Sinus headaches, indicated by pressure and pain behind the cheekbones, the eyes and the brow bone, occur when the sinus membranes swell due to allergies or sinusitis. A sinus headache may occur simultaneously with a cold or an upper respiratory tract infection. The Mayo Clinic advises that if the headache increases when you bend forward, it may be a sinus headache. Home remedies for sinus headaches focus on reducing sinus problems due to allergies, or the exposure to environmental pollution.
Nasal Irrigation
Rinsing your nasal passages with warm saline water may reduce sinus problems that can lead to a sinus headache. The neti pot, a small pot with a handle and a long spout, holds a warm saline/water solution. Leaning over the sink, the patient inserts the spout into one nostril while he tips his head in the opposite direction. The saline solution runs into the nostril and into the sinus cavity before draining out of the other nostril, cleansing and soothing the tender sinus passages. He then repeats the procedure, using the other nostril. The Mayo Clinic also recommends the use of a bulb syringe to irrigate the sinuses.
Increase Humidity
By increasing the humidity in the home, you may reduce sinus irritation caused by dry overheated rooms or from breathing in second-hand smoke. A cool-air humidifier is safer than a steam humidifier in homes with children. Alternately, place a large pot with water on a floor heat register and the heat from the vent will encourage steady evaporation, increasing the humidity level in the room.
Soaking in a steamy warm bath or taking a hot shower will also increase soothing moisture in the air you breathe to ward off a sinus headache, due to dry, irritated sinus membranes.
Herbs and Supplements
The University of Maryland Medical Center suggests bromelain, a natural enzyme found in pineapples, to soothe inflamed sinus passages. Quercetin, a plant-based antihistamine, may reduce the effects of allergy-related sinusitis.
Herbal remedies for the treatment of a sinus headache include devils' claw, bark from the willow tree, feverfew and Chinese skullcap. No recommended dosage exists, but the herbs may come in tea, capsule or tablet form.
Other Home Remedies
Learning to relax may reduce some of the pain of a sinus headache. Deep breathing, meditation, yoga and biofeedback may be beneficial for some sinus headache sufferers.
Pregnant women and those who experience severe headaches with accompanying confusion, fever, nausea, eye redness or confusion should discontinue home treatments and seek medical help.
