Teas for Sinus Infection
What is a Sinus Infection? What is Sinusitis?
Have you ever had a sinus infection?
Yes! Most of us have dealt with at least one of them.
Sinus infections are also known as sinusitis or rhinosinusitis.
They are one of the top reasons that people visit their doctor, and also a frequent cause for antibiotic prescriptions.
The sinuses extend across the forehead, between the eyes, and under the nose and cheekbones.
These cavities are normally filled with air, but can become blocked and filled with fluid when they become inflamed and irritated.
This irritation can be due to allergies or infections–which can be bacterial, viral, or fungal in origin.
When the tissues of your sinuses become inflamed or swollen, they cause symptoms such as pain, stuffy nose, congestion, postnasal drip, or facial pressure.
Acute sinus infections usually last less than a month, and are generally caused by cold viruses.
Chronic sinus infections are usually bacterial in origin and can last three months or longer, even with treatment. While bacteria can cause sinusitis, they can also come in after an initial infection by a virus.
People with weakened immune systems may be more prone to fungal sinusitis, of which there are many different types.
One common type of noninvasive fungal sinusitis is an allergic reaction to fungi in the nose. This type of sinus infection often affects those with asthma or hay fever.
Treatments for Sinus Infection
What makes a sinus infection different from a cold or allergies? All of these have similar symptoms, and it’s possible you might have more than one.
One of the hallmarks of a sinus infection is facial pressure and pain. The pain can feel more intense when leaning forward, bending over, or even just turning your head in a certain way.
Like a cold, a sinus infection often goes away on its own over time. Very rarely, the infection may spread to surrounding areas and become quite serious.
But typically, sinus infections are treated with decongestants, cold and allergy medications, antibiotics, or steroid sprays.
Natural remedies for sinusitis include using a neti pot (nasal irrigation with a saline solution), hot showers, facial steams, warm face compresses, and even yoga.
Teas for Sinus Infections
What is the best tea for sinus infections? While there is no true “sinus relief tea” (we looked everywhere), here’s a roundup of what the scientific literature says.
Even before taking a sip, tea can make your sinus symptoms feel better.
Since facial steams over a bowl of hot water (with a towel draped over the head) can warm and moisten sinuses, a hot mug of tea can provide a similar therapy.
While you wait for your hot mug of tea to cool to a drinkable temperature, why not use the opportunity to breathe in the steam and relax?
The warmth and moisture content of the steam will feel good and can help relieve facial pressure.
In addition, drinking tea is an enjoyable way to drink more water.
Adequate hydration is often recommended in combination with the previously mentioned conventional sinusitis treatments.
Drinking lots of fluids including tea, will help to hydrate the sinuses, dilute mucus, and promote drainage.
PEPPERMINT
A study completed in Puerto Rico interviewed mothers or women in the household on their knowledge and use of traditional botanical remedies.
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) was traditionally used to treat sinusitis, as a decoction of fresh leaves in water. One cup of tea was used between one and three times a day for several days.
Peppermint leaf tea is easy to make with either fresh or dried peppermint leaves in hot water.
MAGNOLIA
The dried flower buds of a special variety of magnolia tree called Biondi’s magnolia (Magnolia biondii), have been used to treat sinusitis as part of Asian herbal medicine.
It has been noted to have antibacterial, anti-inflamatory, and antioxidant activity.
Magnolia tea is also known as Flos Magnolia or Xin-yi in Chinese.
EUCALYPTUS
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) is similar to magnolia in that 1,8-Cineole is also one of its main components.
It was found to be inhibitory on bacterial species found in chronic rhinosinusitis.
A paper published in 2021 also discussed the treatment of acute viral and post-viral rhinosinusitis with an herbal medicine containing eucalyptus in addition to sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), lemon (C. limon), and common myrtle (Myrtus communis).
Breathe Easy tea contains a combination of herbs including eucalyptus, magnolia flower, and peppermint.
Thinking About The Root Causes of Sinusitis
But…what really causes a sinus infection?
Aside from viruses, bacteria, fungi, and environmental triggers, it’s worth investigating your overall health and immunity.
If you find yourself dealing with recurrent bouts of sinusitis, try to think about how many courses of antibiotics were prescribed for those infections over your lifetime.
Certainly, antibiotics can be helpful and even life-saving in some situations.
But did you know that the overuse of antibiotics can make you more susceptible to illness?
has been shown to affect our gut health and result in an increased susceptibility to illness.
The human gut microbiome in very closely linked with the immune system.
Numerous studies have shown that the gut microbiota experiences dysbiosis (or imbalance) following exposure to antibiotics.
This dysbiosis then causes impairment in our immune responses.
Our food supply is another source of antibiotics.
A recent report showed the presence of veterinary drugs in many fast food meals, including antibiotics, growth hormones, and contraceptives.
Another study found that patients with the highest severity and frequency of chronic rhinosinusitis were correlated with the lowest Vitamin D levels.
While you can’t undo years of prescribed antibiotics or never eat fast food again, it really helps to be mindful of overall consumption and balance that with a holisitic view of health.