Sinusitis

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Sinusitis

Mar 27, 2007 08:38 PST

 

Sinusitis

 

You're probably familiar with Tiger Balm, that strong-smelling

oriental ointment that comes in a red tin decorated with a tiger. I have used it

for colds and headaches, and I like it. Tiger Balm is filled with

potent aromatic herbal extracts--menthol from peppermint, eugenol

from cloves, cineole from cajuput (a close relative of teatree),

cinnamaldehyde from cinnamon, and camphor.

 

It clears the sinuses faster than a tiger can pounce.

 

Someone once told me that Tiger Balm was being abused as a

hallucinogen. It sounded silly, but just to be sure, I called a friend of mine

at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to inquire. He laughed and said

no, he had not heard of its being abused. I asked why he laughed. He

said that every time he had sinusitis, a Chinese colleague pushed Tiger Balm on

him. Finally he tried it, and he confided, " It worked. "

 

When I reminded him that it was basically a concoction of herbal

aromatics, he replied, " No wonder it works. " I wish everyone at the

FDA felt as he did. Then maybe we'd see herbs approved for all of the medicinal

uses that they're good for.

 

Sinusitis is inflammation, and almost always infection, of the

air-filled bony cavities surrounding the nasal passages. It

typically develops following a cold or a bout of hay fever.

 

It may also be associated with a dental infection.

Mucus fills the sinuses and then becomes infected, typically with bacteria:

haemophilus, pneumococcus, staphylococcus or streptococcus.

 

Sinusitis causes nasal congestion, sometimes severe pain across the

nose and cheeks and often a headache as well. Only a small fraction of colds

progress to sinusitis. But in susceptible people, almost anything that starts as

a cold can turn into a sinus infection.

---

 

Green Pharmacy for Sinusitis

 

There are a number of herbs that can help treat this condition.

 

Garlic (Allium sativum) and onion (A. cepa).

 

These related herbs are broad-spectrum antibiotics. Garlic is the more potent,

but onion

still rates in my book. Many studies have confirmed garlic's antibiotic

activity, most recently a study of people with AIDS who took the herb to ward

off all sorts of opportunistic infections, including sinusitis.

 

Take capsules if you like, but I prefer to peel and chop whole

garlic cloves and use them as food. Naturopath Jane Guiltinan, N.D., chief

medical officer at Bastyr University in Seattle, feels the same way.

 

With my perverse affinity for alliteration, may I suggest my

Sinusoup. Begin with your vegetarian minestrone and add heaping helpings of

garlic and onions, plus horseradish, hot pepper and ginger. On a cold

winter day, it warms the soul as it opens the sinuses.

 

Echinacea (Echinacea, various species).

 

Native to the American

Plains, this herb was a favorite American Indian remedy for all sorts of

infections. German researchers have shown beyond any doubt that echinacea is an

immune stimulant that speeds the healing of

bacterial, fungal and viral infections. Studies in other countries support

these findings.

 

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) and peppermint (Mentha piperita).

Aromatherapists suggest rubbing diluted essential oils of eucalyptus

or peppermint on the forehead and temples to relieve sinusitis. Mix a

few drops of either or both oils into a couple of tablespoons of

sesame oil before applying it to your skin. You can also add a few drops of the

essential oils to your bathwater. But use these oils sparingly, as too much can

be overwhelmingly caustic. And never " ingest " them; even a small amount can be

toxic.

 

If you don't have these herbal oils on hand, the bruised leaves work

well. You can mash some leaves, moisten them with water and make

them into a poultice. Either place it on your chest or stuff it into your

nostrils (be careful not to push it in too deeply).

 

In Lesotho, Africa, people push crushed mint leaves up their

nostrils to deliver the antiseptic oil to infected sinuses. I have tried this

myself and think it helps. If you don't have peppermint on hand, any mint

will do, including spearmint, mountain mint (except if you are pregnant) and

oregano, all of which contain antiseptic essential oils. I'd also suggest

drinking tea made with eucalyptus and any of the mints.

 

Oregano (Origanum vulgare). Here's a member of the mint family

that's simply loaded with antiseptic compounds. Oregano is useful as a hot

tea (inhale the vapors as you drink) or in a massage lotion. You can add a few

drops of the essential oil to any skin lotion or to oil.

 

 

Oregano (Culinary herb0

Oregano, once prescribed by Chinese physicians to treat fever and

other conditions, has proved to be well-endowed with antiseptic compounds.

 

 

 

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba).

Ginkgo is best known as a treatment for the

infirmities of old age, particularly stroke, because it increases

blood

flow in and around the brain. But this herb also has respiratory

benefits. Several herbalists I respect recommend it for sinusitis.

 

The active constituents in ginkgo (ginkgolides) occur naturally in a

concentration too low to be beneficial. The standard commercial

extraction process boils down 50 pounds of leaves to get 1 pound of

medicinal extract.

 

When you buy ginkgo, look for a 50:1 extract and

follow the package directions. You can try 60 to 240 milligrams a

day, but don't go any higher than that. In large amounts, ginkgo may

cause irritability and restlessness.

 

Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana).

Wasabi

I'm a big believer in horseradish (and Japanese wasabi) for clearing the

sinuses. You might try a

straight spoonful of ground horseradish if you're extremely brave, or you can

add this hot herb to my Sinusoup.

www.edenfoods.com

 

Pineapple (Ananas comosus).

Bromelain, a compound found in

pineapple, is useful for treating sinusitis, according to pharmacognosist

(natural

product pharmacist) Albert Leung, Ph.D., co-author of The

Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients.

 

Naturopaths say that combining 250 to 500 milligrams of pure

bromelain with goldenseal enhances the herb's already potent effectiveness. I

enjoy pineapple and its juice, so I'd probably chase my goldenseal

capsule with the juice rather than taking a bromelain pill.

 

http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/41/103.cfm

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest