Sinusitis - Ayurvedic / herbal medicines

What is Sinusitis?

Sinusitis is an inflammatory condition of sinuses which is due to viral, bacterial, or fungal infections in Paranasal sinuses. Other terms depending on symptoms and onset are Acute sinusitis, rhinosinusitis, chronic sinusitis, or acute sinusitis, or allergic rhinitis etc.

Causes for sinusitis

• The sinuses are air-filled spaces and a part of skull and they are lined with mucus membranes and free from foreign bodies or bacteria or other germs, and sinuses are meant for draining mucus and maintaining circulation of air.
• When there is blockage of sinus openings, too much mucus secretions may builds up bacteria and allow germs to grow up causing inflammation, heaviness leading to sinusitis. This happens when there is recurrent cold, allergic condition, viral infections may cause too much mucus and causes blockage in the opening of sinuses leading to sinusitis.
• Other structural deformities like deviated nasal septum, nasal polyps, nasal bone spur may block sinus opening and even put some pressure over.

Sinusitis Classification

• Depending on the onset of symptoms and sinusitis, it is called as Acute if the symptoms last up to 4 weeks, or Sub-acute, if the symptoms last for 4 - 12 weeks, and Chronic, if the symptoms last for 3 months or longer.
• If there is upper respiratory tract infections, there may be bacterial infections leading to acute sinusitis and for any reason, if the sinusitis is in longer term may called as chronic.
• Other risk factors are hay fever or Allergic rhinitis in children, Cystic fibrosis, Kartagener syndrome and immotile cilia syndrome.
• Other cases like scuba diving, Large adenoids, chronic smoking, gum or tooth infections, low immunity power, may also suffer from sinusitis.

Symptoms of Sinusitis

Usually symptoms start from cold in acute sinusitis, Bad breath or loss of smell, cough, fatigue, irritability, Fever, headache, facial tenderness, nasal congestion, nasal discharge, sore throat, Sore throat etc. Children do suffer from similar symptoms with high fever, darkened nasal secretions, with or without cough.

Signs and tests

Physician can suspect possible sinusitis by looking for nasal polyps, deviated nasal septum, inflammatory signs, on Tapping over sinus area or pressing over sinus area to find infections.

Though Regular x-rays for sinusitis are helpful, that may not accurate for diagnosing sinusitis in some cases. Rhinoscopy is also a diagnostic measure. CT scan and MRI are also important for diagnosing sinusitis.

In order to avoid risks one can go for Allergy testing, tests for poor immune function, Nasal cytology, Ciliary function tests, Sweat chloride tests for cystic fibrosis are helpful to treat further for particular health conditions.

MEDICATIONS AND OTHER TREATMENTS

1. Prevention is important and self-care of hygiene, lifestyle changes like avoiding cold breeze, preferring warm comforts, consuming plenty of fluids, steam inhalation, nasal sprays, using Humidifier. Avoid bending forward with your head down.
2. Allopath system of medicine usually suggests Antibiotics and antihistamines. There is no need of Antibiotics in acute sinusitis, these kind of nasal congestions, viral infections related to cold may go away by own.
3. When the symptoms are more in children or adults for more than 15 or 21 days, one should go for treatments. In extreme cases, allergy shots or immunotherapy is recommended, antihistamines, nasal corticosteroid sprays to decrease swelling and to control allergies.
4. Usually surgeries are preferred when there is anatomical errors like nasal polyps, deviated nasal septum etc., even surgery is need in some fungal sinus infections.

Complications of sinusitis

If not treated properly for sinusitis, there may be chances of Abscess, osteomyelitis, Meningitis, skin infections etc.

Natural remedies for Sinusitis

The goal of natural remedies are to avoid chemical based medications to avoid side effects and to improve immune system, and to prevent recurrent cold attacks Natural therapies are beneficial.

• Preventing is important however, and there are some natural cleansing methods by using Neti pot to flush the sinuses, and also called as Jala Neti.
• Ayurveda do prefer protection health from external abnormalities and focuses on immunity power.
• Classical Panchakarma treatments like performing Nasyam or using Nasal drops are recommended.
• Steam inhalations and herbal smoke inhalations are also recommended in traditional way. Some cases medications for ear infections also relieves pain in sinuses.

Home remedies

• There are many natural remedies or home remedies which can be practiced at home for acute sinusitis or cold and cough such as using sinusitis such as Combination of onion juice and honey in the ratio of 10:4 is very helpful for cold and sinus infections.
• Preparing decoction of holy basil (handful), 6 to8 grains of black pepper, 3gm of dry ginger, green tea 1 teaspoon boiled in 4 parts of water and reduced to 2 parts and palm jaggery is added and lukewarm decoction is consumed to clear the sinus fillings and also good remedy for cold and cough. For more home remedies click here.

Ayurvedic medicines for sinusitis

If a patient is suffering from sinus related headaches, using Cephagraine Tablets is beneficial. Using Package Medicine for Sinusitis which contains Divya Swasari Ras, Divya Sitopaladi churna, Divya Abhrak Bhasm, Divya Praval Pisti, Divya Trikatu Churna, Divya Lakshmi Vilasa Ras, and Divya Sanjivani Vati, these are the medicines which are helpful for sinusitis. For nasal drops, Shadbindu Oil for Sinus are helpful.

There are few more medicines which can be used on as-needed basis such as Divya Tulsi Ghan Vati, Divya Sarivadi Vati, Divya Swasari Kwath these medicines are helpful for cold and cough as well as for respiratory system and sinus related complaints.

Precautions

While consuming ayurvedic medicines or any medicines, one should be careful in using them like dosage, over-the-counter nasal sprays, and duration of intake medicine which is very important.