Homeopathy for Sinus
The term sinus means a hollow or a
pocket. This word can be used to refer to
cavities in many parts of the body,
such as the renal sinus, the mastoid sinus or an aorticsinus. However, sinus generally
refers to the paranasal sinuses,
which lie close to the
nose. The most important sinuses lie
above and below the eye sockets and behind thebridge of the nose. They are lined
by a moisture
-
producing mucous membrane. The
purpose of the sinuses is to help mo
isturize the air we breathe.
There are four
types of paranasal
sinuses: frontal, ethmoid,
sphenoid and maxillary as
shown in figure.
Infections in them can
block normal nasal
drainage.
Sinusitis is an
inflammation or infection
of the air pockets on
either
side of and behind
the nose. It can be caused by
bacteria, viruses, fungi (molds) and possibly by allergies.
Usually sinusitis follows a
respiratory infection such as common cold, or flu. Allergic
patients may get this on contact
with the specific allerge
n/substance to which they are
hyper sensitive.
Acute sinusitis is much more common
in certain patients than in the general
population. Chronic sinusitis refers
to inflammation of the sinuses that continues for at
least 3 weeks, but often continues
for months or even years.
Patients with asthma have a particularly
high frequency of chronic sinusitis.
Inhalation of airborne allergens
(substances that provoke an allergic reaction), such as
dust, mold, and pollen, often set
off allergic reactions (allergic rhin
itis) that, in turn, may
contribute to sinusitis. People who
are allergic to fungi can develop a condition called
"allergic fungal
sinusitis."
Damp weather, especially in northern
temperate climates, or pollutants in the air
and in buildings also can affec
t people subject to chronic
sinusitis.
Symptoms
The most common site of sinusitis is
the ethmoid sinuses, which typically occurs
as a result of obstruction of
mucociliary drainage, which then causes a secondary
maxillary sinusitis. Sinusitis
involving the
sphenoid sinus typically is unusual
for children
under age 5 and frontal sinusitis
typically does not occur until age 10, as a result of later
development of those sinuses in
children.
Sinusitis (infection of sinuses) may
have a variety of symptoms, dep
ending on
which sinus and nasal passages are involved.
There may be nasal discharge (yellowish or
greenish), perhaps containing pus;
headaches; pain in the cheeks, eye area, ear, or teeth;
dizziness and possibly a cough.
If the infection is severe, the pa
tient may also experience fever, a
general sick
feeling, and such general discomfort
that he will have difficulty in concentrating.
Sinusitis can also results from an
infection that has spread from a nearby part of
the body, such as an abscessed
tooth, or
following an extraction of tooth.
Diagnosis
Evaluation is by history and
physical examination. Blood tests for blood count
may be done in special cases.
X
-
rays of the sinuses can show
characteristic changes
associated with this infection.
Culture of the
sinus drainage can yield information
on the
type of infection. Patients who have
an uncertain diagnosis may have a CT scan
performed of the sinuses.
Homoeopathic
Treatment
In treating sinusitis it is
important to open up the passage that may be blocked d
ue
to swollen tissues, to permit
drainage, controlling or eliminating the source of the
inflammation, and relieving the
pain.
Following Homoeopathic Medicines are
able to provide permanent cure to this problem:
Hydrastis:
This remedy alone will cure more
sinusitis than any remedy because it
is
more often indicated. Thick, yellow,
tenacious mucus in posterior nares, more distinctly
yellow than **Kali Bich and profuse.
Frontal headache, full ness over the eyes. <Cold
dry winds/air >warm covering.
Sinusitis
after coryza.
Kali Bich:
Inflammation of the frontal Sinuses.
Pressure and pain at the root of the nose.
Ulcertaion of the septum (DNS).
Fetid smell from the discharge, Discharge is thick
greenish yellow, ropy, acrid, tough,
elastic plug from nose; leaves
a raw surface. Loss of
smell, sneezing < morning.
<Cold, damp. Better heat & pressure. Headache over the
eyebrows < cold > pressing at
the root of nose. Must lie down, aversion to light & noise.
Violent pain from occiput to
forehead if the nasal discharge
ceases.
Lycopodium:
Frontal sinusitis. Nose stopped up
at night. Fan like motion of alae nasi.
Chronic coryza blows nose often.
< From cabbage, prawns, seafood > warm drinks.
Discharge excoriating from nose but
internal dryness of the nose. Headache over
the eyes
in sever colds > uncovering. <
4 to 8 PM. Right sided frontal headache < rising up >
lying down. Pain in temples as if
screwed down.
Hepar Sulph:
Frontal Sinusitis. < Sensitive to
touch, slight cold. Nose stopped. This is
best remedy to drain the
sinus. The discharge stains with
blood & smells like old cheese.
Right sided sinusitis (Sangu.can)
<morning, motion.
Silicea:
Chronic Sinusitis. Nose Obstructed
& lose of smell.
Nasal bones sensitive.
Drawing pain at the root of nose and
right molar bone.
Headache > wrapping up warmly
& pressure < motion, jar, and
cold air. Headache starts from occipital area (Cocculus)
and the settled above eye brows >
binding the head tightly.
Bromium:
Reoccurring sinusitis < dust.
Stoppage of nose first right and then
left. Fan
like motion the alae. Long continued
coryza.
Sanunaria Can:
Right sided chronic frontal
sinusitis. Discharge yellow & offensive.
Pain at the root of the nose.
Cocculus Ind:
Sinusitis, pain starts from occipit
and settles at nape of neck < lying
on
back of head < cold air. It
generally starts the suppressed discharge from the nose.
Cinnabaris:
Maxillary sinusitis. Heavy pressure
at the root of the nose. Discharge from
the nose is acrid, foul, watery or
dark lumps. Pain from the lachrymal duct arou
nd eye to
temple from inner to outer canthus.
<damp, lying on right side.
Nux Vom:
Nose stopped up, dry breath through
mouth <night. Pulsations in head, in
small spots especially on Left
forehead. Bursting headache > hard pressure < cold bath.
Air, Air co
nditioner, change of season. >
dry heat.
Sticta Pul:
Feeling of fullness at the root of
nose. Dryness of the mucous membrane of
the nose with constant need to blow
the nose without discharge. Catarrhal headache
before the discharge appears. <
change of tem
perature, Night, lying down.>
open air, free
discharge.
Aurum Met:
Chronic Sinusitis. Boring pain <
night with purulent, fetid and bloody
discharge. Feeling of Nose
obstructed but free flow of air through nose.
Constitutional remedies like
Tuberculinum,
Calcarea Carb also found useful to
complete
the cure when indicated remedies
fails to provide permanent relief.
