SINUSITIS ATTACK
- Sinusitis is infection of the sinuses caused by an allergy or bacterial, fungus or virus infestation.
- Sinuses are moist air spaces within the bones of the face around the nose, and when we are healthy, sinuses are filled with air.
- But, with nasal congestion due to cold or allergy, they don’t allow the sinuses to drain properly, and bacteria get trapped, leading to inflammation and secondary infection of the sinuses.
- An acute attack of sinusitis generally lasts for four weeks, and symptoms may be confused with bronchitis.
- If the symptoms continue for 10-12 weeks, it is sub-acute, and if it lasts longer, it is chronic sinusitis.
CHRONIC SINUSITIS
- Chronic sinusitis lasts more than 3 months.
- It can be caused by prolonged rhinitis, nasal polyps, and deviated nasal septum.
- Symptoms may include nasal congestion, general malaise, headache, night-time coughing, thick green/yellow discharge, feeling of facial fullness that worsens with bending, dizziness, aching teeth, and foul breath.
- Unless complications occur, there is no fever.
- Chronic sinusitis can lead to reduced sense of smell, and in some cases, dental infection.
- Take steam inhalation and gargle at least once a day.
- Increase intake of water, avoid sour and fried food, and eat a balanced diet with fruits and roughage.
- The best position to avoid breathlessness is to prop your head up on two pillows.
YOGIC TREATMENT
- Splash the eyes with cold water to refresh them and to prevent muck setting in the corners.
- Then do the kriyas of neti by drawing in a mild solution of lukewarm, saline water through one nostril and letting it flow out of the other nostril; repeat this with the other nostril.
- Then do tratak or stare at an object without blinking till the eyes start watering.
- Also do kapaalbharti or using the diaphragm for medium to rapid and forceful exhalation of the breath.
- Focus only on the exhalation as the inhalation is automatic.
- Do about 100 strokes preferably at a medium pace.
- These 3 kriyas work wonders for your puffy face, ear pain, running nose, paining sinusitis, watering eyes and sniffles.
- This may be followed by simple asanas which will clear the passages and encourage the flow of liquids from the eyes, nose or sinuses.
- All asanas should be done with the eyes closed, a gentle smile in Ujayee breath, and be held for 30 seconds.
- Greev chakkar or neck rotation – 5 times from the right side, then 5 times from the left side.
- Hast utthansan or stand with your arms raised and bend backwards. Follow this up with veerbhadrasana, marjariasana, and vajrasana.
- Sitting Garudasana or intertwining arms and hands while sitting in sukhasana, padmasana, or vajrasana, can be done and also, gomukhasana, bhujangasana, naukasana, ardhapawanmuktasana and padmasana.
- End with Pranayama. Do 20 rounds of each pranayam in vajrasana or padmasana or even in a chair.
- Keep the spine straight, eyes closed and smile.
- Ujjayee, surya bhed, chanra bhed, bhastrika, anulom vilom and bhraamhari are helpful.
- Move from the sthul or gross to the suksham or subtle; the sequence is therefore, kriyas, asanas and finally pranayamas.
SOME HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENTS
- Calcarea sulphurica – cures headache with thick, yellowish mucous, one-sided discharge from the nose and sore nostril edges.
- Hydrastis – is good for thick, yellowish expectoration.
- Mercurius solubilis – is for smelly nasal discharge, difficulty while lying on the right side, cough which worsens at night, and yellow mucous expectoration.
- Sticta – is prescribed for dry, hacking cough at night, sore throat, pulsation from the right side of the sternum down to the abdomen, which worsenstowards evening and when tired.
- Hepar sulph – is for nasal congestions, choking cough, dry hoarse cough when exposed to cold.