Effectively Treat Sinusitis

1. Acute bacterial sinusitis: This condition refers to the sudden onset of cold symptoms such as runny nose, stuffy nose, and face discomfort that does not resolve within 10 days, or symptoms that appear to improve but then return and are worse than the initial symptoms (termed "double sickening"). Antibiotics and decongestants work well on it.
2. Chronic sinusitis: It is a disorder which is characterized by nasal congestion, drainage, face pain/pressure, and a diminished sense of smell that lasts at least 12 weeks.
3. Subacute sinusitis: This condition refers to symptoms that persist four to twelve weeks.
4. Recurrent acute sinusitis: This condition refers to symptoms that return four or more times in a year and persist for less than two weeks each time.

1. Attack of bacteria, fungus or virus that tends to swell and block sinuses.
2. Common flu
3. Blocked drainage duct
4. Structural differences that tend to narrow drainage ducts
5. Nasal and seasonal allergies
6. Polyps
7. A deviated septum
8. Weak immune system
9. Excessive smoking

‘Dushta Pratishyaya’ is the term for sinusitis in ayurvedic text. This condition is caused due to vitiation of kapha dosha, it gets aggravated and vitiates Prana Vata, which is the main dosha present in the respiratory tract. Increased intake of dry, oily, spicy or too cold foods are heavy and are indigestible. This causes impairment of Kapha dosha (water) and gets accumulated in sinuses and blocks the passage of Vata (air flow). Further, due to indigestion, pitta dosha is also vitiated, which leads to swelling and irritation of the tissues of sinuses.

Thus, the treatment of sinusitis in ayurveda focuses on balancing the vitiated doshas, boosting metabolic fire and elimination of toxins from the body. This is done by various therapies like nasyam, lepanam, thalam, vamanam, neti, steam inhalation, and shirodhara.

Nasyam amongst the therapies mentioned is very effective in sinusitis condition, in which the medicated oils are administered through nostrils to clear up the accumulated kapha in the respiratory tract.

Steam inhalation process involves intake of seam via nostrils that help to reduce congestion in the sinus passage.

The entire procedure is also accompanied by oral intake of medications like haridra khanda, chitraka haritaki, vyoshadi vatakam, etc., that help to pacify the effects of vitiated doshas and help avoid the condition in future. Further, a proper diet and exercise regimen are also suggested to balance the doshas and avoid further accumulation. Thus, this line of treatment of sinusitis helps in complete reversal of the condition in a natural way.