Clean up your sinuses

Lots of people complain about having problems with their sinuses. What really is a sinus?

In medicine, a sinus is a sac or a cavity in any organ or tissue. The human skull contains four major pairs of hollow, air-filled cavities called sinuses. These spaces are connected to the nostrils and the nasal passages. The sinuses reduce the weight of the skull and allow the voice to resonate within it. But most important, the sinuses provide a defence against harmful substances in the air we breathe, like germs, dust, smoke, particles and chemical pollutants. Sinusitis is simply an inflammation of the membranes lining the sinuses.

Not surprisingly, as our environment, and the air we breathe in particular, become more polluted, more people develop sinus problems. Sinusitis is now one of the leading chronic diseases and, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, over 10 per cent of Americans have one or more episodes of sinusitis each year. These are mostly caused by allergies or colds, which inflame the sinuses. Americans lose more than 73 million days from work and school each year due to sinusitis. The situation here in Jamaica also seems bad!

Symptoms of sinusitis

Common symptoms include pressure or facial pain, nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, diminished sense of smell, irritation of the throat, drainage and cough. Additionally, sufferers may have fever, bad breath, fatigue and even dental pain.

Treatment of sinusitis

Sadly, modern medicine focuses its attention on treating the symptoms of this problem with drugs and surgery. Virtually no attention is paid to treating the underlying causes or on prevention. I have met people who had been on sinus medication for decades and who have learned how to get rid of the problem or greatly improve it.

The natural approach:

Clean up your diet

Unburden your system of chemicals and food additives. Minimise your intake of processed foods, including sugar and white flour. Most important, take a holiday from all dairy products - cow's milk, butter, cheese, ice cream and so on. Dairy products stimulate mucus production from the sinuses. Please read food labels carefully. Consume lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and drink more water.

Clean up your environment

Do all you can to avoid pollutants in your surroundings, such as mould, dust, pollen and chemicals in the air you breathe. Avoid damp, poorly ventilated areas and get rid of curtains, mats, pillows, pets and toys that harbour dust. Avoid cigarette smoke. Be aware that paint, new carpets and new furniture will emit toxic chemicals for a long time.

Strengthen your immune system

Sinusitis reflects an immune system disorder. Take lots of antioxidants, especially the ACES - vitamins A, C and E and the mineral selenium. I particularly recommend a combination of the antioxidant herbs schizandra and rosemary mixed with the ACES. This is a powerful blend available in tablet form. Large amounts of the omega 3 fatty acids as well as ginger and tumeric provide strong anti-inflammatory benefits as well. The herb echinacea can be used for its anti-bacterial properties if the sinuses are infected. A severe attack can often be stopped by an intravenous vitamin treatment called a Myers cocktail administered by a doctor.

Wash and humidify your sinuses

From ancient times, practitioners of yoga have used a technique called 'neti' to keep their sinuses and nostrils healthy. I strongly endorse its use not only to sinus sufferers but to anyone seeking optimal health. It involves the use of a simple device called a neti pot that looks like a small teapot. The pot is filled with warm salt water (made with natural salt) and the spout applied to a nostril. By tilting the head, the water is allowed to run into one nostril and out of the other nostril. The method is easy to use and the few dos and don'ts are easily understood. Daily use of this technique cleanses and humidifies the nasal passages and not only relieves current sinus symptoms but also reduces the risk of future attacks.

These simple holistic strategies encourage the healing and prevention of sinusitis and help avoid the dangers and problems of drugs and surgery. Of course, conventional treatments have their place but should be reserved for special situations or when these simpler methods have not been effective.

You may email Dr Tony Vendryes at vendryes@mac.com, or listen to An Ounce of Prevention on POWER 106FM on Fridays at 8 p.m. The programme streams live on the Internet. His new book an 'Ounce of Prevention — Especially for Women' is now available at local bookstores or on the internet.