O the joy of getting over a cold only to be stuck with a sinus infection that drags on and on. Such were my winters for many years growing up. My sinus infections could last for 3 or 4 weeks and they were not fun. Before discovering homeopathy, the best treatment I found was a nasal spray that contained ingredients like apple cider vinegar and horseradish root extract. It worked, but oh was it painful!
Now since using homeopathy, when I get a sinus infection in the first place it usually lasts for a day or two, sometimes three. So, being currently winter, today I want to go over the top homeopathic remedies used for sinus infections.
The Banerjis use Sanguinaria canadensis 200 every 3-12 hours. If there is pain, then they add Belladonna 3 or 6 to the Sanguinaria. This means a dose of the Sanguinaria 200 in placed in the mouth at the same time as the Belladonna 3 or 6. Interestingly, Sanguinaria is not listed as a major remedy in the repertory for sinus infections nor will you see it listed in therapeutic indexes, but the Banerjis have found it useful in 80% of their many cases. I have personally found Sanguinaria to work very well when the mucus is yellow and profuse with a bad, slightly salty taste.
The most highly indicated remedy in the repertory for sinus infections is Kali bichromicum. A keynote of this remedy is thick, ropy yellow-green mucus. This can be so thick the person is unable to blow it out or it may come out in strings. Pressure and pain at the root of the nose is also prominent. There can be a sinus headache, bone pains in the face, and thick post-nasal drip. Sinus conditions can be related to changes in the weather.
Another excellent remedy for sinus infections is Hydrastis canadensis. This remedy has thick, tenacious white or yellow mucus with burning pain in the nose and thick post-nasal drip causing burning in the throat. Predominately left-sided with feeling of fullness above the eyes and a dull headache.
Other top remedies for sinus infections include:
Pulsatilla – Mucus is thick, yellow-green, and bland. Person may have loss of smell and taste. They feel better in open air and are worse in the evening and in a warm room. Symptoms may alternate nostrils.
Belladonna – Sinus infections that come on quickly with intense, throbbing pain in the forehead. Face is often flushed. The person is worse from noise, light, and touch, and may have a high fever.
Silica – Useful in cases of continually recurring sinus infections. There are dry hard crusts in the nostrils which may bleed when removed. The person is often chilly and has little or no nasal discharge.
Mercurius sol – For sinus infections where the nostrils are raw with green, offensive smelling discharge. There may be a metallic taste in the mouth and increased salivation and pain as if there were a tight band around the head. There is often sensitivity to changes in temperature.
In cases of a sinus infection with a sore throat caused from the constant post-nasal drip, I have found the protocol of Sanguinaria 200 + Hepar sulph 200, twice daily or more often as needed, to be very effective.
If you are using a protocol, the potency and frequency will be laid out for you. If not using a protocol, you will need to choose a potency and frequency to start. For acute sinus infections we start with a 30 or 200 potency, although if you only have a 6 don’t hesitate to use it! Every 3-4 hours is a good starting place for frequency, but adjust to more or less often depending on the intensity of the sinus infection. Once a remedy begins to work then you will want to take it as needed whenever you begin to feel a returning of the symptoms. If no effect is noticed after 4-6 doses of the remedy, then another remedy will need to be chosen.
When a remedy is working you want to continue with that remedy. But sometimes, especially with colds, the symptoms will change as the condition progresses through its natural course. In this case a new remedy that matches the new symptoms will need to be chosen. I often find that I will need Kali bichromicum at the beginning when my sinuses feel full, hard, and painful to get them to start draining, then Sanguinaria to finish the job once the flow is copious.
No longer having sinus infections that last for weeks has been a great blessing. Homeopathy is amazing! If you are interested in learning more, check out our classes. We also offer one on one consultations.