Sinusitis is the inflammation of the paranasal sinuses (air-filled cavities within the skull bone). Sinusitis usually results from infections, affecting the paranasal sinuses, which can be viral, bacterial, or fungal, and also allergies.

Homeopathy has proven to provide wonderful treatment for sinusitis cases. Homeopathy uses natural remedies free from any adverse effects, so they are thoroughly safe to treat sinusitis. Homeopathy provides superb symptomatic relief in sinusitis. This mode of treatment reduces sinus inflammation helps in thinning the accumulated mucus filling the sinus and aids its easy outflow to reduce sinus congestion and eases the sinusitis symptoms arising therefrom.

Homeopathy has much more to offer in sinusitis cases besides just providing symptomatic relief as it further aims to heal the root cause (like the tendency to chronic cold, or nasal allergies) behind sinusitis to give long-term relief. If homeopathic treatment is continued regularly as guided by a homeopathic physician, it can help in reducing dependency on conventional medicines like nasal sprays, courses of antibiotics and antihistamines and can also prevent the person from undergoing surgical intervention.

Homeopathy can treat acute, recurrent, and chronic sinusitis. In acute cases, it provides quick symptom relief, cuts short the course of inflammation, and aids in speedy recovery. In recurrent and chronic sinusitis, it works to decrease the intensity and frequency of episodes of sinus inflammation. It tackles the cause of origin like the tendency to recurrent cold and nasal allergies. Homeopathy improves immunity hence preventing chances of recurrent cold that can lead to sinusitis. In allergy cases, it moderates the overactive immune system which is often the cause of recurrent sinusitis. The homeopathic mode of treatment can completely cure chronic and recurrent sinusitis, though it may take some time.

Top 8 Homeopathic Remedies For Sinus Infection

Some of the leading remedies to treat sinusitis are Belladonna, Kali Bichrome, Silicea, Hydrastis, Pulsatilla, Natrum Mur and Hepar Sulph. Lemna Minor is the top-most medicine to treat nasal polyps that can be associated with sinus infection.

1. Belladonna – Top-Grade Medicine For Sinus Headache

Belladonna is a natural medicine sourced from the plant ‘deadly nightshade’. It is the most frequently used medicine for cases of sinusitis when headache is most marked. In cases needing it, pain and heaviness is marked in the forehead (frontal headache) due to sinus congestion. There is relief by binding the head tightly with cloth or applying pressure. This medicine is most prominently indicated for frontal sinusitis. It is also indicated for maxillary sinusitis as well. Belladonna is also suitable to manage sore throat and cough in cases of sinusitis. The cough is short and dry which gets worse at night. It is the best remedy for acute sinusitis.

When to use Belladonna?

It is a leading medicine for frontal sinusitis recommended mainly when frontal headache is causing trouble.

How to use Belladonna?

This medicine can be used in both low and high potencies. In low potency like 30C, it can be taken three to four times a day. Once the severity of the headache reduces, the dose should be decreased. When using high potency like 200C, its use is usually limited to once a day. 1M potency is also required in some cases, but to use it, consult a homeopathic physician.

2. Kali Bichrome – For Sinusitis With Post Nasal Discharge

Kali Bichrome is the best medicine for sinusitis where the most prominent complaint is post nasal discharge – PND (dripping of mucus from back of nose into the throat). The discharge is very thick, sticky, ropy mostly yellowish or greenish. Along with PND, there is headache in frontal region (forehead). Pain at the root of the nose is also present. Nose feels stuffed along with these symptoms. The bad smell from nose occurs due to accumulation of nasal discharge. In cases needing it, a history of recurrent cold may be found.

When to use Kali Bichrome?

It is highly recommended for post nasal dripping from sinusitis. Pain in the forehead and the root of the nose are also indicative to use it.

How to use Kali Bichrome?

The most commonly used potency of this medicine is 30C that can be taken twice a day. It will reduce sinus inflammation and reduce associated symptoms including PND, frontal headache and pain at the root of the nose.

3. Silicea – For Sinus Infections And Chronic Colds

Silicea is a highly recommended medicine for cases of sinus infections and chronic cold. The main symptom guiding its use is throbbing pain in the forehead especially over the right eye. There is relief in headache by pressing the head firmly or wrapping it up warmly. Other symptoms along with this include nasal blockage and thick pus-like discharge. The nasal discharge forms hard crusts; any attempt to loosen these crusts results in bleeding. There is a loss of smell and taste as well.

When to use Silicea?

Use of silicea should be considered for those who suffer from chronic cold and sinus infection. The symptoms to prescribe it are pain in forehead marked over right eye, nasal blockage and thick pus-like nasal discharge.

How to use Silicea?

Among various available potencies, Silicea works most wonderfully in 6X potency. Silicea 6X can be taken any time twice a day to four times a day as per the severity of symptoms.

4. Hydrastis – For Sinusitis With PND

This medicine is prepared from fresh root of plant ‘golden seal’. Like medicine Kali Bichrome, this medicine is also very beneficial for treating sinusitis with prominent PND (post nasal discharge). The discharge is thick, mostly yellow. Besides, sinus headache is present. Burning pain in the nose, sore throat, burning sensation in throat may attend above indications.

When to use Hydrastis?

This medicine can be used in sinusitis cases when main complaint is post-nasal thick yellow discharge.

How to use Hydrastis?

It can be taken in 30C potency two to three times a day for good results.

5. Pulsatilla – For Thick Yellow Or Green Nasal Discharge

Pulsatilla is a natural medicine for sinusitis prepared from ‘windflower’. The foremost indication to use it in sinusitis is thick yellow or green nasal discharge.  A characteristic feature is the discharge gets worse in a closed room and gets better in open air. The discharge may be very foul-smelling. Nostrils may be blocked as well, along with loss of smell and taste. This medicine is recommended for frontal sinusitis and maxillary sinusitis. Pain and heaviness is felt over the forehead when the frontal sinus is involved. In the case of maxillary sinus involvement, a tearing type of pain is felt in maxillary sinus (in the cheeks) that may extend to the ears.

When to use Pulsatilla?

For sinusitis, the key indication based on which it is prescribed is ‘thick yellow or green nasal discharge’.

How to use Pulsatilla?

Though may be used in different potencies, it is best to begin with  30C potency. Pulsatilla 30C can be taken once or twice a day. Higher potencies like 200C and 1M can also be considered afterward but only under the supervision of homeopathic expert.

 6. Natrum Mur – For Sinus Infections And Nasal Allergy

Natrum Mur is a good choice of remedy in cases of sinusitis where nasal allergy is associated. This medicine aims at treating nasal allergy when it is the root cause leading to sinus Infections. The symptoms of using this medicine are a watery discharge from the nose, sneezing, and pain in the head.

 When to use Natrum Mur?

Persons who suffer sinusitis as a result of nasal allergies are ideal subjects to use this medicine. This medicine works in treating nasal allergies (with watery nasal discharges) to prevent recurrent sinus infections.

How to use Natrum Mur?

Natrum Mur is very effective in 6X potency that can be repeated three to four times a day.

7. Lemna Minor – For Sinus Infections Complicated With Nasal Polyp

In some cases, nasal polyps are a contributing factor to sinus infection. A nasal polyp in a nasal cavity blocks the normal drainage of discharge. The collected discharge thus acts as a pool for infection-causing agents, leading to inflammation of the sinuses. Here, medicine Lemna Minor is the best medicine to help shrink nasal polyps to prevent sinus infections. It may take some time to shrink the polyps, but once done recurrent sinus infections are prevented.

When to take Lemna Minor?

If nasal polyps are obstructing mucus drainage and causing recurrent sinus infections, this medicine can work wonders. It will help in shrinking nasal polyps which are a contributing factor for sinus infections.

How to take Lemna Minor?

Lemna Minor acts best when taken in mother tincture (Q) form. 5-7 drops of Lemna Minor Q can be taken twice a day by dissolving in half a cup of water.

8. Hepar Sulph – Forsinusitis worse in cold weather

Hepar Sulph is the best choice of medicine to manage cases of sinusitis that get worse in cold weather and winters. Those who need it mainly complain of bad smelling discharge from the nose. A very important attending symptom is pain at the root of the nose in the morning time. Nose also feels blocked in the morning.

When to use Hepar Sulph?

The use of this medicine is highly recommended to manage sinusitis which is worse in cold weather and winters.

How to use Hepar Sulph?

Its 30 C potency is the most frequently used potency that can be taken once or twice a day. Its higher potencies are also available but that needs to be taken under supervision of a homeopathic physician.

Cause And Risk Factors Behind Sinusitis

Sinusitis results when there is blockage of sinus openings by mucus. There are certain factors and health problems that increase the risk of sinusitis.

1. Common cold (that can be caused by virus or bacteria) can cause inflammation of sinus and obstruct the drainage of mucus

2. Nasal allergies andupper respiratory tract infections

3. Nasal polyps arethe non-cancerous growths in nose or paranasal sinuses that block nose or sinus

4. Deviated nasal septum meanscartilage that divides the nose is not straight is causing nasal blockage

5. Weak immune system

6. A dental infection, cystic fibrosis (a genetic disease that causes a build-up of mucus which is thick, and sticky mainly in the lungs and pancreas), and smoking are some other contributory factors.

Pathophysiology Of Sinusitis

Paranasal sinuses are four pairs of hollow spaces in the skull. These are situated in cheekbones (maxillary sinus), forehead (frontal sinus), behind the bridge of the nose, and between the eyes (ethmoidal sinuses). Another set is situated in the upper region of the nose and behind the eyes (sphenoidal sinuses). All the sinuses have the same lining that is present in the nose. This lining produces mucus, which is drained out of the sinuses, through an opening in the nose. When a person has a cold or nasal allergy, there is increased mucus production and swelling of sinuses that can cause the drainage to get blocked. This results in the mucus being trapped in the sinuses, leading to the growth of bacteria and viruses.

Symptoms Of Sinusitis

The signs and symptoms of sinusitis include

1. Nasal discharge: Thick discharge that can be yellow, green, pus-like, or blood-stained

2.  Post-nasal dripping

3. Headache especially in themorning

4. Pain/pressure on head or face, swelling or tenderness on the face according to the sinus involved as given below:

In frontal sinusitis: It is felt on the forehead and above the eyes

In maxillary sinusitis: It is felt on cheeks, or upper jaw, teeth

In ethmoidal sinusitis: Pain or pressure is observed  behind the eyes and in medial canthi (corner of the eye where upper eyelid and lower eyelid meet towards nose side)

In sphenoidal sinusitis: Pain/pressure occurs behind the eyes and is felt in the top/ back of the head

5. Stuffy nose, making breathing through the nose difficult

6. Ear fullness/pain, decreased sense of smell and taste, cough, throat clearing, tiredness, bad breath are some other signs and symptoms

7. Fever (it may occur in acute sinusitis and is uncommon in chronic sinusitis)

The signs and symptoms are similar for acute and chronic sinusitis. However, the duration varies with chronic sinusitis lasting for three or more months.

How to diagnose sinusitis?

In cases suspected of sinusitis as per the symptoms, few tests help to confirm sinusitis. The mostsimple and frequently recommended test for diagnosing sinusitis is X-ray of paranasal sinuses (X-ray PNS). It is a non-invasive (means it does not involve inserting any instrument in the skin or body opening) test to diagnose sinusitis. It is an imaging test that uses a small amount of radiation to get an image of paranasal sinuses and find out the presence of sinusitis. But it does not help to give much details and the cause of the problem. The next highly preferred test is CT scan (computed tomography scan). It gives intensive details of the nose and paranasal sinuses. CT scan is a diagnostic test to confirm sinusitis that gives a 3D view of sinuses. The next suggested test to diagnose sinusitis is nasal endoscopy. This test is done by an ENT doctor and involves inserting a thin tube into the nose that has a light and camera to have a clear direct view inside the nose and sinuses.