Sinusitis
From Wiki4CAM
Sinusitis (“sine-you-site-iss”) is, in simple terms, inflammation of paranasal sinuses. These sinuses are hollow air spaces within the bones surrounding the nose, which produce mucus. One of the main functions of sinuses is draining such mucous secretions into the nose. Sinusitis usually due to the spread of infection in the nose. The inflammed nose also often blocks the sinuses. Sinusitis can be acute, which often starts as a cold and then turns into a bacterial infection. Sinusitis is usually caused by allergies, pollutants, nasal problems and certain diseases. The symptoms usually like headache, especially while bending forward, mild to moderate form of fever, fatigue, sneeze, cough and congestion of nose. Sometimes there may be postnasal drip, which is a mucus drainage in the back of the throat.
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Causes
When the sinuses are blocked due to inflammation of nose, it may cause moist environment in the sinuses. It ultimately gives ways for infection in the sinuses. Apart from this, nasal polyps or tumors may cause sinusitis. It is mainly due to the blockage due to the growth. Sometines allergies may trigger infections of the sinuses. Deviated nasal septum is another common cause for sinusitis, because it blocks sinus passages. Injury to the facial bones also blocks the sinuses, which may end up in infection. Medical conditions like cystic fibrosis, gastroesophageal reflux, or HIV and other immune system diseases are some of the causes for nasal blockage, as its complication. Common cold and other respiratory infections often block the opening of the sinuses, which aids in bacterial growth.
Symptoms
Symptoms of sinusitis include obstruction in the nose, running nose, watery or mucus discharge from the nose, continuous dull pain and/or swelling around the eyes, pressure and pain in the head which worse in the morning and while bending forward, pain in the upper teeth, high fever with more than than 102° Fahrenheit (39° Celsius), dry cough, difficulty in sleep and stomach upset.
Tests and examinations
Tests in the physician's chamber include shining a light against the sinus (transillumination) for signs of inflammation and tapping over a sinus area to find infection. Sample of the discharge from the nose can be sent to micro-pathological lab for culture. Taking x-rays of the sinuses would help in finding the inflammation. Sinuses can be viewed through a fiberoptic scope. CT scan and MRI of the sinuses are helpful in confirm the diagnosis. In case of chronic recurrent sinusitis tests like allergy testing, blood tests for HIV or other tests for poor immune function, ciliary function tests, nasal cytology and sweat chloride tests for cystic fibrosis can be performed.
Complications
Complications are usually rare in case of sinusitis. Such are abscess, antibiotic resistance if antibiotics taken, meningitis, orbital cellulitis and osteomyelitis.
CAM therapies for sinusitis
Acupuncture
Points useful for sinusitis are LI4, Lv 3, TH 5, LI 11, LI 20, B10, K 27, CV 6, St 36, St 1, St 2, St 3, Du 22, Du 23, Du 24, UB 2, GB 20 and GB 14.
Ayurveda and herbal medicine
Garlic is very useful for sinusitis. The fresh juice of 3 to 4 garlic cloves, with 2 teaspoonfuls of honey can be taken two times a day. Juice of onion is also well known for sinusitis. It is also mixed with honey and taken once or twice a day. Finely powdered black pepper can be mixed with a cup of warm milk and taken regularly to prevent the recurrent attacks. Ayurveds often recommend steam inhalation for sinusitis.
Homeopathy
Homeopathic medicines are known for its safety profiles. Some of the frequently prescribed remedies are the following.
Arsenicum: People who need this remedy feel throbbing and burning pains in the sinuses. Their pains are aggravated by light, noise, movement, after midnight, and may be triggered by anxiety, exertion, and excitability. They may feel relief by lying quietly in a dark room with the head raised on pillows and exposed to cool air. Their teeth may feel long and painful. They may feel nausea and experience vomiting concurrent with their sinusitis. They tend to have a great thirst, but they tend to drink frequent sips, rather than gulps.
Belladonna: This remedy is effective for people whose head feels full, as if it could burst. The pain usually resides in the forehead or around the eyes. There is throbbing pain that is worse by jarring, touch, bending forward, lying flat, or motion of the eyes and is relieved by gradually applied pressure, sitting up, or bending the head backwards. Another characteristic symptoms of people who need this remedy is when the sinus pain appear strongly and rapidly but then disap pears temporarily, only to repeat the process of coming and going pain. The eyes are also sensitive to light and the face is flushed. They are apt to feel dizzy which becomes worse when stooping.
Hepar sulphur: Rarely indicated at the beginning of a sinusitis condition, people who need Hepar sulphur begin sneezing and then develop sinusitis from the least exposure to cold air. Their nasal discharge is thick and yellow. The nostrils become very sore from the acrid discharge, and their nasal passages become sensitive to cold air. Concurrently, they may have a headache with a sense of a nail or a plug that is thrust into the head along with a boring or bursting pain. Their headache above the nose is worse from shaking the head, motion, riding in a car, stooping, moving the eyes, or simply from the weight of a hat, but is relieved by the firm pressure of a tight bandage. The scalp is so sensitive that simply combing the hair may be painful.
Kali bichromicum: The distinguishing feature of people with sinusitis who need this medicine is that they have a thick, stringy nasal discharge. They have extreme pain at the root of the nose that is better by applying pressure there. The bones and scalp feel sore. Dizziness and nausea when rising from sitting and the severe pain may lead to dimmed vi sion. The pains are worse by cold, light, noise, walking, stoop ing, and in the morning (especially on waking or at 9 am) or at night. They prefer to lie down in a darkened room and feel better by warmth, warm drinks, or overeating.
Mercurius: People who will benefit from this remedy feel as though their head was in a vise. The pains are worse in open air, from sleeping, and after eating and drinking. The pains are also aggragravated by extremes of hot and cold temperature. The scalp and the nose become very sensitive to the touch. Their teeth feel long and painful, and they may salivate exces sively. The nasal discharge is usually green and too thick to run. It is offensive smelling and acrid.
Pulsatilla: When the head pain is worse when lying down and in a warm room and is better in cool air, this medicine should be considered. The sinusitis may begin after being over heated. Stooping, sitting, rising from lying down, and eating can aggravate the head pain, which is often in the front part of the head and accompanied with digestive problems. They get some relief from slow walking in the open air or by wrapping the head tightly in a bandage. This condition is commonly experienced when the child is in school or the adult is at work. The nasal discharge is often thick and yellow or green.
Spigella: People who develop sinusitis with a sharp pain that is worse on the left side may need this medicine. They tend to get sinusitis after exposure to cold or cold, wet weath er. They feel pain from warmth or when they stoop or bend the head forward, and they feel some relief by cold applications or from washing with cold water. [1]
