Sinus problems are a pain, literally. Inflammation of the sinuses leads to pain and trouble breathing, and you may feel like you'd do anything to get your nasal passages to open back up. Fortunately, relief may be as close as your kitchen. Hot tea and other warm beverages can help open your nasal passages and offer relief from your sinus symptoms.
Sinus Problems
The area around your nasal passages is known as your sinuses. When your sinuses become swollen and inflamed, mucous can build up and have trouble draining through your nose like it should. This condition is known as sinusitis, and it can be quite painful.
Symptoms
Sinusitis symptoms include a stuffed, congested nose; severe headache, especially around and behind the eyes; facial pain that may be intense and throbbing; pain in your upper teeth and jaw; cough, especially at night; thick yellow or green mucous draining from your nose or down your throat; sore throat; fatigue; bad breath; ear pain; and fever. You may have all of these symptoms or only a few. Sinusitis is often caused by a common cold and may linger after the cold is gone. It can also be caused by allergies or bacterial infections. Symptoms usually go away on their own. If they last longer than 12 weeks, you have chronic sinusitis and need to pay a visit to the doctor to find relief.
Hot Tea Remedy
Hot drinks like tea help loosen mucous so that it drains more easily, relieving pressure on your sinuses. Breathing in the steam from the hot tea also helps moisturize the membranes of your nose and thin out mucous. Ginger tea can help relieve the cold symptoms that accompany sinusitis, and adding honey helps soothe your throat if it's irritated from coughing or mucous drainage. It's important to stay hydrated while you're ill, so drink hot tea as part of your hydration plan.
Other Ways to Relieve Symptoms
In between cups of tea, take a long, hot shower. Inhaling the steam helps loosen up the mucous in your nasal passages and helps you breathe more easily. Place a warm, damp cloth over your eyes, nose and cheeks, and try eating spicy foods to get the mucous loosened up and moving. Taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help ease the pain of sinusitis, but check with your doctor first.
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