If you’ve ever had a sinus infection, you know how miserable it can be. Sinus infections are a common problem, and they can become markedly worse during cold and flu season.
Sinus congestion usually occurs as a result of a respiratory ailment such as a cold, cough, or allergic reaction. When you feel a sinus problem coming on, a highly effective sinus infection remedy you can use is probiotics – directly into the sinus passages. The most effective way to deliver this is by putting it right into your porcelain neti pot.
Can’t use a neti-pot or have a child that hasn’t been able to master the use of this type of apparatus? Then, I would suggest a nasal saline spray from the drug store and use that instead. My sons use one with great results when they are congested.
Here’s how the simple protocol works. You will be delighted how easy and effective this sinus infection remedy is. It may very well save you a trip to the doctor and a prescription for antibiotics.
Natural Sinus Infection Remedy
1. Empty the contents of a probiotic capsule into your neti pot (I like this one) or empty nasal spray bottle. Alternatively, a bulb syringe can be used, but the ingredients will have to be mixed separately and then sucked into the bulb once fully blended and ready to use.
2. Add warm filtered water.
3. Add a bit of sea salt and baking soda if desired – you won’t need very much (I always just guess – but no more than about 1/8 teaspoon)
4. Mix ingredients together carefully with a spoon or shake bottle after screwing on the lid (nasal spray bottle).
How to Use
5. If using a neti-pot: while standing over a sink, insert the nozzle of the neti-pot into one nostril, and make sure there is a good seal between the nozzle and your nostril. Lean forward, close the back of your throat and breathe through your mouth. Then, allow the contents of the neti pot to enter one nasal opening and rinse through to exit out the other nasal opening. This may take up to two or three minutes if your nasal passages are congested. Repeat on the other side.
Try to avoid swallowing the water that goes into the nostrils, and blow your nose when finished. If using a spray bottle: insert the nozzle of the spray bottle into one nostril while covering the other. While compressing the pump on the nasal spray bottle, inhale deeply. Repeat several times on both sides. Be prepared to spit out anything left after inhaling the mist into the sink.
6. When finished, wash out your neti-pot or spray bottle with warm water and soap and allow it to dry before using it again.
7. Oral probiotics can be used not just like a natural sinus infection remedy. They can also be used to prevent sinus infections in the first place.
How to Use this Sinus Infection Remedy
A friend of mine had a sinus infection that had been going on for 5 – 6 weeks. She had tried everything that was natural – aromatherapy (breathing steam with essential oils), apple cider vinegar in water, grapefruit seed extract in water, colloidal silver nasal spray, taking the best probiotics orally, oil of oregano in water (which she had used in the past with great success for sinus problems), and various homeopathic and other natural preparations.
Nothing was doing the trick and she was getting desperate!
What finally worked!
As a final attempt to resolve the problem naturally before resorting to meds, she went to see a naturopath who did some head massage, chiropractic manipulations and used essential oil swabs up into her sinus passages.
While these did offer some improvement, she was concerned that the next day the infection would come roaring back again.
At the suggestion of her next-door neighbor who is a nutritional therapist, she tried adding probiotics to her neti-pot. The naturopath also suggested alternating hot and cold packs on the forehead to encourage sinus drainage.
Immediately after using the probiotics in my neti-pot, she felt a terrible burning sensation that went on for a good ten minutes.
It was quite painful, but as it subsided, she went to bed and had a good night’s sleep. The next morning, she was surprised to find that she experienced no pain. This continued throughout the day. The horrible “ice pick” sinus pressure which was normally in full-swing by 10 a.m. was completely gone.
She repeated the neti pot protocol a few more times over the next five days along with some grapefruit seed extract (about 5 drops in 6 ounces of water twice a day). The entrenched sinus infection resolved and did not return.
Natural Prevention of Sinus Problems
Sinus issues are often a symptom of something else going on, such as yeast overgrowth or a candida problem. Making changes to your diet can help to reduce the incidence and severity of sinus problems. The need for even a natural sinus infection remedy is reduced as well. Here are some recommendations to avoid the overgrowth of yeast in the body:
Dietary Recommendations
- Avoid refined grains – these foods are common in our food supply and eaten frequently. They are high in carbohydrates and are converted to sugar in the body.
- Avoid meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products from commercially-raised animals fed grains, soy, and corn from factory-farmed environments. These animals and birds are given antibiotics, hormones, antibiotics, and are not allowed outside to wander, graze, and obtain fresh air and sunshine. Eating those kinds of meat, meat products, eggs, and dairy can contribute to yeast overgrowth in the body. Eat meats, dairy products, poultry, and eggs from animals raised naturally and without chemicals, hormones, or antibiotics.
- Eliminate processed and refined foods from the diet including excessive sugar and refined carbohydrates.
Lifestyle Recommendations
- Steer clear of prescription drug medications such as antibiotics, steroids, birth control pills, and even over-the-counter medications. These medications can greatly contribute to yeast overgrowth and unfriendly bacteria in the digestive tract. Once entrenched in the gut, these pathogens easily spread throughout the body.
- Eat plenty of healthy fats in your diet – butter, olive oil, palm oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, pastured lard, and grass-fed tallow. These traditional, healthy fats are nutrient-dense and help your body keep away illness and disease.
- Consume plenty of cultured and fermented foods and raw dairy products from healthy cows on pasture. These foods will naturally help promote diverse and friendly bacteria in your body and help keep illness and disease away.
Supplement Recommendations
- Take a therapeutic-grade probiotic daily to ensure friendly bacteria support in your gut. Read this post about choosing probiotics for more information on good brands to buy.
- If you still have trouble with yeast, consider doing regular detox baths or other protocols like a coffee enema. Better still, follow a temporary, healing dietary protocol like the GAPS diet, SCD, or autoimmune paleo (AIP).
More Information
How I Resolved My Raging Sinus Infection
How to Make and Use an Onion Poultice for Congestion
Doctor Prescribed Treatment for Healing Croup Naturally
SSKI: The Best Cough Expectorant You’ve Never Tried
Power Shot: Best Green Juice for Congestion
Put me on the list of “Horrible Sinusitis Sufferers”! Which is due to severe allergic rhinitis from, none other than: Mold, Pollen, Grass, Dander, and anything else than one can be allergic from. I am in generally good if not great health! Early 40s male. I have exercised periodically all my life.
I had nasal surgery to remove polyps and a nasty Fungus Ball that was the culprit of the polyps! The fungus ball probably developed from inhaling mold and other allergens over years without ever irrigating my sinuses. Needless to say, the surgery did work (albeit a cumbersome healing process blowing out all sorts of bloody scabs as I healed). So fast forward to today, approx 6yrs later and I fear I’m on the cusp of getting polyps again. 🙁 However, I refuse to simply do another surgery. Even my ENT doc said that folks with severe allergies to stuff like mold which is unavoidable, usually require “repeat surgeries”… Yes plural!!!
I am going to take and make some serious “lifestyle changes”. I don’t consume much refined sugar, but I do eat lots of grain cereals which I love and benefit me by reducing total cholesterol. But now I read, they also feed fungi! So what can you do??? I will reduce my intake but more importantly, I will begin a religious Probiotic plan by mouth daily, Krill oil, Vitamin D, Garlic, and I have a porcelain neti pot I am using daily.
Now here’s my question… I have never read of using the probiotics with the neti directly into the sinuses. How safe is this? Being so close to eyes and the BRAIN? I actually tried this last night and the first thing I noticed is just how ‘Non Water Soluble’ this stuff is! I mean it is very clumpy no matter how hard/fast you stir! So I’d like feedback on that too…?
I also plan to get a Humidifier which MANY swear by to help this issue. As well as installing a UV light in my A/C system. Which too, MANY are praising.
Thanks for the informative post! This is a “serious and life debilitating’ condition that affects over 40,000,000 Americans and countless more worldwide. Why in the HELL aren’t the braniacs of ‘big pharma’ and these so called ‘physicians’ NOT getting it?
I am so grateful for the advice in this article. I had been battling for 5 days a nasty head cold that morphed into a sinus infection. I used the probiotics in my nasal bottle in the evening, and by morning the pain was gone and I felt noticeably better. Thank you so much for all the great posts!
I have chronic, I mean chronic sinusitis. With terrible allergies being the culprit, I sought out an allergist. I’ve been doing allergy shots for almost a year with no relief. In fact, I think I am worse when the dosage goes higher. About ready to stop the shots. Now my sinuses are back being 100 percent swollen, and when I irrigate, every foreign object seems to flood out, but then I swell back up and it returns. I feel lousy..:( I have been on the antibiotic, steroid path and am done with them…. It flares up yeast infections immediately. How do you get the probiotics up your nose when your nose is continually swollen? Is there a trick to getting the swelling down? I am started a fruit and veggie fast… I am DONE with this…….. I have also tried coloidial silver in my nose, and had complete sinus surgery about 7 years ago… it helped for awhile… Now it is just a mess..:( Thanks for your time.
Donna, how is your juice fast going? Any improvement with your sinus issues? I’m really wondering if the sinus issues are started by yeast running amuck…
My sinuses were the same as yours. I eliminated all dairy, grain, white sugar and starchy vegetables a year ago, and haven’t had a sinus infection since. I’m fairly certain it’s dairy more than the others that affect my sinuses.
Hi Debra, what kind of diet are you following?
You may risk accidentally pulling it out, which will cause
it to bleed. But most complications are minor, and can be readily remedied.
Supervise children when swimming, and avoid roughhousing that could
lead to accidents.
Is this method safe to use while pregnant? I am currently 23 weeks pregnant and
I am having some chest congestion, but do not want to go to the doctor’s for antibiotics. Any other suggestions?
Hi Laura. This isn’t my blog, but I wanted to get an answer to you. I found this article from Dr.Sears, whom I trust for childcare:
http://www.parenting.com/article/ask-dr-sears-probiotics-during-pregnancy
He says it’s perfectly safe to take probiotics during pregnancy, so i can’t see any reason why you couldn’t do the saline rinse with it. Just make sure you’re using distilled water, or water that has been boiled, then cooled. Definitely do NOT use tap water.
Sara,
.
Toward the end of the article you recommend two (or more) other posts – in these paragraphs:
.
“* Take a therapeutic-grade probiotic daily to ensure friendly bacteria support in your gut. Read this post about probiotics for more information on good brands to buy.
.
* If you still have trouble with yeast, consider doing a detox or cleanse. Read these posts for more information about cleansing and detoxing.”
.
The problem is that the words “this post” and “these posts” are not hyperlinks. Can they be made into hyperlinks? I was really hoping to learn specifically what kind of probiotics you or Raine recommended and what specific cleansing/detoxing methods would apply to sinus infections.
.
Thank you
AJ
May 24,2013
I never thought I would have a chronic sinusitis infection my life. I used to have so much running nose, but never thought it would developed into sinus. For almost 2 weeks, I cant get sleep due to nose flood which is now a regular thing of my life for the last 2 weeks. Then even in the morning, I do have later. So day and night sinus attacked. I tried decongestant, almost consumed more than 100 tablets of it. At first it was working, then later of no use anymore. I use saline solution, hot water fumes,etc., but no deal, not working. I thought I would die, as this was the first time I experienced this. This morning, again, without sleep for weeks now, I finally got hold of my internet and researched sinus while my nose, both passage were clogged. By golly, I said to myself, it seems there is no cure for it. With the so many write ups about it, bottom line, no cure. There are so many articles claiming this and that but when I used their methods, still the clogged is there and becoming more heavy. Finally I read this account – about probiotics being used directly to the nostrils.
It happens that I have a solution of PROBIOTIC OREGANO ( oh, by the way, I am a pioneer of probiotic discipline in my country). At first I tried using my liquid Probiotic on molasses base. knowing molasses is good for colds.I failed heavily, after drinking about 4 bottles of 355 ml of it, from my own store. I completely ignored my other products which I called Multi-vitabiomin, a probiotic stuff with Oregano on it. I then tried it as what was advised in this article, but this time, I put it direct in my nostril. After a minute or two, the clogging seems to stop and I can inhale again in my nose. But only after 4 minutes here comes again the sinus clog. I followed it up by drinking a cupfull of it. No change after 30 minutes. Finally, I repeat the system, apply the liquid to my nostril and drink it heavily. Now I can breath again through my nose. I do not know how this thing would last, but at least I found that it can give immediate relief to me. I will again write back in this blog what happened next. The most important, for the meantime, my nose is clear and I can breath through it. Thanks. Rod G.Wells from the Philippines
Hello,
i have a quiestion about making the nosedrops with probiotics.
I will make it with a bottle to spray in the nose.
Wich type of bacteria in probiotics do i have to take?
How many times a day or what time at the day?
How long do i have to us it?
How many sprays every time?
greets,dirk
So I tried this. I used distilled water, or course, and a small amount of powdered probiotics. After a week, I still have a sinus infection, and now I have TERRIBLE headaches on top of it. Not pleased!!
Loraine, how did your infection turn out? My husband battled sinus “issues” for over three years, then last summer we noticed something growing out of both nostrils…polyps! Huge ones! The ENT doc said they were the biggest he’d ever seen. Thank the Lord, he’s responding to steroid/antibiotics and the polyps have shrunk way down so he’s breathing good again (and sleeping!) but we aren’t happy about him being on this chemical junk (since mid-August now) and they are still talking possible surgery. He, too, had terrible headaches. And yes, we tried the probiotics in a nosespray (he couldn’t do the netti pot all stopped up) and on the back of his tongue before he went to bed and internally – plus much more including oregano oil spray up the nose. The ENT doc tells us that they don’t know what starts polyps like this. I’m hoping that your sinus problems aren’t due to polyps…
Thanks for this post…I wonder, how much water to mix in with the rest of the ingredients? I don’t have a neti-pot (so don’t know what it’s capacity would be?) but have a small nasal spray bottle I think I can re-use.