I never understood the fuss about sinus infections until I experienced it firsthand.
It’s horrible.
The second round of antibiotics and no relief in sight.
This time, I said to my antibiotics and decided to try home remedies for sinus infections, still shocked that I agreed to take antibiotics in the first place. I must have been truly desperate.
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Two Days later my sinuses were clear.
No sinus pressure, no sinus headaches, and no congestion. I was thrilled.
In this post, I will share my personal 2-day-sinus-infection protocol with you, along with many more effective home remedies and practical information about causes, cures, and prevention of sinus infections.
Ready? Let’s start.
Page Contents
- 1 How I Got Rid of a Sinus Infection – in 2 Days
- 1.1 Step #1 – Sinus Infections Quick Symptoms Relief
- 1.2 1. Essential Oils for Sinus Infections
- 1.3 2. Neti Pot
- 1.4 3. Grapefruit Seed Extract Nasal Spray
- 1.5 4. Steam Inhalation
- 1.6 5. Pressure Points
- 1.7 6. Herbs for Sinus Infections
- 1.8 7. Sinus Infection Diet
- 1.9 Step #2 – Boosting Your Immune System
- 1.10 Step #3 – Avoiding These Foods (For a While)
- 2 Your Sinus Infection Natural Treatment
- 3 Sinus Infection or Allergies? (How to Know)
- 4 The Weird Causes of Sinus Infections
How I Got Rid of a Sinus Infection – in 2 Days
First I’d like to remind you that I’m not a doctor, and this information should not replace communicating with your doctor, especially if you suffer from chronic sinus inflammation.
Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, which were not helpful for me (and according to a recent study, it helps no one and can only encourage resistance), and medication to help with your symptoms.
But, we’re here for natural sinus relief.
See the 15 Best (Proven) Natural Antibiotics!
Step #1 – Sinus Infections Quick Symptoms Relief
Some incredibly effective ways to relieve sinus headaches, sinus pressure, and nasal congestion at home are:
1. Essential Oils for Sinus Infections
Many essential oils that contain antimicrobial properties, make a powerful weapon against bacterial, viral, or fungal infections.
Peppermint or Eucalyptus oil in a humidifier helped open up my nasal passageways and are natural sinus decongestants.
If your nose is stuffy, try to dilute 1 drop of Eucalyptus Oil in 1 tbsp of carrier oil and rub it on the bridge of your nose (don’t let it touch your eyes though).
Alternatively, you can use Frankincense essential oil.
2. Neti Pot
Irrigating with a Neti Pot (you can get it easily online) and saline water is a simple and effective sinus infection home remedy.
Irrigation can clear out an excess blockage, relieve pressure, and stimulate healing.
For better results, use the Neti pot a few times a day.
Please use distilled or watermarked as sterile, not tap water.
To boost the Neti Pot treatment you can add Himalayan salt solution, OR 1/2 spoon xylitol before rinsing the sinuses.
3. Grapefruit Seed Extract Nasal Spray
Many people swear by the Nutribiotics Grapefruit seed extract nasal spray as a great natural sinus cure. Use as recommended in the instructions.
4. Steam Inhalation
Steam inhaling is a simple yet powerful way to relieve sinus pressure and headaches while opening your blocked nose.
The 2 best options in my experience are Vinegar (don’t raise an eyebrow yet) and Ginger plus Turmeric.
1. Vinegar – However weird this may sound, many people claim this can relieve a sinus infection in 24 hours.
Empty a nasal sprayer (to get the fine mist) and add about 5-6 drops of white vinegar.
Add some distilled water.
A gentler option is organic apple cider vinegar. (see 50+ amazing uses for apple cider vinegar)
Sniff into the affected nostril 3 times a day. I tried it once and had instant relief, and the next day I was sinus infection-free.
2. Ginger and Turmeric – this power combo gave me almost instant relief from my sinus headaches. I simply boiled 5 slices of fresh Ginger root and 5 slices of Turmeric Root in water.
Then I covered my head with a kitchen towel and took deep breaths of the wonderful-smelling steam, for about 2 minutes. The result?
No sinus pressure for 5-6 hours.
5. Pressure Points
I was amazed to see how well this works to open a blocked nose:
Start with the points on each side of your nostrils. Rotate your index fingers until both your nostrils are closed. Do this for 10 seconds.
Apply the same rotating pressure with both your index fingers a little above the inner corners of your eyes.
Head over to your cheekbones and apply pressure for 10 seconds.
Using both your index fingers, stroke your cheekbones to your ears and apply pressure, behind the earlobes.
Massage your earlobes for 30 seconds at least. This has an amazingly calming effect as well.
I tried it and it worked!
6. Herbs for Sinus Infections
Feverfew is a natural anti-inflammatory for the sinuses.
If you don’t take any other medication, you can try 380 mg Feverfew capsules from a high-quality brand, 2-3 times a day.
Other helpful herbs are garlic (which can simply be added to your food), and Astragalus root capsules.
7. Sinus Infection Diet
Spicy food greatly helps with relieving congestion and boosting blood circulation to speed up healing.
You can make the traditional Pico de Gallo (Chopped onion, tomato, cilantro, and jalapeño) which is a deliciously spicy way to cure sinus inflammations.
Make sure to NOT skip the next 2 steps to heal from your sinus infection below. Symptom treatment is not enough.
Step #2 – Boosting Your Immune System
Please do not skip this step. Boosting your immune system is critical if you want this 2-day cure plan to work.
If you’re going to do the neti pot and an hour later eat some junk food and work until midnight, then just forget about it.
1. One of the best ways to boost your immune system is by taking Fermented Cod Liver Oil.
What a great immune system booster. It contains vitamins A and D, as well as essential Omega-3 fatty acids (see all health benefits of cod liver oil)
2. Oregano oil is rightfully called “nature’s antibiotic“.
You only need a few drops of high-quality organic Oregano Oil a day to give your immune system a good boost.
See More amazing Oregano Oil uses!
3. Vitamin C – a powerful antioxidant. You can try 3-4 chewable Vitamin C a day (500 mg) to supercharge your immune system and speed up healing or make your own Vitamin C supplement – at home.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar – my grandmother used to cure just about any ailment she had with 1-2 spoons of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar in a cup of warm water – twice a day.
( See 38 more incredible uses for Apple Cider Vinegar)
Step #3 – Avoiding These Foods (For a While)
Food intolerance, allergies, or “sensitivities” are common causes of recurring sinus infections.
For many people, wheat and/or dairy instantly cause inflammation and mucus build-up. I know that when I indulge in too much dairy, my nasal passages get blocked within an hour.
Other common causes are soy, gluten, and sugar.
If you suspect that you are sensitive to some foods, now is the best time to try an elimination diet. Remove the suspicious ones from your diet and note any change in your symptoms.
Your Sinus Infection Natural Treatment
Obviously, you shouldn’t use ALL of these remedies TOGETHER. Just choose a few of them, the most available to you, and you’re set.
A few combinations you can try are:
- Neti Pot + Pressure Points + Oregano Oil + ACV (My personal choice)
- Steam Inhaling + Herbal Remedies + Cod Liver Oil
- Grapefruit Seed Extract Nasal Spray + Peppermint EO in humidifier + Vitamin C
- Pico de Galo + Neti Pot + Pressure Points + Cod Liver Oil
Sinus Infection or Allergies? (How to Know)
Sinusitis Symptoms (Sinus inflammation), Allergies, and Common Cold are almost identical.
How can you tell which one is responsible for your misery?
Well, apparently a bacterial sinus infection lasts longer than the common cold. The mucus tends to thicken and discolor, and pressure and pain are involved in the horror story too.
Allergy Signs and Symptoms:
- Sneezing & stuffy or runny nostrils
- Clear or whitish nasal drip
- Itchy watery eyes
- A burning sensation in the eyes or nose
Sinusitis Signs and Symptoms:
- Fever
- Pain in the upper teeth
- Pressure or pain in upper cheeks, top of the nose, between eyes or forehead
- Stuffed nose, mucus is thick and yellow, greenish or grayish
- Symptoms last more than 10-14 days
But whatever it is, the following remedies can help either.
The Weird Causes of Sinus Infections
Did you know that sinus inflammation is a common complication of allergies (food allergies too!) or any viral, fungal, or bacterial infections?
Even a pinched nerve in your back can cause systemic inflammation (inflammation throughout your body).
Technically, nasal congestion produces swelling in the sinus cavity, obstructing drainage and causing mucus to stagnate. A perfect breeding ground for infection.
To your health and happiness,
Meital
prevention strategy for sinus infections is to increase the amount of vitamin C you take on a daily basis. Vitamin C not only protects and boosts your immune system but also reduces the severity of allergic reactions. Since both immunity and allergies could be responsible for your sinus infections, vitamin C should be a part of your defense. While vitamin C won’t relieve your current symptoms, it will help prevent infections in the future.
I developed polyps in my sinus cavity so I’m trying to avoid surgery using any natural method to shrink polyps. I’m going to try acupuncture. I get sinus infections about 4 times a yr and I lost my taste and smell a yr ago. I have natural products that I use to prevent another sinus infection some here I see listed and they do work but I have to be consistent when using them and daily diners are important.I forget and I get lazy until I get another infection. I enjoyed reading this site and all comments and I just ordered the sinus light.I’m going to try drinking ACV. If there are helpful ideas regarding shrinking polyps if love to try them .thank you
I read the link to US News about the use of antibiotics for sinus infections. While some people may not benefit from antibiotics, in my case it worked wonders. I got the flu in December 2015 and as I was just starting to get better, it turned into pneumonia. I lost my sense of smell at the beginning. Fast forward about three weeks and I’m finally feeling better, except I still can’t smell and have a foul odor that only I can detect. I figured that it would eventually go away, and after a couple of months went to the doctor when it didn’t. I got a prescription for Augmentin, which is supposed to be the “go-to” drug for sinus infections. I was on it for 10 days and it did nothing except mess up my gut. Months later, still suffering from this foul odor, I got another prescription for Keflex. One pill a day for five days and on the third day, the foul odor was completely gone. I still don’t have my sense of smell back (about 90% gone) but I can deal with that. The foul smell was so bad I thought I’d start having panic attacks. I’d even wake up in the middle of the night dreaming about not being able to escape that odor. The bottom line is that for me at least, antibiotics fixed my issue in three days and I am so thankful.
Thanks for sharing this great tip with us Marcello:)
i DON’T USE A NETI POT, I got a BIG Syringe, minus the needle , it is way better, mix your solution , suck it up, place the end of the syringe in your nose and Blast away, boy does it work great and way easier than a neti pot! MY mix is: homemade colloidal silver water,and Himalayan Pink Salt mixed in a cup of water. I just keep shooting it up my nose over a bucket as it will drain out the opposite nostril, switching sides every other time, OMG it is so nice & Relief , I do it several times a day till the infection is gone !
That’s great! Thanks for taking the time to share this with us:)
I had a sinus infection coming on… blowing out yellow mucus. I tried the vinegar and distilled water solution; yes, it burned, but the yellow mucus turned clear, and unfortunately my nose kept running for a whole day. I could only manage 3 squirts the 1st time, after that, only 2, then down to 1. My nose was clear, but my head unstuffed slowly. I also used a saline solution at night. I was so glad I didn’t have to take antibiotics which always cause a yeast infection. Yes, this works, a little longer than 24hrs, but it works…. thanks
Diane thank you so much for sharing your great tips with us – I really appreciate it:)
I’m adding my experience to the list years after you ran this post, just in case it helps. I used to deal with sinusitis on a regular basis and now have no trouble at all. My naturopath at the time recommended drinking ginger tea (fresh ginger) sweetened with unpasteurized honey — I mean loads of this tea throughout the day when afflicted, not just one or two cups — and NOT BLOWING YOUR NOSE. In other words, you draw the mucus back in, either spitting or swallowing. It’s a simple, mechanical process that helped me a lot, although my friends grimace when I recommend it. Worked for me…I never get sinusitis anymore. (Although I certainly enjoy some ginger tea when I get a stuffy nose from a cold.)
I love acv, Am going 2 try 2 use alone ( c/ warm water of course) 4 my miserable sinus infec. Joan
Hi Krystal. It was called Sinusoothe nasal spray.
(CHRONIC BRONCHITIS CURE)
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Suffering with another sinus infection and I don’t want to take antibiotics. I’m excited to try some of these home remedies! 🙂 I’ve also used the netipot with no relief.
Katey what was the name of the spray that you used? Thanks
Thanks Katey! Tried that spray. Works like a dream 🙂
It’s too late in the season for me to do what I usually do for a sinus infection. In mid to late October I will eat 1/4 of a raw acorn, 1 wintergreen berry, a witch hazel bud, and a nibble from new growth from the hemlock (evergreen tree) branch. Works like charm every time, but this year I didn’t have any problems during hunting season. I did a round of penicillin and it went away just to return again a week later (currently). I now know the culprit foods that bring it on, dairy, and gluten. I will be trying these remedies soon. Thanks, Jiminny
Hey y’all!
Hoping it won’t come to this, but in the case of bronchitis, does anyone have thoughts for a sure-fire kick it to the curb cure? I am recovering from the flu and I had my first experience with bronchitis last spring, I surely do not want to relive that! This time I’m armed with vitamin C with bioflavonoids and mullein herb, but I was wondering if there were other suggestions. This is such a GREAT blog!!! Thank you for the valuable info!
Katey,
That’s great! thanks for sharing your results with us:)
I can’t believe you have mentioned ginger and turmeric in your article. I have just finished using a natural nasal spray that contains ginger and turmeric along with some essential oils and it worked like a dream. I’d been plagued with the most dreadful sinus headaches and sinus pain for fifteen years and almost gave up hope until I found this. Now I can function normally again.
There are many alternatives listed in the article. You can try them out, some of them or all of them. Listen to your body to know which works best for you.
What if a person is allergic to apples? The ACV may irritate things even more. Any alternatives?
Susan,
Thanks so much for sharing this with us, I appreciate it!:)
I also swear by raw apple cider vinegar but I take it differently than what is recommended. ACV is very potent and I can’t stand mixing it with a large glass of water and a sweetener (FYI honey just sinks to the bottom of the glass and is rendered useless). Instead, I drink a shot of ACV to get it down ASAP and chase it with water. Note if you try this and your throat is dry drink some water first so your throat doesn’t burn. I should take a shot daily but tend to forget when I’m feeling well. It really shortens the time that I am dealing with sinus/cold issues. I know people swear by them but I haven’t really noticed any improvement when using a neti pot.
Laura,
Glad you liked it and let me know how it has worked for you!:)
Great ideas, so many different options. I’m definitely starting with the apple cider vinegar since I have a friend who swears by it & has been urging me to try it. Thanks for sharing your work.
Melissa,
That’s great! I’d love to hear from you again:)
I’ve got my second sinus infection of the season! Last time, after 3 weeks of suffering, I caved in and went the traditional antibiotics route. This time I’m going to give these methods a try and see how they work. I’ll let you know if anything worked for me!
Lolo,
Thank you! I’m glad you liked it…:)
This is one of the most comprehensive natural remedy lists I’ve found online. I would add to it the herb bayberry, Olive Leaf, and an immune system cocktail of multiple vitamins, vitamin C, Bioflavonoids, Pancreatic, Vitamin D, and Probiotics.
I really like this list and have used many of these treatments. When I have a sinus infection that does not respond to these treatments, I head to my local health food store and buy goldenseal. It’s a powder that tastes horrible! But it works. It kicks the sinus infection to the curb. It even worked for me when I had been scheduled for sinus surgery because my infection was so bad. I didn’t have to have the surgery. I thank God for this remedy.
Aj,
I really think these suggestions will help you, and I’ll be glad if you come back and let me know how they worked for you. I hope you feel better soon!;)
I have suffered right now. I don’t know if it’s an infection as I have no drainage, just pain and pressure everywhere on my head, upper teeth, cheeks, behind my eyes, etc. I tried a lemon juice drink with turmeric, cayenne, and fresh ginger. It was rough drinking it, burned my throat. I just read about ACV but didn’t read about diluting it with water. That was rough too! I will continue to drink that diluted in warm water! As usual, I am not feeling well when I don’t have loads of money yet I know spending anything on what you recommend is not nearly the cost of a dr appointment and prescriptions. I will look for some of the things you recommend and see what I can find. I’m hoping I will have some relief tomorrow! I am definitely saving this page for the future!! Oh and I am very sensitive to dairy as well, and I know it can be a relatively common trigger in case someone else is trying to figure out what might be causing inflammation.
Thankyou” for these posts. Far better than antibiotics.
Here’s my sinus infection cure. 1 tablespoon ACV mixed with 1 cup warm water and added to a nasal spray bottle or bulb…tilt had back and irrigate infected passages until it runs down your throat. Warning, this will burn like crazy in irritated sinuses, but I forged ahead. If congestion/sinus pressure returns, repeat this process. I also kept hot compresses over my sinuses, nose, and eyes for at least 20 min of every hour for about 5 hrs. I also took the maximum dose of vitamin C, but I very much feel it was the irrigation and application of hot compresses that cured the infection. I was 100% free of the sinus infection in less than 24 hrs…and I’m the kind that ALWAYS ends up being on an antibiotic after a cold. Hooray!
Great tips for me to try! Thank you so much for linking up with us for Fabulously Frugal Thursday.
That’s great Leah! Very clever ideas:)
I just cleared my own sinus infection. I used the neti pot with a touch of 500ppm silver and ate a clove of garlic in the am and pm like you would take an antibiotic. I also upped my probiotic intake and canceled all sugars including fruit except for a tsp of raw honey. it was gone in about 3 days. Garlic is SO powerful and works every time. I have read that eating fresh grated horseradish will clear it even quicker however in our rural town I was not able to source any.
Great collection of ideas. I really like the vinegar spray, may have to give that a try!
Thanks for sharing on Natural Living Monday!