Authored by Dr Harsh Sharma, Edited and Peer Reviewed by Dr. Pooja Sharma

Published April 3, 2014, Last updated October 21, 2016

What is Sinusitis

Sinusitis is an inflammation of one or many of the sinuses present in and around the nose. This is a common problem that afflicts almost every person at one time or the other. Some people get better after a short time and don’t have the problem again. In some people it becomes a recurrent feature and is known as chronic sinusitis. To be able to understand this disease better, it is important to know what a sinus is.

Understanding a Sinus

A sinus is a hollow space anywhere in the body. There are four pairs of sinuses located around the nose within the skull, namely the frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid and maxillary. They are meant to drain the air and mucous and are connected to the nose for this very purpose.

Inside the sinus, there is a lining of mucous membrane which produces mucous. This mucous serves a very important purpose in the sinus as it provides a vehicle to wash off any allergens or any bacteria or viruses that may be present in the sinuses. The sinuses help to keep the skull light and by providing empty space, they add a bit of resonance to the voice of the individual.

Causes of Sinusitis

Any of the large variety of viruses and bacteria can cause an infection in the sinuses. A common cold can often cause the infection to spread into the sinuses. Although the human body can fight off any acute infection, at times it may be incapable of doing so. Often people who are allergic to some thing or have a history of allergies in their family are more likely to have chronic sinusitis.

Symptoms of Sinusitis

The common symptoms of sinusitis happen to be a recurrent cold, an obstruction of the nose, frequent sneezing and a frontal headache. Due to the obstruction of the nose, one may not be able to breathe through the mouth and may have to keep his mouth open to be able to breathe. Often the voice becomes nasal as its resonance is lost. There may be a yellowish or greenish discharge from the posterior part of the nose and it keeps dripping into the throat. Pain or heaviness may be felt in the frontal part of the head or the forehead. Some people experience shooting pain on stooping down. Watery eyes and sneezing may be present.

Preventing Sinusitis

It may not be always possible to prevent sinusitis but a few simple things can go a long way in this sphere.

• One should avoid getting exposed to cold and also known allergens.
• Sudden changes of temperature may exacerbate the symptoms and should be avoided.
• Avoid smoke, dust and all pollutants. Smoking should be avoided
• Steam inhalation can help by decongesting the nasal cavities. A simple exercise taught in Yoga called ‘Jal Neti’ is very helpful in draining out a blocked and infected sinus.

How Homoeopathy cures Sinusitis

Homoeopathy stands at a great advantage when it comes to the treatment of sinusitis. The reason of this advantage is that it does not focus just on the immediate infection but also helps in raising the immunity of the body to such an extent that it can fight off any future infection on its own. Homeopathic medicines like Kali Bi, Silicea, Hydrastis, Hepar Sulphur are more commonly used but a detailed perusal of the symptoms is required to be able to prescribe the correct remedy.