Sinus infections are common ailments that cause inflammation and swollen tissues in your nasal passages, keeping mucus from draining properly and making it difficult to breathe through your nose. No home remedy has been proven effective against sinusitis, but honey has been shown effective against some strains of bacteria that cause sinus infections, though clinical trials are in their infancy. Consult your doctor before using any home remedy.
Sinus Infections
The common cold is most often the cause of sinus infections, but sinusitis can also be caused by bacterial and fungal infections and allergies. If you experience severe sinus infections for a long time or on a regular basis, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. In rare instances, sinus surgery may be recommended. Surgery won't stop you from getting sinus infections, but small surgical openings will allow better drainage.
Biofilms
Biofilms are clusters of bacteria that form a coating over disease-causing microorganisms and protect them from antibiotics. Biofilms have been shown to play a part in recurring sinus infections. According to the publication "Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery," a 2009 study found that honey was anywhere from 63 to 100 percent effective at killing two kinds of sinusitis-causing bacterial biofilms. Honey was significantly more effective against the biofilms than one antibiotic.
Manuka Honey
All types of honey have antibacterial activity, but New Zealand manuka honey has been shown to have a unique component, methylglyoxal (MGO), that makes it a superior antimicrobial agent, according to "The Laryngoscope Journal." Past studies show that a high concentration of manuka honey is effective against one sinusitis bacteria. A 2011 study tested three less-concentrated solutions for more practical use in treating sinus infections. Researchers found that manuka honey and another type of honey with added MGO were twice as effective as a solution of strictly MGO against bacterial biofilms. Results suggest that honey with added MGO is just as effective as manuka honey, and that MGO is only partially responsible for honey's antibiofilm activity.
Clinical Study
A clinical study is in 2011 recruiting Canadian patients to test the effectiveness of manuka honey on sinus-causing bacteria, according to ClinicalTrials.gov. Current treatment uses a saline solution to irrigate the nasal passages for six months following surgery. Half of the test group of adults undergoing sinus surgery will be assigned a manuka honey irrigation solution, while the rest will use a traditional saline solution. Patients' infections, pain and bleeding will be assessed in postoperative followup appointments for six months.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Acute Sinusitis
- Sinuses.com: Persistent Sinusitis Despite Surgery
- "Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery"; Effectiveness of Honey on Staphylococcus Aureus and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Biofilms; T. Alandejani, et al.; July 2009
- "The Laryngoscope Journal"; Anti-Staphylococcus Aureus Biofilm Activity of Manuka Honey; J. Jervis-Bardy, et al.; May 2011
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Manuka Honey Irrigation After Sinus Surgery
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