The Best Natural Home Remedies for a Sinus Infection

A sinus infection (sinusitis) usually resolves on its own within about a week with at-home treatments. Flushing your nasal passages, staying hydrated, resting, using steam, eating wholesome foods, and taking over-the-counter (OTC) medications often help keep you comfortable.

Sometimes, when these treatments don’t work and your sinusitis turns into a bacterial infection, you may require antibiotics.

This article covers the top at-home sinus infection treatment options to ease sinus pain and inflammation.

Flush Your Nasal Passages

Rinsing your nasal passages can help a sinus infection by loosening thick mucus so it can more easily be blown out. You can flush sinuses in several ways, including:

• A neti pot (a teapot-looking device that you use to rinse nasal passage with salt water)
• Bulb syringes
• Squeeze bottles
• Battery-operated pulsed water devices

As long as these devices are kept clean and used as directed, they are usually safe. However, there are certain precautions to keep in mind:

• Only use distilled or sterile water. Tap water can harbor bacteria.
• Use the device as directed. Most devices use or call for salt water, which is less irritating.
• Read the device’s package labels to ensure they are safe and appropriate for children.

When in doubt, speak with a healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Drink Lots of Fluids

As with any infection, staying hydrated is crucial for your immune system. But with a sinus infection, drinking lots of fluids (water, juice, herbal tea) can help your body thin the mucus clogging your nasal passages.

However, not all fluids are helpful. Caffeinated beverages act as a diuretic, causing your body to excrete salt and water through extra urination. Drinking too much caffeine can lead to dehydration.

Alcohol can also cause dehydration because it suppresses the release of vasopressin, a hormone that tells the kidneys to retain fluid. As such, it increases urination, causing the body to lose fluids.

Rest

Adequate rest is especially important when you are ill because your immune system requires sleep to function correctly. Research has found that sleep is associated with a reduced risk of infection and improved infection outcomes.

Lay low as much as possible if you have a sinus infection. Take naps, lie down during the day, and get extra sleep at night.

Try Steam

Steam inhalation can be great for sinus infections because the moisture loosens thick mucus in your nasal passages. Research is inconclusive on the efficacy of steam for sinus congestion and has found no or minimal benefit for respiratory infections.

However, many people say steam helps them feel less congested. To use steam, follow these steps:

1. Boil water in a kettle, pot, or microwave. Then transfer water to a bowl.
2. Place the steaming water bowl on a steady surface (a table or countertop) in a safe place.
3. Sit or stand with a towel draped over your head about a foot from the bowl.
4. Inhale the steam for 10–15 minutes.

Avoid steam burns by staying far enough away from the steam and taking extreme care not to spill steaming water. It’s best to avoid this method with children; instead, have them sit with you on the floor in the bathroom while running a steaming hot shower.

Eat More Fruits and Vegetables

One important substance that’s plentiful in fruits and veggies is antioxidants. Antioxidants combat free radicals (unstable molecules that increase your disease risk), which makes it easier for your immune system to fight illnesses like sinus infections.

Some fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants include:

Add More Natural Antibacterial Foods

Certain foods have antibacterial properties that help bolster the body’s ability to fight infections. Research has found that the following inhibits the growth of many microorganisms:

• Herbs and spices (garlic, onion, oregano, cinnamon, clove, rosemary, parsley)
• Vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, kohlrabi, turnips, carrots, celery, parsnips, rutabaga)
• Fruits (citrus fruits, apples, grapes, plums, strawberries)
• Horseradish
• Mustard
• Barley
• Sorghum

Use a Humidifier

Humidifiers work by keeping your indoor air moist. This is especially important when you are ill with a sinus infection to help loosen thick mucus.

The biggest risk with a humidifier is bacteria or mold buildup in the machine that gets pumped into the air you breathe. Thoroughly clean the device regularly according to the package directions. Using filtered water may reduce mineral buildup in the machine.

Vaporizers work the same way as humidifiers, by adding moisture to the air; however, vaporizers use steam rather than cool mist. The bigger risk with vaporizers is burns. With kids in the home, the safest option is a humidifier.

Ease Pain With a Warm Compress

Placing a warm washcloth over the eyes, nose, and forehead can help relieve the pressure in your nasal passages and head. Lie on the couch or a bed and place a warm, wet cloth over your face. You can lie like this as long as you are comfortable, maybe 15–20 minutes, or until the washcloth cools.

Take More Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that benefits the immune system, helping your body fight infection.

Vitamin C supplements may prevent and treat respiratory and body-wide infections. Researchers say prevention doses are lower than treatment doses because infections create inflammation and higher demand on the body.

Eat foods high in vitamin C, like peppers and strawberries, or drink orange juice. If you want to take a vitamin C supplement, ask a healthcare professional what dosage they recommend. The upper limit (UL) for adults is 2,000 milligrams (mg) and is much lower for children, which is based on age.

Try Yoga

Many people practice yoga for pain relief, including headaches. Since sinus infections often come with inflammation and head pain, these gentle movements may also help alleviate pain and throbbing.

Moving your head lower than your body could increase head pain and pressure. Try to stick to upright poses that don’t put pressure on your face or head, like a standing or cobra pose.

OTC Nasal Decongestant Spray

Nasal decongestant sprays (Afrin, for example) are medications you spray directly into your nostrils for localized relief from congestion. They work by reducing swelling and clearing mucus from the nasal passages.

Use caution with these nasal sprays, though. You should not use these medications for more than three days in a row because doing so can cause rebound congestion when you stop. This causes longer-term congestion and may even damage your nasal passages.

Other OTC Medications

In addition to nasal decongestant sprays, other OTC medicines are designed to help sinus infections. These include:

Oral decongestants carry the same risk of rebound congestion as nasal decongestant sprays. Antihistamines may work to dry up nasal passages, but only if allergies cause your sinusitis. Pain relievers can work wonders to relieve sinus pressure and headaches. Be sure to read instructions carefully and not overlap different treatments.

Understanding Your Triggers

Sinus infections occur when a cold, allergies, or other upper respiratory infection causes germs to grow and multiply. A virus or bacterium can cause sinus infections.

Risk factors for sinus infections include:

Understanding the triggers that apply to you may help you limit or avoid getting a sinus infection in the future.

When You Need Antibiotics

Antibiotics are not always necessary or helpful since viruses usually cause sinus infections and antibiotics only kill bacteria. Most of the time, you can get rid of a sinus infection without antibiotics.

A healthcare provider may take a couple of approaches when considering if antibiotics are necessary for a sinus infection. One option is watchful waiting, which entails looking for improvement in a few days before starting treatment, such as an antibiotic.

Alternatively, they might prescribe an antibiotic with instructions not to fill the prescription unless you are not improving in two to three days.

Summary

Sinus infections often resolve on their own with self-care strategies at home. There isn’t one best home remedy for sinus infections or a quick fix. That’s because everyone’s body responds differently to different treatments.

Some effective ways to find relief include getting adequate rest, staying hydrated, nasal irrigation, steam inhalation, eating healthy foods, and using supportive OTC medications for congestion and pain relief.