Eighty per cent of Australians experience respiratory ailments at some time in their lives. What surprises me most is the fact that so many live with some form of respiratory discomfort or disease all their lives, regarding the condition normal because so many others suffer with it.

A common respiratory problem is sinusitis. Sinusitis can cause discomfort such as sneezing and pain in the sinus duct, but it can also develop into very serious conditions such as cysts and cancer. Some sinus conditions require an extremely traumatic surgery that further damages the sinus membrane and tissue.

The early symptoms of sinusitis include nasal congestion, blocked or runny nose and purulent discharge. Some patients also experience frontal headache, pain, and tenderness. Hay fever, certain types of allergy, viral infection, dental infection, and general poor immune function can contribute to the condition by inducing swelling of the mucous membranes, which results in obstruction of mucous drainage. This poor drainage leads to overgrowth of bacteria such as streptococci, and pneumococci.
From the Traditional Chinese Medical point of view, wind heat is the most common external cause of sinusitis. Invasion of wind depletes the normal function of the lung, which results in obstruction of the fluid drainage from the sinus. If heat is involved, the fluids condense to form thick, sticky, yellow or green mucous. This is usually the result of the sinus infection.

The most common causes of sinusitis are liver qi stagnation, phlegm heat accumulation, lung and spleen qi deficiency, and kidney deficiency.

Liver qi stagnation type is brought on by ongoing stress and suppressed emotion, which obstruct the normal flow of liver qi. Prolonged liver qi stagnation generates heat, which then rises to the sinus and causes congestion of the mucous membranes. Swelling and congestion are common symptoms; the nose can be very dry without any discharge at all. Stress exacerbates the swelling. If this condition is not treated early, it will develop into liver and gallbladder fire type, which is characterised by sinus pain and purulent discharge. 

Phlegm heat type is brought on by over consumption, or long-term consumption, of heating or phlegm-producing food such as dairy products, alcohol, and processed, deep-fried, rich, oily foods. Symptoms are nasal congestion combined with a burning sensation in the sinus, thick green or yellow discharge, sinus pain and headache, and in some instances, earache.

Lung and spleen qi deficiency is caused by overwork, excessive worry or mental strain, spasmodic eating, over consumption of cold, raw or damp food. It can also occur with prolonged illness, which weakens the spleen function. This in turn obstructs the normal function of the lung and the spleen's ability to transform and transport fluid.

Kidney deficiency type is usually associated with those who have illnesses of a chronic nature, and mostly happens to elderly people. If this type of sinusitis manifests in a very young child, it can be a constitutional weakness from poor prenatal nutrition, or it can be inherited from both parents.

Treatment of sinusitis needs to be differentiated according to the specific types. Prescriptions, which comprise herbal formulas, nutritional supplements and acupuncture points, differ from one type to the other. For this reason, I conduct detailed questioning and examination so as to provide accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Most patients who come to my clinic have used all kinds of over-the-counter nasal sprays or antibiotics for many years before seeking alternative help. Thus the majority of patients all present symptoms of a chronic nature. In cases of chronic sinusitis, I usually combine natural medicine, Chinese medicine and acupuncture to achieve maximum results.

Before starting treatment, I check for environmental irritants and food intolerance and eliminate them. People often believe that they must go on a very strict diet, but this is not true. Bio-nutritional medicine is very powerful now and is extremely effective in the treatment of most illnesses. Homoeopathic medicine quite successfully desensitises patients from environmental irritants, and food intolerance can be rectified by the blood group diet or a detoxification diet.

If you are unable to visit a natural therapist, here are some home treatments you may try:

Every day, wash your sinus with warm salty water to dislodge thick mucous and any local infection, and tone up the mucous membrane.

Applying a heat pack to the sinus can alleviate pain.
Drinking honeysuckle tea or fenugreek tea daily will prevent sinusitis.

Eat lots of fresh garlic every day.

A general principle for any infection is to improve your immune system. Vitamin C and other antioxidants, mushroom extract, Chinese wormwood, Astragalus 8 Formula, and goldenseal are effective, but it is essential to take the appropriate dose.

This article was first published in the magazine “Nature and Health”

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