10 Ways To Get Sinus Relief Without Drugs

Each year, more than 30 million Americans suffer from headaches, facial pressure, and nasal congestion caused by sinus infections. If an infection is particularly severe, antibiotics may be necessary. But maybe not.

"Just because you have sinus symptoms doesn't necessarily mean you have an infection," says Andrew Lane, MD, director of the Johns Hopkins Sinus Center in Baltimore. "But if more than a week goes by and your symptoms worsen rather than wane, you might have a bacterial sinus infection."

There are many nondrug options that can help prevent and relieve sinus symptoms. Here are 10 popular choices.

1 of 10

Humidifier

1 of 11

First Slide

Previous Slide

@

Breathing in dry indoor air--particularly common in wintertime--can really stuff up the nose, thicken mucous, and irritate the sinuses. But a fine mist from a humidifier may help. "Being in an environment that's more moist makes the nose happier and less congested," explains Dr. Lane. The appliance comes in cool mist or warm mist (also called a vaporizer) varieties. They work equally well, according to Dr. Lane. More from Health.com: Top 7 Natural Cold Remedies: Do They Work? The Best Humidifiers for Dry Skin and Stuffy Sinuses Stuffy Nose? 5 Ways to Tell If You Need an Antiobiotic

Woodward, OK Tornado 2012: Warnings Saved Lives In Deadly Midwest Storms (PHOTOS)

Willie Geist: Brian Williams 'A Caregiver For Our Parents, Grandparents'

Sobbing families identify Swiss bus crash victims

Syria Troops Begin Homs Ground Attack, 13 Killed To Save Journalist Paul Conroy

Story Of The Decade (2001-2010): Your Final Picks

Arizona Tornado 2010: Rare Twisters Hit Flagstaff Area (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

Breathing in dry indoor air--particularly common in wintertime--can really stuff up the nose, thicken mucous, and irritate the sinuses. But a fine mist from a humidifier may help. "Being in an environment that's more moist makes the nose happier and less congested," explains Dr. Lane.

The appliance comes in cool mist or warm mist (also called a vaporizer) varieties. They work equally well, according to Dr. Lane.

More from Health.com:
Top 7 Natural Cold Remedies: Do They Work?
The Best Humidifiers for Dry Skin and Stuffy Sinuses
Stuffy Nose? 5 Ways to Tell If You Need an Antiobiotic

comments(70)

Total comments: 70 | Post a Comment

1 of 11

This Treatment

Rank #2  |  Average: 4

Didn't Work Miraculous

• 
  1
• 
  2
• 
  3
• 
  4
• 
  5
• 
  6
• 
  7
• 
  8
• 
  9
• 
  10

Top 5 Treatments

loading...

Top 5 Treatments

UserName

 | Become a fan

Picked These as the Top 5 Slides in the Slideshow

loading...

Top User Slides

← Prev|Next →

 | Become a fan

Picked These as the Top 5 Slides in the Slideshow

loading...

Users who voted on this slide

← Prev|Next →

loading...

Comments

[Courtney Schenk]

03:33 AM on 03/31/2011

if you want true allergy relief , check out www.filtropur.net air purification system and also commercial unit then research indoor air quality it does have something to do with allergies, asthma and the development of asthma especially since 1974. in fact www.epa.gov/iaq will also let you in on indoor air quality and those particular issues. tell em courtney schenk sent you and ill get credit if you buy much appreciated! oh yeah and no drugs or invasive procedures just clean fresh breathable air in your home 24/7 enjoy!

[rebellious1]

10:41 PM on 03/30/2011

The PERFECT allergy soluton was on the premiere episode of SHARK TANK. FIRST DEFENSE NASAL SCREENS. The idea was so good for allergy sufferers that MARK CUBAN purchased this product for 3/4 of a million dollars on this show. BEFORE you suffer from allergy symptoms Don't get sick just PEEL and STICK. Go ahead and throw away all of your pills, neti-pots and painful remedies. Help yourself prevent allergies before any pollen, pet dander, viruses etc...can enter the nasal passages...Check out this product and episode on YOU TUBE...and go ahead and protect yourself...

[Devontate]

01:31 PM on 03/20/2011

Maybe I'm just splitting hairs here, but how are OTC decongestants and medicated sinus sprays not 'drugs?'

[snafu77]

06:17 AM on 03/27/2011

You're not splitting hairs they are drugs and can be dangerous.
Sprays like Nasacort can be addictive* and Pseudophedrine can raise your blood pressure.

[sierraseven]

07:14 PM on 03/31/2011

Just another example of the HuffPo headline writers' sloppiness.

[Healthscribes Portal]

03:22 AM on 03/18/2011

I have been a sufferer of chronic sinusitis, and I have figured out some ways to deal with the usual coughs and colds that come along sinusitis. See http://healthscribes.blogspot.com/2011/01/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html?spref=bl.

More on acute phases of sinusitis at http://www.healthscribes.com/disease/Sinusitis-+Acute

[desmoinesdude]

01:26 PM on 03/15/2011

A prevention approach: daily 500 mg EpiCor supplement. Has worked wonders for me. Helps "balance" immune function. Produced from a natural fermented yeast culture.

www.epicorimmune.com

[sinupulse]

07:14 AM on 03/12/2011

We received many inquiries about the SinuPulse mentioned. Please visit our web site at www.sinupulse.com for more information on the countrys leading nasal irrigation system now available online at Walgreens, CVS, Rite-Aid, Target, and Amazon

[Rob Horton]

10:13 PM on 03/11/2011

Article should have been "8 Ways to Get Sinus Relief Without Drugs" since two of the advertised ten ways were drugs...

[Ceci A]

09:05 AM on 03/11/2011

"10 Ways To Get Sinus Relief Without Drugs", yet number 6 is Sudafed, A DRUG !!

[Rob Horton]

10:10 PM on 03/11/2011

Number 8, the nasal sprays like Afrin and prescription Flonase are also drugs

[lynninny]

06:42 AM on 03/11/2011

I swear by a neti pot. Decongestants make me feel awful, and when I get a cold, I recover so much more quickly when I use a neti pot. I have a friend who was almost debilitated by allergies each spring, and her symptoms are so much better from using one, as well.

[jgarma]

02:20 AM on 03/11/2011

I really like the Neti Pot.

Don't suffer from allergies, but when sniffles or congestion knocks at the door, out comes my Neti Pot and it helps make me well.

By the way, it's so easy to use, a 4-year old can do it.... watch:
http://www.garmaonhealth.com/2009/08/allergies/

[Swami Premdas]

09:19 PM on 03/10/2011

few drops of hemp oil from eyedropper down thenoseand allowedto soak through strengthens the membranes

[vito98103]

07:16 PM on 03/10/2011

The SinuPulse and other electric sinus flushing systems work much better than neti pots and most of this other stuff.

A bit of time with the SinuPulse and a shot of Flonase and you're good to go.

Have heard that humidifiers work but haven't tried it.

[planetjeffy]

08:58 PM on 03/10/2011

thanks
just ordered a SinuPulse

[Just walkin the dog here]

07:09 PM on 03/10/2011

Do NOT use Flonase. It drys out the nasal passage and caused me a problem. I was also taking a daily aspirin, an age-related suggestion by my Doctor, for well, age. I then had a severe nose bleed that required cauterizing and a week to quit. The ENT said, stop the Flonase use a neti style pot and drop the aspirin unless you are dealing with a specific issue.

[twigtrigtrack]

07:34 PM on 03/10/2011

Have you tried NasaCort? It works very well for me...I agree that Flonase is problematic but it's much better than OTC sprays

[Erica Rose]

07:08 PM on 03/10/2011

For years i used neti pots, sinus nasal sprays, a humidifier etc. Turns out i had a wheat allergy. Bye Bye chronic sinusitis, hellllllo breathing.

[garystartswithg]

01:44 AM on 03/11/2011

I try to get people to realize wheat is problematic beyond celiac and its an uphill battle. I have milk allergies and its very different from lactose intolerance. Kudos to you for the preseverance it takes to make your way through all the misinformation. Been there done that and I know the fun

[chaapai]

05:24 PM on 03/10/2011

I have terrible sinus problems. Old home, bad air. old furnace. allergies… all combine to make the winter months terrible.

I use the neil med sinus rinse. I prefer the bottles over the little pots. By squeezing, you get so much more force and cleaning. Plus, 1 tsp table salt and a pinch of baking soda per bottle is much, much cheeper than buying the refill packs.

My Doc has been very critical of air purifiers and humidifiers, but I have both. Not sure if either works

[PatA]

08:54 PM on 03/10/2011

NETI POT!

[garystartswithg]

01:51 AM on 03/11/2011

You sound like me! A change in diet helped me a lot. I have dairy allergies, and a poster above has wheat, there are lots of food allergies you never hear about and they do effect your sinuses.