Stuffed Up.
Sinus congestion is what happens when you find yourself with a cold or flu or even allergies, and your nasal passages are completely stuffed up. The phlegm and mucus essentially prevent you from breathing through your nose and you go through tissue after tissue, just trying to keep up. You’re body aches for air, and every second feels more and more difficult. You’re exhausted because you got very little sleep the night before, and you drag yourself through your workday. These decongestants have gotten you nowhere, and you only feel light headed because of them. You find yourself sneezing to clear your nasal passages, but to no avail. You’re completely stuffed up.
So, this is what a day in the life looks like of a person who is dealing with sinus congestion. Often times, a cold will cause an over production of mucus. One reason this happens is because many anti-bodies have started dispatching against nasal and throat tissues that are infected, turning them to mucus. The other reason is that your body is trying to flush out the infection or allergens. So, you are now faced with a choice. Should you go with the decongestant or attack this infection naturally, and let your own body’s immune system deal with it. Drugs only deal with the symptoms and not the underlying cause. You’re going to want to take care of the problem, as soon as possible. The problem is not the mucus; the problem is the infection, so let’s get this done.
Relief to Breathe
Most importantly, it is important to relax and allow your body to naturally heal. Stress takes a terrible toll on the immune system, so do your best to take the day off, get plenty of sleep, and work on breathing exercises that will help your mind heal, but also allow for your body to heal. Breathing exercises have been known to reduce inflammation, so make sure to breathe.
Eating onion, garlic, chili peppers, and cayenne peppers often will assist in the fact that these foods naturally dilate nasal passage ways, as well as they are very rich in much needed vitamin D and vitamin C.
Drink plenty of filtered water, as keeping up fluids will increase your body’s ability to deliver necessary anti-bodies to the infection. Also, adding lemon and some cayenne pepper into the water will allow for healing of the sinus area. Drink plenty of natural juices and drink lots of hot soups with organically grown, free-range chicken broth. This broth will increase your intake of zinc, which increases your body’s immune system.
Sinusitis can be fought without the use of harmful antibiotics or steroids. Many of these “fixes” only treat the symptoms temporarily.
Sitting in a steamy bathroom with lavender, eucalyptus, lemon, and pine aromatherapy can naturally alleviate symptoms, but more importantly, treat the infection.
Also, sitting in a warm steamy bathroom for a half-hour can also relax your throat and nasal passages, allowing you to breathe again. This can also serve as a situational expectorant.