A sinus cold is uncomfortable. The symptoms include a stuffy nose, headache and eye and facial pain, MayoClinic.com reports. The inability to breathe through the nose also may contribute to poor sleeping until the sinus congestion heals. While there are many over-the-counter drugs available to fight sinus colds, some herbal supplements may help, as well. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration does not approve herbal supplements, so no clinical trials are required for them. This means herbal supplements may not do all that their manufacturers claim.
Herbal Scents
Soothing scents such as peppermint and other mints may help to ease the swelling of the sinus membranes, allowing air to move freely through them, HerbalRemediesCure.com suggests. Many "essential" oils may be used as part of aromatherapy to provide relief from nasal congestion. You may simply smell the oils, but you also can place them in vaporizers to help them permeate the air in your house or room. While some of the same scents are available as incense, the smoke from burning these may cause you to continue to have breathing problems.
Licorice Products
Licorice helps the immune system fight the sinus cold as well as decreasing sinus congestion, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. Licorice also smells good. Relaxation and drinking licorice tea helps to sooth the scratchy throat and bring calmness. You also can take licorice as an extract or as an oral supplement in capsule or lozenge form.
Eucalyptus
Applying eucalyptus to achy muscles and the outside of throat on the neck helps to unblock sinuses, as the soothing scent opens the once blocked sinus pathways, the University of Maryland indicates. Eucalyptus unblocks the sinus pathways by relaxing them.
Ginger
Drinking tea with a sprinkle of ginger helps the headache associated with a sinus infection. It may help to soothe the tension associated with the illness of a sinus cold, the National Institutes of Health indicate. You also can take ginger in capsule form.
Echinacea
This herb may help to build up the immune system and helps fight the sinus cold, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. It may help to alleviate the symptoms of the sinus congestion. This herb is taken in capsulated form. It may fight the common cold by fighting germs that attack the body's immune response.
Mint Tea
Mint tea helps to soothe the sore throat associated with the sinus cold. Mint also smells good and is naturally soothing. Mint is a welcomed addition to any tea and can be taken as a mint lozenge, HealthLearningInfo.org indicates. Drinking tea and smelling the mint may give you a sense of well-being and comfort when you suffer a sinus cold.
References
- HerbalRemediesCure.com: What is Sinusitis?
- HealthLearningInfo.org: The Health Benefits of Mint
- National Institutes of Health: What is Ginger Used For?
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Echinacea
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Camphor/eucalyptus oil/menthol (On the skin)
- MayoClinic.com: Acute Sinusitis
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