Sinusitis – The Myth of Natural Remedies | Boise ENT Sinus & Snoring Specialists

Sinus Specalists | Boise ENT Sinus & Snoring Specialists

Millions of people who’ve experienced congestion or pain and pressure in their heads, along with greenish-yellow discharges when blowing their noses, know how miserable sinusitis can be. But when your condition lasts for more than 12 weeks, you likely have chronic sinusitis. And even with multiple courses of antibiotics, the symptoms tend to reappear after several weeks or a couple months. Unfortunately, companies continue pushing all of their natural remedies, which doesn’t really get to the crux of the problem.

Natural Remedies

Natural remedies include vaporizers, nasal-flushing kits, bromelain, spicy foods like mustard and hot peppers, humidifiers and even warm compresses, which can help relieve symptoms of chronic sinusitis. And some people believe garlic, grapefruit seed extract or echinacea can cure their sinus infections. However, none of these remedies or elixirs has ever been proven by medical researchers to cure chronic sinusitis. In most cases, the products are ploys to make the sellers more money, while you’re just left there delaying the inevitable.

What These Remedies Do

Most of the natural remedies reduce the amounts of mucus in sinus membranes, relieving pain and inflammation. But when an infection still lingers in the sinuses, as it does with chronic sinusitis, the mucus and inflammation will eventually return. That’s because mucus is a natural immune response to foreign bodies like viruses or bacteria.

Why Remedies Don’t Cure

The sinuses are actually small pockets within the bones surrounding your nose. Sometimes, bacteria gets trapped in these fluid-filled pockets and they’re nearly impossible to eradicate on your own, even with all the natural remedies in the world. If you’re experiencing recurring sinus infections, chances are you may need to see an ENT specialist.

What An ENT Specialist Can Do

An ENT doctor can exam your sinus cavities. He may also take an X-ray of your sinuses to pinpoint the source of your problems. After a thorough examination, your ENT professional may deem it necessary to surgical flush your sinus cavities out to get rid of your chronic sinusitis, even in spots that the antibiotics can’t reach. If you’re experiencing recurring sinus infections, it may be time to stop using the natural remedies and get to the real source of the problem. And the only way to do that is through an ENT specialist.

If you’re interested in finding the right ENT specialist to help with your sinusitis, Dr. Don J. Beasley, MD is a board-certified otolaryngologist who has been practicing in the Boise area for over 20 years. Request an appointment today, or call our office at (208) 229-2368 to learn how Dr. Beasley can help today.