Sinus pressure is the result of inflammation in the sinus cavity that places excessive pressure on surrounding areas of the head. Sinus pressure, also referred to as a sinus headache, is a dull, throbbing pain felt in the center of the head that is worse upon waking and typically improves throughout the day. Hot tea is one natural approach to alleviating the pain and discomfort associated with sinus pressure, according to MedlinePlus. Talk with your doctor before using any treatment for a medical condition.
Causes
Sinus pressure is caused by swollen sinus cavities. The main causes of inflamed nasal passages are the common cold, allergies and nasal deformities. The common cold is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the upper respiratory system, including the throat, nose and sinuses. Chronic allergies, such as hay fever, cause constant irritation of the sinus cavity, encouraging swelling. If you've been diagnosed with nasal polyps or a deviated septum, you are at higher risk of developing chronic sinus pressure, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Symptoms
Symptoms of sinus pressure headaches include nasal congestion, yellowish-green nasal discharge, sneezing, fatigue, loss of smell and taste, mild fever, postnasal drip, and pain in the head that worsens when you stand up quickly or bend down, according to MedlinePlus. You will feel facial tenderness behind the eyes as well as in the cheeks, ears, forehead and nose. Extreme temperature changes can make the sinus pressure pain worse. Because of the inability to drain mucus through the nose, you may experience excessive amounts of drainage in the back of the throat.
Hot Tea Remedy
You should drink a lot of hot teas to help promote sinus health, says Murray Grossan, M.D.,
board certified in otolaryngology and head and neck surgery, of Cedars Sinai Hospital Medical Towers
in Los Angeles. The warmth from the tea helps to thin the thick and trapped mucus in the sinuses. Just like heating up lard in a frying pan, the heat from the tea will cause the mucus to melt. Drinking tea will also help keep the mucus thin from the increased liquid intake. MedlinePlus recommends drinking other hot beverages in addition to tea, such as broth or chicken soup.
Considerations
Use herbal, caffeine-free teas to treat sinus pressure. Caffeine is a diuretic that will deplete the body of water, which could result in greater nasal congestion and pressure.
Other Remedies
Use other natural remedies alongside drinking hot tea, such as inhaling steam, running a humidifier at night, using a saline nasal solution and sleeping with your head elevated, notes UMMC.
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