You wouldn’t know what a sinus headache feels like unless you are one of its unlucky victims. If you have it you would do anything, I said anything, to get rid of this annoying and debilitating pain once and for all.
But there are several simple home remedies that may ease your discomfort and help you carry out your daily tasks. Want to know how to get rid of a sinus headache, and what those simple home remedies are? Keep reading.
What is a sinus headache?
For the uninitiated, sinus headache is an uncommon headache caused by inflamed sinuses in your head. Now you might be wondering what exactly causes an inflamed sinus. There are several possible reasons. Infection is the most common. So, if you are not too sure about any specific cause, blame some unknown bacteria for your misfortune.
Bear in mind that your sinuses are located in your skull just behind the eyeballs, nose, and cheeks. Basically, these small sinuses open in your nose, allowing a smoother passage of mucus and air. But whenever your nose or upper respiratory tract is infected, the infection might spread to your sinuses and make them inflamed.
As a result, your sinuses get swollen and experience a rise in internal pressure, which causes a clinical condition commonly referred to as sinusitis. For some people, sinusitis causes severe pain in the facial region, leading to a sinus headache.
Signs/Symptoms:
Symptoms are wide-ranging and, at times, you might confuse a sinus headache with a migraine or a tension headache. For starters, you might feel severe pain around your eyes, head, and cheeks. The pain might be throbbing in nature, felt on one side of your face, and usually worse in the morning. The pain would ease a bit during the evening hours.
Additionally, the pain might worsen on bending or lying down, and traditional medicines would be of little use. And you might have a stuffy nose, and feel pain in your upper teeth. In a nutshell, these are the main signs and symptoms of a sinus headache. But always remember that experiencing these symptoms alone won’t confirm the diagnosis.
You might experience these similar symptoms in the case of a migraine or a tension headache. Sounds confusing? If you are not sure, please go ahead and consult a doctor. They will be able to tell you whether you are suffering from a sinus headache, or a simple tension headache.
How to Prevent a Sinus Headache.
It has been said that prevention is better than the cure. Well, there are several methods you could implement to decrease the frequency as well as the severity of a headache, and not have to wonder how to relieve sinus pressure. The following suggestions might be helpful for you:
The potential problems to which a sinus headache can lead
- For some people, certain foods and odors might trigger a headache. If you have had such experiences in the past, avoid those foods at all costs. And your physician might advise you to curb your consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine. These foods and items are known to trigger a sinus headache in susceptible individuals.
- Exercise might be of great help to you. Researchers have found a positive correlation between aerobic exercise and decreased sinus headache incidence. Consult with your physician, prepare a daily routine, and exercise regularly. This can be walking, running, or swimming – all are equally helpful.
- For women, medications containing estrogen might exacerbate a sinus headache. If you are currently taking any such medication, replace it with another one, or consult your physician for a solution regarding alternative drugs and dosages.
- Control your sleep cycle. Go to bed early at night and wake up early in the morning. Both decreased sleep and excess sleep might trigger your sinus headache. So, be aware of that.
- In addition to traditional medicines and treatments, you can also look for alternative medicines and treatment plans that address a sinus headache. I know many of you don’t believe in alternative medicine. But trust me – these things work.
In most cases, sinus headache is a benign condition. That means there are no serious complications associated with the disease, but that it is just an occasional and self-limiting condition.
But for some people there could be some complications, mostly mild to moderate in nature. You could have swelling around your eyes that is painful and intensifies on touch and pressure. At times this swelling might hamper your vision. Plus, some people might experience respiratory symptoms as a consequence of a sinus headache.
Others might get depressed, and become less productive at work. Additionally, in rare cases, sinus infection might affect your pharynx and cause chronic pharyngitis. So, despite being benign in nature, sinus headache may have some complications. You need to be aware of them.
When to See a Doctor
There are several instances when you should consult a doctor. For example, when your sinus headache is seriously hampering your quality of life. For some affected individuals, they just can’t concentrate on their tasks, and performance starts to go downhill. These people should consult a physician and look for solutions actively.
There might be some long-term complications from a sinus headache. Most of them are mild in nature. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that you should ignore them. Book an appointment with your doctor and consult for an effective treatment. And it can be hard to distinguish between a sinus headache and migraine or a tension headache, as having serious pain around your eyes doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a sinus headache.
A doctor can differentiate between the various kinds of headache easily. So, it’s better to consult a physician. Lastly, some people might be resistant to taking over-the-counter drugs. In that case, you will require an advanced drug regimen or some sort of alternative treatment plan. If you are unsure of which drug to purchase or what your alternative drug treatment plan might be, simply consult your physician.
Home Remedies for a Sinus Headache
You might be wondering how to relieve sinus pressure and this annoying headache. Well, we have a list of home remedies that can you use to gain quick relief from symptoms. We will explain each preparation, along with the procedure and potential benefits.
Hot and Cold Compression
This one is the most widely used and, at the same time, the most effective home remedy for a sinus headache. You will need to soak a towel in warm water and press that on your sinus region. This will reduce the pressure within your sinuses and loosen the impacted mucus. As a result, mucus will drain in the oropharynx, and your headache would ease a bit.
On the other hand, when you soak a towel in cold water and apply on your sinus region, it will compress the underlying blood vessels, and there will be less facial and sinus pain. So, you can easily use this method to get rid of a sinus headache, and it won’t take you much time and effort. Just do it 2-4 times per day, and you will see visible improvement.
Eucalyptus Oil
An effective treatment strategy originally used by the ancient Chinese people. Later, researchers found an ingredient called cineole in eucalyptus oil that further validated this assumption. Cineole has anti-inflammatory properties. As a result, when you use this oil, it softens the mucus and clears your nasal passages.
The procedure is simple. Pour hot water into a small bowl. Add few drops of oil and bend towards the bowl. Cover your head so that steam can’t escape, and then inhale and exhale. Do this a few times, and you will start noticing improvements.
Tea Tree Oil
This one is even better. It not only reduces the inflammation, but also recognizes and fights the source of the infection – whether it is due to bacteria or a virus. This method has been implemented by people from all over the world, and responses have been overwhelmingly positive.
Usage is quite similar to eucalyptus oil. You just need to pour hot water into a bowl and mix in a few drops of tea tree oil. Then slowly inhale and exhale the steam. Do this a few times, and repeat daily.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon greatly boosts your overall immune system, and helps you fight bacterial and viral infections. And it clears the nasal passages, reduces the swelling, and helps you breathe more easily. Mix one tablespoon of cinnamon with a half tablespoon of sandalwood powder, and then pour the mix into water. Make a paste.
Now, apply this paste onto your forehead with a brush or your fingers. Keep it there for the next 10 minutes, letting it dry. After 10 minutes, wash your forehead and repeat the procedure again until you receive the desired result.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, and helps clear your infection. Besides, it is also helpful in reducing the swelling around the face and clearing the nasal passages. Mix a half cup of apple cider vinegar with an appropriate amount of water. Heat up the mixture until it starts to boil. Then, turn off the flame and let your mixture cool down a bit. Cover your head with a cloth, and inhale and exhale the steam.
Bear in mind that the steam might be a bit caustic, at first. But once you complete a few cycles, that uncomfortable feeling will go away. For a better feeling, you can add peppermint oil to the mixture.
A Cocktail Nasal Decongestant
Here you will use a lot of ingredients, all of which have anti-inflammatory properties. Besides, this combo will help you combat pain, and reduce swelling, too. Mix one-fourth cup of lemon juice with an equal amount of apple cider vinegar, and pour them into a saucepan.
Heat the mixture, then add 3 tablespoons of honey, along with a half tablespoon of cinnamon powder, ginger powder, and cayenne pepper. After heating for a few minutes, turn off the burner, let the mixture cool down, and finally pour it into a fresh container and store it in a cold place. Consume 1-2 tablespoons of this mixture on a regular basis.
For kids, the amount should be adjusted appropriately.
Ginger
Ginger contains a chemical named gingerol which has strong anti-inflammatory properties. That means you can expect a clear nasal passage, and reduced swelling and nasal congestion. You can drink ginger tea each day for quick sinus headache relief.
Preparing the tea is quite easy. Just take a few slices of ginger, drop them in a cup of hot steaming water, and allow the tea to steep for 10 minutes. Now, drink the ginger tea, and if possible, eat the ginger pieces, too. For better results, drink 3-4 cups of ginger tea each day. This one works for most people, and should work for you too.
Peppermint Oil
This one is an excellent anesthetic and anti-microbial agent. Besides, peppermint oil can reduce your nasal swelling, and ease your congestion. The preparation is as with the other oil remedies. Just mix a few drops of peppermint oil with water. Heat it until it starts to boil.
Remove it from the flame and let it settle. Now, cover your head with a cloth and inhale the steam. Repeat daily. Alternatively, you can mix the peppermint oil with jojoba oil and apply the mixture over your sinus region for symptom relief.
Steam
Another effective method, and can be performed without much fuss. It will help you to clear the nasal passages and breathe easily. Pour a few cups of water into a large bowl. Heat it to the boiling point. Once it starts to boil, remove it from the flame. Bend your neck and put your face close to the bowl.
Bear in mind that your face should be at least 30cm away to protect it from being burned. Now, as usual, cover your head with a cloth so that steam can’t escape, and inhale the steam. Continue doing so for the next 10 minutes. You can repeat the process if necessary.
Neti Pot
I am sure you have seen someone using a neti pot at least once in your life. Neti pot can irrigate your nasal passages, wash away the mucus, and reduce sinus pressure. Simply heat one cup of water. Don’t heat it too much. Now add half a tsp. of salt. Mix gently. Pour the saline solution into a neti pot. Place the neti pot tip into one of your nostrils.
Now, tilt the neti pot, and water will flow down into your nostrils and into the oropharynx. During its passage through your nasal cavity, it will wash away all the contaminants and relieve pressure from your sinus cavity. As a result, you’ll start feeling much better.
Basil
Basil, also known as “Tulsi,” contains cineole and camphene that relieves the congestion in your nasal passages. The antiviral and antifungal property of basil treats any microorganisms that might be responsible for your sinus headache. Collect and wash 8-10 basil leaves.
Now, take a piece of ginger and chop it to shreds. Add 10 peppercorns to that mixture and make a paste. Now, boil a cup of water. Add the paste to that water and let it simmer. After a few minutes add some sugar candy to the solution and drink it on an empty stomach. Ancient Indian people used to drink this and benefited greatly.
Tomato Tea
Prepare a cup of perfect tomato tea as your homemade remedy with the help of this simple yet effective recipe. Take 2 cups of tomato juice, a few garlic cloves, hot sauce, and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice in a bowl. Now heat it until it starts to boil. Remove it from the flame, and let it settle a bit.
Now, drink the solution and inhale the steam. The solution will clear your oropharynx, and the steam will clear your nasal passages. Remember, you can always replace the tomato juice with vegetable soups or other juices.
Combination of Pepper and Spices
This might sound strange, but pepper and spices or their combination can help you with your fight against a sinus headache. You just add pepper or spices to your food, and they will show their magic. Just prepare your favorite tea, can ginger or tulsi tea, and add some cayenne pepper to it and consume the tea.
Alternatively, you can add spices to your favorite curry or soup. This will also clear your nasal passages. Lastly, for strong-hearted people, you can try chewing a piece of jalapeno pepper. You might cry a bit initially, but don’t worry; it will start draining your mucus down your throat.
Try Bromelain
Athletes all around the world have been using this natural remedy for sinus headache for quite some time. Bromelain is a protein usually found in the pineapple stem. It can reduce the swelling around your face and clear the nasal passages.
A lot of physicians advise bromelain for a sinus headache. Still, it's better to consult your physician before starting this medication, since it might interact with your regular medications.
Humming Could be a Deal Breaker
Researchers have found an interesting relationship between humming and sinus pain relief. They say that if you hum for an hour each day, you are less likely to experience symptoms of a sinus headache.
The underlying reason is that humming increases airflow and the amount of nitric oxide inside your sinuses. These two factors combined help people experience a decreased incidence of sinus headache symptoms.
Dos and Don’ts
You already have some ideas regarding how to get rid of sinus pressure. There are a few things you should always bear in mind. Here is our list of dos and don’ts when it comes to sinus headache relief.- Always take necessary precautions before using a remedy that involves heat. Cover your head, and wear gloves if necessary.
- Follow procedures or take remedies that are certified by experts. Never put your faith in average online portals.
- Don’t put your face too close to steam, or you might burn yourself. Take necessary precautions before doing procedures involving steam.
- Never, I said never, take any recipe that includes a chemical or artificial ingredient without first getting it verified by your physician. Otherwise, you might regret it.
- If you don’t get the necessary benefit by taking a remedy, try another one. Keep trying until you find the perfect recipe for your problems.
- Follow our article as it has been formulated by experts in this sector. You won’t be disappointed.
Conclusion
That's it. We have covered the basics of “how to get rid of a sinus headache.” We have told you what exactly a sinus headache is, what the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are, and what the complications might be of a sinus headache if left untreated.
Now if you were wondering how to get rid of sinus pressure, in the next section, we have presented you with 15 homemade remedies for that. All of our recipes and procedures are certified by experts, and practiced by millions all around the globe.
If you have any doubt, just consult your physician, and they will tell you the same. Lastly, if you have any suggestions regarding our contents, or want to add another homemade remedy to our list, just leave a comment in the comment box at the end of this article. Your comments will be highly appreciated.
