Tag Archives: sinus infection

More Natural Remedies for a Sinus Infection

You may have noticed my ongoing fight against sinus infections. Whenever I get one, I start up my “sinus experiment”. The key component in my big plan is shooting salt water up my nose with a sinus rinse kit. It’s gross, but it really does work! I definitely wouldn’t have started doing it if an ear/nose/throat specialist hadn’t said it was that or another sinus surgery — the right motivation is everything. Now that I’ve seen it successfully fight off multiple sinus infections, I’ve been trying to get other people onto the sinus rinse bandwagon. If you can’t stomach the … Continue reading →

Score Another Victory For The Great Sinus Experiment

A few days ago, I woke up with a sore throat. It must be allergies, I told myself. Post nasal drip, because I have a certain brown dog who hogs all the pillows and I end up sleeping flat on my back. But the sore throat stuck around. Yesterday it was joined by a stuffy nose. And a headache. My nose and sinuses got more and more congested as the day went on, and I finally had to conclude that it wasn’t allergies. It was the beginnings of a sinus infection. I pulled out the Echinacea and goldenseal and took … Continue reading →

The Sinus Experiment: Day Three

Yes, I know I skipped a day. Yesterday I gave myself permission to NOT work and instead spent most of the day reading, knitting, and napping. It was just delightful. I got a little worried as Day One of the Sinus Experiment went on, because my headache and sinus pressure was getting worse. Late in the afternoon, I started honking out icky yellow mucus that had been loosened by the sinus irrigation, and that eased a lot of the pressure. For Day Two, I repeated the procedure: as soon as I got up, I took a dose of goldenseal and … Continue reading →

The Sinus Experiment: Day One

Over the last few days, I’ve been feeling the rumbles of an impending sinus infection. I’ve got the headache, with pain in the forehead and in the cheeks (below my eyes). I’ve started the nasal congestion, though so far my mucus has been clear. And I’ve got a general feeling of blah… my body is kind of achy, I have less energy than usual, and my appetite is funny. My usual method is to just live with the discomfort until it either goes away or gets bad enough that I go to the doctor. But not this time, sinus infection! … Continue reading →

The Secret Language of Boogers

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As yucky as it may be, mucus is good for you. It helps keep your nasal passages moist and it helps protect you from infections by trapping foreign matter. When I first started seeing an allergist (I was around five; my brother was around three), he told us to look at our snot every time we blew our noses. Old habits die hard; more than twenty years later, I’m still a booger looker. The color of the stuff coming out of your nose can tell you a thing or two about your health. Clear mucus If your boogers are clear, … Continue reading →

Sinus Infections

If I was a nasal super hero, my arch-nemesis would be the dreaded sinus infection. When I get sick, it’s usually involving my sinuses. People with allergies (like me!) are prone to sinus infections. A sinus infection may feel a lot like a cold, but it’s not really curable without antibiotics. Symptoms: • Stuffy nose and/or congestion • A headache with pain in the forehead • Pain below the eyes, in the cheeks/jaw area • Coughing, sneezing You May Also Experience: • Fever • Sore throat from nasal drainage, known as post-nasal drip So you’ve tried all your favorite over-the-counter … Continue reading →

Jack’s Salt Water Cold Remedy

My buddy Jack rarely gets sick. Whenever he feels a cold coming on, he always manages to fight it off. His secret? He sniffs salt water up his nose. This is probably the most disgusting thing I can think of, personally. Suck salt water up your nose, yeah, Jack, that’s a great idea. No thanks! Looks like Jack has the right idea, though. An ear-nose-throat doc gave me a delightful sinus rinse kit to use to fight off my frequent sinus infections. I do have to say the experience is exactly as disgusting as I imagined it would be. But … Continue reading →