Experiencing Sinus Pain? Try These Home Remedies Featuring Items You Likely Already Have In Your Pantry

If you are experiencing sinus pain, you may be tempted to take over-the-counter sinus medication or to call your doctor right away. However, many sinus problems should be treated naturally, rather than with medications. Sinus medications can dry you out, making your symptoms more painful. And many doctors are holding off on prescribing antibiotics until the symptoms have persisted for awhile, to help decrease the rise in antibiotic resistant infections. Fortunately, treating sinus pain can be easy, if you know how. Here are a few ways you can treat sinus pain with items you likely already have at home. 

Apple Cider Vinegar

If you are experiencing sinus pain, one of the ways that you can treat that pain naturally is with apple cider vinegar. For the best results, use raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar. Add a couple of tablespoons of the vinegar to a cup of hot water or tea three times a day. Lemon or honey can be added to help with the taste.  The apple cider vinegar can help to thin out all of the mucus in your nose, which can help to relieve the pain you are experiencing around your nose, in your cheeks and into your ears. The hot water will also help to soothe throat irritation and the vinegar helps to prevent infection if your throat is raw. 

Salt

Another way that you can relieve sinus pain at home is to use table salt to make a saline rinse. Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water. If you have an empty nasal spray bottle or neti pot, place some of the mixture in the bottle and add a few drops to your nose. If you do not have one, you can use a nasal bulb syringe or an eye dropper to flush out your nasal cavity. Hold your head sideways over a sink and insert the fluid, allowing the excess to drip down your face. Ideally, it should go in one nostril and out the other. Tilt your head to the other side and repeat the process. Repeat this process every couple hours to flush out mucus and reduce the pain and stuffiness you feel. 

Cayenne Pepper

The last way you can relieve sinus pressure at home is to use cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper has been shown to help naturally dry up excess mucus. This can relieve a runny nose or a sore throat. You can add cayenne pepper to your meals, kicking up the spice factor of the meal. If you prefer not to eat spicy food, you can dissolve a half of a teaspoon of cayenne pepper in one cup of water and drink it twice a day to help relieve your sinus pain. 

If you have attempted these home remedies and have not experienced any change in your symptoms, your symptoms have increased or are still present after a week, you may want to make an appointment with your doctor. While you can treat many types of sinus pain at home, you may be unable to treat a sinus infection without the right antibiotics. If your symptoms are severe or persistent, a doctor may feel comfortable prescribing you the antibiotic at that point in time. For more information, go to sites like this one.