Some home remedies, such as inhalation with eucalyptus steam, mint juice with nettle or turmeric tea, have anti-inflammatory, expectorant and antiseptic properties, which help reduce inflammation of the nasal sinuses and relieve sinusitis symptoms. , such as pain or a feeling of pressure in the face, blocked nose and cough, for example.
Another good option for a home remedy for sinusitis is to clean the nose and sinuses with saline solution, as it eliminates excess secretions and reduces inflammation, relieving symptoms. See how to clean your nose with serum.
These home remedies can be used for around 2 weeks, but if there is no improvement in symptoms after 7 days, it is recommended to consult your general practitioner or otorhinolaryngologist to assess the problem and identify whether there is a need to start using more specific remedies. . Understand how sinusitis is treated.
Some home remedy options for sinusitis are:
1. Inhalation with eucalyptus steam
A good home remedy for sinusitis is to inhale eucalyptus steam because it has expectorant and antiseptic properties, which quickly relieve nasal congestion. However, there are some people who may be more sensitive to the essential oil released by eucalyptus and, in these cases, symptoms may worsen. If this happens, you should avoid doing this inhalation.
Ingredients
- 5 drops of eucalyptus essential oil;
- 1 teaspoon of salt;
- 1 liter of boiling water.
Preparation mode
Place the boiling water in a basin and add the drops of essential oil with the salt. Then cover your head and basin, inhaling the tea steam. It is important to breathe the steam as deeply as possible for up to 10 minutes, repeating 2 to 3 times a day.
If you don’t have essential oil at home, you can also inhale by dipping some eucalyptus leaves in boiling water, as the plant’s natural oil will be transported by the water vapor.
2. Mint juice with nettle
A good home remedy for allergic sinusitis can be mint juice with nettle, as it has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and decongestant properties that help reduce sinus irritation and eliminate secretions.
Ingredients
- 5 g of nettle leaves;
- 15 g of mint;
- 1 glass of coconut water;
- 1 tablespoon of eucalyptus honey.
Preparation mode
Place the nettle leaves to cook in a pan of water. Then, place the cooked leaves together with the mint, coconut water and honey in a blender and blend until obtaining a homogeneous juice. Drink twice a day, between meals.
It is very important to cook nettle leaves before using, as in its natural form nettle can cause an allergic reaction, only losing this capacity after it is cooked.
3. Inhalation with chamomile
Inhalation with chamomile is an excellent home remedy for sinusitis, as chamomile has excellent calming properties and the steam from inhalation helps to warm and moisten the upper respiratory tract, relieving the discomfort of sinusitis, and can be done in adults or children.
However, inhalation in children must always be carried out under adult supervision, even if the child has previously inhaled, as there is a serious risk of burns.
Ingredients
- 1 handful of chamomile flowers;
- 1.5 to 2 liters of water.
Preparation mode
Boil the water and add the chamomile flowers. Wait 5 to 10 minutes and then place your face over the bowl and cover your head with a towel. The child must be asked to breathe the vapor for at least 10 minutes.
4. Saffron tea
Saffron, also called turmeric, is rich in curcumin, a substance with powerful anti-inflammatory properties, which acts to reduce the symptoms of inflammation, which can help alleviate symptoms of pain and pressure in the face, in addition to general discomfort. caused by sinusitis.
Ingredients
- 1 level teaspoon of saffron/turmeric powder (200 mg);
- 1 cup of water.
Preparation mode
Bring the water to a boil and add the saffron/turmeric. Let it boil for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain the tea and drink. You can drink 2 to 3 cups of turmeric tea per day.
Another option is to consume turmeric in capsule form, which can be used by taking 2 250 mg capsules every 12 hours, totaling 1 g per day.
Saffron/turmeric should not be used by pregnant women, or people taking blood thinners such as warfarin, clopidogrel or acetylsalicylic acid, as it may increase the risk of bleeding or haemorrhage.
5. Ginger and garlic tea
Ginger and garlic tea has antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties due to substances such as allicin, present in garlic, and the phenolic compounds in ginger, such as gingerol, chogaol and zingerone. These substances help combat the symptoms of sinusitis such as a blocked nose, runny nose, sore throat and general malaise.
Furthermore, this tea helps to strengthen the immune system and shorten the duration of sinusitis.
Ingredients
- 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and cut in half;
- 1 cm of ginger root or ½ teaspoon of powdered ginger;
- 3 cups of water;
- Honey to sweeten (optional).
Preparation mode
Boil water with garlic. Remove from heat and add ginger and honey. Strain and serve afterwards.
Ginger should not be consumed by people using anticoagulants, and therefore should be removed from the tea in these cases. During pregnancy, ginger should only be used in an amount of 1 g per day and for a maximum of 4 days.
6. Thyme and honey infusion
The infusion of thyme and honey is rich in anti-inflammatory and antiseptic substances, such as thymol, carvacrol, cymene and linalool, which also have an expectorant action, facilitating the elimination of phlegm and relieving runny nose and the feeling of a blocked nose caused by sinusitis.
Additionally, honey helps reduce inflammation, lubricate the throat, relieve coughs and phlegm. However, for people allergic to honey, propolis or pollen, honey should not be added to the tea, and it should only be prepared with thyme.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of dried thyme extract or 2 sprigs of fresh thyme;
- 1 liter of boiling water;
- 1 tablespoon of honey.
Preparation mode
Add the dried thyme to the boiling water and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain and drink up to 3 cups per day.
Thyme infusion should not be used by people with stomach problems such as gastritis or ulcers, by people with liver disease or who use anticoagulant medications such as warfarin or clopidogrel, for example.
7. Inhalations with mint
Mint has antimicrobial properties and essential oils, especially menthol, which help to clean the paranasal sinuses, facilitating the exit of secretions, as they have a decongestant action.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons of whole or crushed dried peppermint leaves or 2 to 3 dried leaves;
- 150 mL of boiling water.
Preparation mode
Place the mint leaves in a cup of tea and add boiling water. Leave for about 5 to 7 minutes and strain. You can then inhale its vapors, placing a towel on your head to concentrate the vapor more. However, it is also possible to drink the tea 3 to 4 times a day.
8. Washing with baking soda
This home remedy for sinusitis with baking soda is a good option for relieving nasal congestion caused by sinusitis, reducing inflammation and eliminating secretions that make your nose stuffy and runny. Additionally, baking soda helps combat bacterial growth in the sinuses and treat dryness inside the nose, which allows it to dissolve and soften mucus.
Ingredients
- 1 nasal irrigator or 1 20 mL syringe without needle;
- 1 teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate;
- 1 cup of warm water.
Preparation mode
Mix all ingredients and place in the nasal irrigator or fill the 20 mL syringe. Tilt your body forward and your head slightly to the side. Position the nasal irrigator or syringe at the entrance to one nostril and press until the serum comes out of the other nostril. It is important to open your mouth and also breathe through your mouth while washing your nostril.
Repeat this procedure 2 to 3 times a day in each nostril.
Another way to wash your nose is using 0.9% saline solution or preparing a solution with warm water and salt.
Watch the video with nurse Manuel Reis explaining how to wash your nose:
