It is quite surprising and also to some extent alarming to see many people suffer from repeated cold and flu-like symptoms and the word Sinusitis is commonly used for such cases. To understand what sinusitis is we must first know what Sinuses are. Let us give you an insight on this in the simplest form we can, so that you may know if you are suffering from it, and what is the best way to treat this disease.
Sinuses are hollow, air-filled cavities that are in the skull and connected to the nasal airway by a narrow hole in the bone called Ostium.
Humans have four pairs of these cavities:
- Frontal sinus (in forehead)
- Maxillary sinus (behind cheeks)
- Ethmoid sinus (between the eyes)
- Sphenoid sinus (deep behind the ethmoids)
The four pairs of sinuses are often described as a unit and termed the “Paranasal Sinuses”.
Functions of the sinuses include humidifying and warming inspired air, insulation of surrounding structures (eyes, nerves), increasing voice resonance, and buffers against facial trauma. The sinuses decrease the weight of the skull.<br>
Sinusitis is inflammation of any of these sinuses. A sinus infection occurs when a pathogenic microorganism (virus, bacterium, or a fungus) grows within a sinus and causes intermittent blockage of the sinus ostium. Drainage of mucus and pus often occur when the blockage is relieved. The drainage usually goes from the nasal passages to the throat or out the nostrils. Inflammation of the air cavities within the passages of the nose is referred to as sinusitis which as we said is usually caused by infection but can also be caused by allergy and irritation of the sinuses.
Causes of Sinus Infections
- A sinus infection may be caused by anything that interferes with airflow into the sinuses and the drainage of mucus out of the sinuses like by some infections from a pathogenic microorganism (virus, bacterium, or fungus), which grows within a sinus and causes intermittent blockage of the sinus ostium.
- Sinusitis may be classified in several ways such as acute sinus infection, sub-acute sinus infection, chronic sinus infection, infected sinusitis, and non-infectious sinusitis.
- The sinus openings (ostea) may be blocked by swelling of the tissue lining and adjacent nasal passage tissue due to common colds, allergies, and tissue irritants such as OTC nasal sprays, cocaine, and cigarette smoke. Sinuses can also become blocked by tumors or growths that are near the sinus openings.
- The drainage of mucous from the sinuses can also be impaired by thickening of the mucous secretions, by a decrease in hydration or water content of the mucous brought on by certain diseases like cystic fibrosis, drying medications (antihistamines), and lack of sufficient humidity in the air.
- Sinusitis commonly occurs when environmental pollen irritates the nasal passages, such as hay fever.
Types of Sinusitis
- Sinusitis may be classified in several ways, based on the time span of the problem (acute, subacute, or chronic) and the type of inflammation (either infectious or non-infectious).
- Acute Sinus Infections usually defined as being of less than 30 days duration.
- Sub Acute Sinus Infections being over 1 month but less than 3 months.
- Chronic Sinus Infections being greater than 3 months duration.
- Infected Sinusitis usually is caused by uncomplicated virus infection. Subacute and chronic forms of sinus infection usually are the result of incomplete treatment of an acute sinus infection.
- Non-infectious Sinusitis is caused by irritants and allergic conditions and follows the same general timeline for acute, subacute and chronic as infectious sinusitis
Symptoms and Signs of Sinusitis
Commonly the symptoms of sinus infection are:
- A headache.
- Facial tenderness with pressure and pain.
- Fever mostly associated with acute infection.
- Cloudy or a discoloured nasal discharge.
- A feeling of nasal stuffiness.
- A sore throat and cough.
- Reduced sense of smell and taste.
- Occasionally toothache and jaw pain, neck stiffness and fatigue due to infection.In certain fungal infections, people may also experience ear pain and foul smelling breath.
- In non-infectious sinusitis or allergy related infections sneezing and itching of eyes may also be experienced by the patients.
Homeopathic Treatment for Sinusitis
Imagine the torture the patient must be going through with pain in the whole skull which can be sensitive to even slightest touch and the person feels as if his eyes are going to come out of their sockets. Yes, this is how the patient is agonized by his symptoms. Initially a patient resorts to antibiotics, nasal sprays, decongestants, expectorants, and humidifiers but all this does not give any permanent relief and the episodes of such attacks keep recurring and moreover the side effects of the medicines are also taking their toll on the person. Hence when the patient is told that surgical intervention is required then he is often compelled to look for other alternatives.
- A Homeopath treats sinusitis by eradicating the allergic tendency or recurring tendency in the patient and enhancing the immunity of the patient by treating them with a constitutional medicine.
- Acute symptoms are effectively covered by many medicines like Kali Bich and Hydrastis which help the patient to get immediate relief from symptoms like stuffy nose and head heaviness.
- Homeopathic remedies facilitate drainage of mucus relieving sinus congestion, reduce inflammation in the sinuses, relieve pain and pressure by clearing the infection. It also prevents the formation of scar tissue and avoids permanent damage to the tissues lining the nose and sinuses.
- Homeopathic treatment helps in improving the immunity and vitality of the sinusitis patients, preventing them from succumbing to repeated infections. Over the period of time attacks of sinusitis lessen down and a patient is much relieved of the complaints.
- The patient when under an able homeopath continues the treatment religiously he or she is completely cured of the complaints and is saved from the side effects of strong antibiotics and the trauma of surgery.