Experiencing a sinus headache can be an extremely unpleasant experience. It often leaves you feeling congested, irritable, and tired. The pain from a sinus headache is often unbearable and can affect your temples, forehead or even your entire face. Fever and sore throat are also common symptoms. Thankfully there are many tried and true home remedies available to relieve the discomfort and give relief, and most of them are quite effective.

Many people swear by the use of a cold compress to deliver relief. Simply placing the compress on your forehead for a few minutes will typically ease inflammation and lower your fever. The coolness can feel great on your skin as well. Remember to only keep a cold compress on your skin for twenty minutes or less every two or three hours,
and if you’re using an ice pack, place a wash cloth or paper towel between it and your skin to protect yourself.

To combat the fever and sore throat you may feel due to your sinus headache you could try a mild pain reliever such as Tylenol, or a throat spray such as Chloraseptic on top of any and all of these home remedies. If your fever persists, however, you should see a doctor immediately.

It is well known that there are certain spices that, if eaten, will work to clear the sinuses and ease sinus pressure headaches. Spices that work best are cayenne pepper, curry powder and many Cajun seasonings. Eucalyptus oil also works as an excellent expectorant, as are pineapples and any food where quercetin is found.  Foods are avoid would be fried food, dairy products and any other food known to cause congestion and dampness in your body. Be careful if you are on any type of supplement or medication as they may adversely interfere with this, or any, home remedy.

A major cause of the sinus troubles that cause sinus headaches is excessive dryness in the air caused by air-conditioning or dry heat. Many physicians recommend buying a humidifier, which adds moisture to the air. It’s vital, however, to make certain that you keep your humidifier very clean. Read the manual and change the filter as recommended. The best time to run your humidifier is at night, which is when the majority of sinus irritation occurs. If you can’t afford a humidifier you can also sit in the bathroom with the hot water running for fifteen or twenty minutes.

A popular and effective home remedy for sinus relief is the neti-pot. Neti pots have been used in the east for centuries as a cheap and easy method of irrigating the sinus passages. There are many modern variations available today, but all of them work essentially the same way. Warm water is mixed with salt making a saline solution that is poured in one nostril and allowed to drain out the other. While this may not alleviate the pain of a sinus related headache in progress, it is highly recommended preventative measure. For more detailed information, check out our post on how to use a net-pot.

It’s important to keep in mind as you attempt these at home remedies that what works for one person may not work for another. Also, most home remedies have not undergone any scientific testing, so their value isn’t entirely proven. It is also important to note that if you experience a sinus headache for more than a few days, and nothing you do gives you relief, you should make an appointment with your doctor because it might be something more serious. As always, if you are pregnant or nursing you should talk to a doctor before performing any home remedy.

Finding Sinus Headache Relief Through Home Remedies

This is a series of articles that deals with Migraines and the challenges a family faces to find a cure. Migraines can have a hugely negative impact not only on the person suffering but also everyone involved. Hopefully other migraine victims will find helpful relief … if not within these articles from the resources available to date.

Part 1

My wife has a lifelong history of migraine headaches. Before meeting her I never knew anyone that suffered from migraines. But I still remember the first time I witnessed my wife with a full-blown migraine. We were just starting our day and I came into the bedroom to let her know that breakfast was ready.

At first I thought that she had stroke and was aphasic. Her speech was slurred and she had lost some muscle control on the left side of her face. Both my grandmother and mother had strokes. “What can I do to help?” “Are you having a stroke?” I asked franticly.

She slowly lifted her finger to her lips as she looked up. “Shhh … I’ve got a migraine.” I remembered hearing that people with migraines were very sensitive to light (photophobia) and sound (phonophobia). I quietly closed the Venetian blind and snuck out of the bedroom.

The Headaches of Family Life with a Migraine – Part 1

After a very will received review of the neti pot and it’s effectiveness as a treatment for chronic sinusitis, or sinus infections, I thought that I would revisit the subject with some additional pointers on correct usage. It seems that a fairly large percentage of people who try the neti pot do not continue using it. This is really too bad, because they could be missing out on an inexpensive treatment that could alleviate their sinus headaches. I personally have saved approximately $100 this winter that would have been spent on various sinus medications.

As I stated in my earlier article, it takes a week or two to get used to the act of pouring water through your sinus cavity. Here are a few additional tips on using the neti pot that will help you through the first few tries:

• Water temperature – This is the most important element in comfortable usage of the neti pot. The water should be as close to body temperature as possible. If it is too cold, you will feel as if you are about to drown and if it is too hot then you will feel a burning sensation. Most neti pots are microwave safe, so try microwaving at 10 – 15 seconds until the water feels luke warm to the the touch.

• Saline Packets - I personally only use saline packages specifically designed for nasal irrigation. These have special buffering agents that adjust the PH levels to make the solution more comfortable.

• Saline Solution – In the beginning it is not necessary to use an entire packet of saline. You want to acclimate yourself to this new technique, so try using 1/4 – 1/2 of a packet in the beginning. Many recommend using an entire neti pot of solution for each nostril, but this is definitely overkill for the beginner. Begin by using half of a neti pot for each sinus cavity.

Remember, the best results are achieved through regular usage over time. If you are still having trouble, here is a video demonstrating the proper technique.

Neti Pot Instructions

I have to say that I was skeptical when my mother first suggested using this thing called the Neti Pot to treat my recurring sinus infections. Especially since it came highly recommended from none other than the Big “O”, Ms. Winfrey herself. Generally I disregard anything that she (Big “O”, not my mom) instructs her legions of followers to do, but in this case, I have to admit that had my mom not seen the Netti Pot on Oprah and suggested it to me, I would still be suffering from severe sinusitis and recurring infections.

The word neti is an abbreviation of the sankskrit word jala neti which means “water cleansing”. Though the technique has been unknown in the West until recently, Indian yogi’s have been performing the procedure for thousands of years as a part of their daily cleansing ritual.

The concept is really simple. You simply fill the neti pot with warm salt water and poor it in one nostril until it comes out of the other one. This basically clears out all of that nasty stuff up there and prevents bacteria from having a pool party in your sinuses. Though the concept is simple, the actual technique and preparation does require a little practice. You should always use salt water for the best results. I personally opt to buy the refills, but you can make your own mixture if you run out of the refill packets. Non-iodized salt is best and the mixture should be at a ratio of approximately 1 1/2 teaspoons per liter of warm water. One advantage with the pre-mixed packets, is that they are able to have a higher saline content since special buffering agents prevent discomfort to the nasal cavity. The water should be as close to body temperature as you can get it without being too hot. If the temperature is too cold, you will fell like you are drowning in the ocean.

After stirring the mixture thoroughly, lean over a sink and tilt your head down and slightly to one side. You then place the spout of the neti pot in the nostril, establishing as tight of a seal as possible, and raise the pot slightly allowing the water to flow slowly into the nasal passage. Continue to breathe normally through your mouth. If you are positioned correctly, you should feel the water going from one side to the other until you have a steady stream flowing out of the nostril.

It took me about three attempts before I felt that I was doing it correctly, so don’t get too discouraged if it doesn’t go well the first few times. Also, if you have a lot of blockage then you may have to switch from side to side several times blowing your nose in between flushes. I recommend using just half a packet starting out, and one full pot for both nostrils. After a few weeks, you can do a full pot for each nostril for the maximum effect.

So far, I have been using the neti pot nightly for about 6 weeks and I have not had any of the usual sinus problems that have plagued me constantly for the last two years. It has also alleviated my snoring, since I am no longer struggling to breathe at night.

I highly recommend watching this video before trying the neti pot: http://www.himalayaninstitute.org/NetiPot/NetiPotInstructions.aspx.

Treating Sinus Headaches with the Neti Pot