Natural Sinus Pressure Relief

The pain of sinus pressure can really mess up your day, as it distracts you from everything you try to do. If you want relief from the discomfort but want to avoid taking medication, there are a number of natural options for you to try.

The Power of Moisture

• One of the oldest remedies for sinus pressure is the inhalation of moisture. The moisture enters the sinuses and clears them without any chemicals.
  You can use a mist vaporizer, which holds water in a chamber and heats it. The steam pours out of the top and into the air. For best results, make sure that the vaporizer is nearby; it'll be less effective if you merely have it in the same room. And be careful: Hot steam can burn.
  You can also heat water to a boil in a teakettle, then pour it into a bowl. Sit in front of the bowl and drape a towel over your head so it encloses both your head and the bowl. Spend about five minutes inhaling the warm steam, and that should help relieve your sinus pressure.
  A third option is to stand in a steamy shower and breathe deeply.

Neti Pots

• Nasal irrigation is another option. Originally used in ayervedic medicine (native to India), the neti pot contains a mild saline solution that is used to wash out the sinuses. It looks like a small teapot; another nasal irrigation device, a squeeze bottle, is available for those who don't wish to use the neti pot. They work the same way.
  Neti pots and bottles often come with a premixed nasal wash, to which you add warm (not hot) water. If you want to make your own, use a quarter teaspoon of non-iodized salt and a pinch of baking soda, which takes the edge off the salt.
  Fill the pot and add the saline mix. Allow it to dissolve. Then, lean over your sink and tip your head so your cheek points at the sink. Insert the tip of the neti pot into your upper nostril and pour. At first, the feeling may startle you. Once your sinuses fill, though, the liquid will run out of the lower nostril.
  Point your nose into the sink and blow gently to clear it. Then, tip your head the other way and repeat with the other nostril.

Saline Sprays

• If you would like a third option, then try a saline nasal spray. Available in the drugstore or supermarket, these sprays deliver a measured dose of saline water into your sinuses. It not only relieves pressure, but it's also great for keeping your sinuses moist, especially during cold winter weather. Best of all, it's portable and can be used anywhere---unlike a neti pot or your shower.