Sinusitis

[Guest guest]

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.

 

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis). This is another powerful broad-

spectrum herbal antibiotic, with at least two active constituents,

berberine and hydrastine. Naturopaths Michael Murray, N.D., and

Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., president of Bastyr University, call

goldenseal the most effective botanical treatment for acute

bacterial infection. I'd have to agree. Lately I've combined

goldenseal with echinacea and used it to treat all sorts of minor

infections. In fact, I carry it in my travel first-aid kit.

 

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

vegetable 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 vegetable oil.

 

 

Oregano

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 diarrhea, irritability and restlessness.

 

Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana). 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.

 

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