathe normally thanks to the journey into herbal remedies started by this thread.
So many thanks.

I have almost zero information on this but, as a lifelong asthmatic/sinus/hay fever sufferer, something interesting has happened this year. As of August (spring in NZ), I have almost completely stopped all respiratory medication. I have used the ventolin 4 times (twice because champagne makes me short of breath but I like champagne) and my steroid nasal spray 3 times - no reason beyond evening stuffiness.

The things that have changed.

I turned 64 - maybe an ageing change has benefited me

I switched to raw whole milk from skim pasteurised

I started hand milking a cow

There is some evidence that kids brought up around animals, especially cows, have fewer allergies etc, I'm open to the idea that there is also some effect on adults. Certainly a change of diet would argue for some possible effects. But what caught my eye the other day was that every time I squirt a teat full of milk into the bucket, I create an aerosol of raw milk and I am certain that, leaning my head against her side, I'm bound to have been inhaling her milk twice a day for about 8 months now and even if the effect was quite small, I'm open to the idea that it would do something to my airways.

I'm NOT advocating that you rush out and start spraying raw milk into your nose/lungs, but I would be really interested to hear if anyone else has seen or experienced something similar.

I snort high quality colloidal silver. It stings a bit but the infection is gone within hours. Sometimes gone in a few minuets. If anyone wants to try this method please message me I would be happy to help anyone through the process. It is important to continue to snort the silver and take it internally for three to seven days. Even though all symptoms (and possibly the memory of even having a sinus infection) will be long gone. Please message me for the rest of the specifics if you want to do this! Silver I use is found here dynamitespecialtyproducts.blogspot.com/.../dynamite-testimonials-solace... or through me.

I used to be out sick a month or more every winter with sinus infections. They were the sneaky kind that didn't come with lots of congestion, so for years I thought they were toothaches or migraines or who knows what. Now, however, at the first twinge of headache, stuffy nose, fever, or any other sign of incipient ear/nose/throat infection, I snort powdered goldenseal. It always clears up. I haven't ended up with a full-on infection in years. In addition, I use elecampane to strengthen the respiratory tract during wet cold weather. I you don't like to take tinctures, you can chew the root candied in honey.

Often, winter infections and illnesses start with allergies to dust, mold, and all the detritus in the house. Then the germs move in after you already are weakened and drippy. Several people I know are using my allergy prevention strategy, and all of us have been able to throw away our inhalers and pharmaceuticals. We use grindelia tincture whenever we are going to be exposed to whatever gives us asthma. If it is house dust, then daily. If exercise is the trigger, then before any exertion.

I have a friend who is a dancer. She gets asthma with the slightest exertion, and was told she would have to use steroid inhalers all her life. She uses grindelia before each practice and performance, has not owned an inhaler in years, and is launching a professional career as a dancer. If she runs out of grindelia, she gets asthma again. It works.

a drop of tea tree oil in the neti pot seems to be the go to for all the family sinusitis sufferers around here. they say it ends the problem pretty much immediately

Remember to use your deep Permaculture Thinking when facing a sinus infection or other health issues. I hear you saying to yourselves "Sinus infection. Hmmmmm. That's interesting. I wonder WHY? What is my ecosystem (er, body) trying to tell me?" What is the root cause? Some posts have touched on this. Is it allergies? The body coats our respiratory (and GI) tissues with secretory IgA (er, mucous) to help our immune systems with their barrier defense. So a food you think is benign or healthy might actually be triggering this immune reaction. A trial period of an elimination diet can give clues there. Maybe it's dental problems? Imbalanced oral bacteria can contribute to many health issues. I've had several clients in my nutrition practice report complete resolution of sinus troubles after beginning daily oil pulling (the Ayurvedic practice of cleansing the mouth by swishing oil...I like coconut oil for this...for 10-15 minutes..then discard--not down the drain). Clobbering the sinus microbiome with oregano oil, H2O2, colloidal silver and such is only a partial solution, and might in the long run shift the microbiome in unfavorable ways. It's sort of like having the oil light come on in your car while driving down the highway. Sure, you can pull over, pop the hood, and cut the wire that leads to the light...and the oil light will go off. But in the long run, you haven't solved the underlying problem. Maybe you're run down and your immune system is asking you for more sleep & relaxation, and less sugar (sugar paralyzes immune cells for 6+ hours after ingestion). Maybe your barrier defense mechanisms are acting up due to poor membrane integrity (a job for increased minerals and flavonoids in the diet, and reduced exposure to NSAIDs and stress). I support all of you in taking responsibility for your self-care!

I think it comes from picking ones nose with dirty fingers.