Homeopathic medicine, treatment and remedies for Sinusitis

• Arsenicum Album
  Common name: Arsenic trioxide
  Symptoms: The following symptoms are presented by a person who benefits from arsenicum album:
  • Headache, which get better in cold surroundings
  • Burning pain in the head accompanied by restlessness
  • Olfactory and visual hallucinations
  • Ear pain
  • Expulsion of a thin and watery discharge from nose
  • Stuffy nose
  • Sneezing without relief
  • Bleeding from the nose associated with appearance of acne
  • Nasal symptoms get worse in open air and better on staying indoors
  • Excessive sweating
  • Facial swelling with cold and pale skin
  • Needle-like stinging pain in the face
  • Dry tongue
  • Metallic taste in the mouth
  • Swelling in throat with burning and constrictive pain
  • Inability to swallow food comfortably
  • Excessive thirst
  • Craving for milk and coffee
  • Fever with high temperature
  • Cold sweats
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Symptoms get worse in humid weather and better from heat or keeping the head elevated
• Belladonna
  Common name: Deadly nightshade
  Symptoms: Belladonna is a well-suited remedy for addressing the following symptoms:
  • Throbbing pain in the head
  • Palpitations in the head
  • Congestive headaches
  • Pain gets worse on exposure to light or lying on the right side
  • Swollen, bluish red face
  • Twitching of facial muscles
  • Swelling on the upper lip
  • Congestive pain in eyes
  • Visual and gustatory hallucinations
  • Disturbed sleep in children due to ear pain
  • Hearing one’s own voice in the ear
  • Tingling sensation on the tip of the nose
  • Redness of nose due to swelling
  • Discharge of mucus along with blood from the nose
  • Dry mouth along with throbbing pain in teeth
  • Swollen tongue
  • Congestion and constrictive feeling in the throat
  • Enlarged tonsils
  • Feeling a lump in the throat along with spasms
  • Continuous inclination to swallow even when not eating
  • Loss of appetite
  • Excessive thirst for cold water
  • Uncontrollable vomiting
  • A feeling of dryness in nose while breathing
  • High-pitched voice
  • Moaning with every breath
  • Swelling in the glands of neck
  • High fever with burning heat
  • Restlessness
  • Symptoms get better on lying down
• Bryonia Alba
  Common name: Wild hops
  Symptoms: The following symptoms can be remedied with the help of bryonia:
  • Constant state of confusion along with giddiness
  • Congestion in the head, which causes one to stagger backwards
  • A feeling of heaviness and fullness along with exapansive pressure in the head
  • shooting pain in the head, usually on one side
  • Pulsating headache triggered by movement
  • Burning pain in the head along with a sensation that everything might fall out of the head
  • Tearing pain in the right side of the head
  • Cold sweat on the forehead
  • Swelling in nose
  • Blocked nose along with inflammation and ulceration
  • Frequent nose bleeds, usually in the mornings, but sometimes when asleep as well
  • Sudden suppression of nasal discharge, which increases the congestive feeling
  • Hard mucus, which dries up in crusts
  • Face appears yellow and red due to swelling
  • Swelling in lips and cheeks
  • Face sensitive to touch
  • Dryness in the mouth along with bad breath
  • Sore throat with hoarseness of voice
  • Feeling the accumulation of mucus in throat
  • Nausea in the morning
  • Slow and troubled breathing
  • Fever with shivering and feeling extremely cold 
• Hepar Sulph
  Common name: Hahnemann’s calcium sulphide
  Symptoms: The following symptoms can be relieved by this remedy:
  • Severe pain in the right temple of the head
  • Pain in the root of the nose, especially in mornings
  • Itching and burning sensation on the scalp with cold sweat on the forehead
  • Ulcers in and around the nasal area
  • Soreness in nostrils
  • Constant sneezing, especially in a cold and dry environment
  • Expulsion of thick discharge from the nose
  • Yellow tinge on the face
  • Pain in facial bones
  • Pain in throat along with a feeling of obstruction
  • Pain in ears while trying to swallow
  • Unhealthy skin
  • Profuse sweating during fever
  • Symptoms get worse in a cold and dry environment and better in a damp and warm environment
• Kali Bichromicum
  Common name: Bichromate of potash
  Symptoms: This remedy is well suited for individuals who exhibit the following symptoms:
  • Swelling and tearing pain in ears
  • Expulsion of a thick and yellow discharge from ears
  • A feeling of pressure at the root of the nose
  • Expulsion of hick and greenish-yellow discharge from nose
  • Loss of smell
  • Violent sneezing
  • Constant agitation
  • Watery nasal discharge
  • Inflammation in the frontal sinuses
  • Inflammation in throat along with discharge from the mouth and throat
  • Symptoms get better with heat

In a study conducted on 152 patients using kalium bichromicum as one of the remedies, 81% of patients with acute sinusitis and 67% of patients with chronic sinusitis reported significant relief from symptoms.

• Kalium Iodatum
  Common name: Iodide of potassium
  Symptoms: The following symptoms may be noted in the patient who benefits from kalium iodatum:
  • Pain in the sides of head
  • Violent headache with intense pain in eyes
  • Pain in the root of the nose
  • Redness of nose due to inflammation
  • Thin and hot watery nasal discharge
  • Sneezing
  • Stuffy and blocked nose due to accumulation of mucus
  • Absence of nasal discharge at times, but when present, could be thick and green
  • Violent coughing, which gets worse in mornings
  • Pain in lungs
  • Sore throat
• Silicea Terra
  Common name: Silica
  Symptoms: The following symptoms are relieved by this remedy:
  • Headache which extends to eyes
  • Pain in eyes on exposure to light
  • Expulsion of foetid discharge from ears
  • Itching in nose
  • Formation of dry and hard crusts of mucus around the nose
  • Sensitivity in nasal bone
  • Sneezing in the morning
  • Nasal blockage, which leads to loss of smell
  • Throbbing and tearing pain in facial muscles
  • Redness of face due to inflammation
  • Pricking sensation in tonsils
  • Swelling in throat along with pain on swallowing food
  • Cough and sore throat
  • Expulsion of hard and small granules from throat, which have a very offensive smell
  • Excessive coughing when lying down
  • Symptoms may get worse on lying down but better in a wet and humid weather

Do’s

A few measures which may prove to be helpful when following a homeopathic regimen are:

• Maintain good personal and enviornmental hygiene. Engage in physical activities on a daily basis and have an active lifestyle. Brisk exercising like yoga and jogging should be added to the daily routine.
• Wear comfortable and airy clothes.
• Take a healthy diet rich in nutrients and fibre.

Don’ts

• Intake of beverages such as coffee and tea must be avoided or limited. Of note, the consumption of alcohol while taking homeopathic medications is strictly prohibited.
• One must consciously avoid the intake of stimulating food items or herbs such as onions, garlic and asafoetida.
• Refrain from having foods which are too sweet or salty.
• Use of strong and artificial scents such as perfumes and room fresheners must also be avoided.

Conventionally, sinusitis treatment involves the administration of antihistamine drugs and decongestants for preventing allergies and nasal congestion. Though it provides temporary relief, it may not be effective enough to provide relief from sinusitis in the long term. Homeopathy works on the principle ‘like cures like’ and hence finds a holistic approach to treating disease conditions along with its root causes. It helps in achieving overall wellness, which prevents the recurrence of symptoms. Since different kinds of allergens can also cause inflammation in the sinuses, homeopathic treatment aims at improving one’s immunity to fight such allergens naturally and produces minimum side effects in the process. 

A clinical study involving 628 patients with chronic sinusitis asserted that remedies such as kali iod and silicea were most helpful in the treatment of chronic sinusitis without any ensuing complications. 

A study conducted on patients with aggravated sinusitis symptoms such as headaches and cough reported that 81.5% of patients described themselves as symptom-free or significantly improved health over a 2-week course of homeopathic treatment. 

In a study conducted on 134 adults suffering from chronic sinusitis, it was found that relevant improvements persisted for up to 8 years in patients undergoing homeopathic treatment. 

Homeopathic medications are widely recognised for their effectiveness in various health conditions. These are derived from naturally occurring substances and are carefully diluted in order to suit individual needs. A detailed health history of the individual allows the practitioner to administer the most appropriate and useful remedy as per disease symptoms and individual miasms. These medicines produce minimum side effects and seek to provide long-term benefit. Hence, they are very safe to use as long as a proper regimen is being followed under the supervision of a certified practitioner. 

Symptoms of acute sinusitis may resolve within a few days. However, chronic sinusitis can be very unpleasant to deal with and manage since it produces painful symptoms, which prevent one from doing daily activities with ease. Homeopathy can be a useful tool for dealing with sinusitis and strengthening the immune system. When taken under the supervision of an experienced practitioner, homeopathic remedies uproot disease symptoms and prevent relapse without posing a risk of side effects.