Sinus infections almost always start as a viral infection and in some cases turn into a bacterial infection. In other cases, sinus infections start out as sort of a mild bacterial infection. Over time it typically goes away on its own.

At the Mayo Clinic, they found that when they actually cultured the sinus cavity of individuals with chronic sinus infections, 96% had a chronic fungal infection, not a bacterial infection.

Typical allopathic treatment includes decongestant sprays. These are only prescribed for three days because a decongestant spray can cause a rebound reaction. In other words, a person takes a decongestant and then gets rebound sinus blockage. Decongestant sprays are only indicated for short-term use. Medical doctors also recommend topical steroids. One of the prevalent problems in chronic sinus infections is stagnation. Over time, stagnation tends to becomes worse from topical steroids and topical decongestants.

Another common recommendation is over-the-counter pain medicines such as advil and tylenol. There is really no evidence that these actually improve the health or the sinus infection. One of the few western medical options that really does work for acute and chronic sinus infections is saline irrigation. However, this protocol is not good if you have a fungal infection of the sinuses.

The lungs are involved in the descending action and are in charge of bringing down waste and other materials. According to Chinese medicine, many sinus problems result from having weak lungs or having some damage to the lungs. Having deficient lungs and a deficient constitution make a person susceptible to ill health.

With lung and sinus problems, lifestyle factors are very important. Diet is definitely something to look at, and peole who eat too much dairy often suffer from allergies, as dairy is a direct mucus-producing food. Beer and fish contain histamines, and red wine contains sulfites and other allergens.

Fungus in your sinuses is no laughing matter; it can create congestion, excess mucus, hard mucus, coughing, inability to breathe, lack of sleep, and sinus headaches. Medically there is little to be done to eliminate the cause of fungal sinusitis. Allopaths treat the symptoms, but the treatments are usually ineffective, cause damage to the body, and ignore the underlying cause.

If you have chronic sinus problems, follow a protocol that will cleanse your sinuses of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, while strengthening the natural sinus flora and environment.

First, changing your diet is a must. Eliminate dairy, especially cheeses that are aged. Eliminate foods that cause yeast: examples are breads with yeast, sugars, fruit, vinegars, and foods made with vinegars such as ketchup, mayonnaise, and salad dressings.

Take a good probiotic. There are a lot of probiotics out there from yogurt to capsules; find one that has lactobacillus, acidophilus, and bifodophilus. Ideally the counts should be 5 billion CFUs broken down into

- lactobacillus rhammosus 2+ billion

- lactobacillus casel 1.5 billion

- lactobacillus acidophilus 1.0 billion

- bifidobacterium longum 0.5+ billion 

You can also mix a probiotic in water and snuff it. Use a humidifier in your room when you sleep to keep your sinuses lubricated.

It can be very healing to get the debris moving with a sinus saline irrigation. Add a little bit of salt to room temperature or slightly warm water. You can also combine equal parts of baking soda and table salt. Either use a netti pot and irrigate the sinuses with the solution or just use your hands to hold some liquid, close one nostril, and snuff the solution up. Do both sides. Generally this doesn't cause a rebound reaction.

Another protocol uses ginger; its active component gingerol is good for your infected sinuses. Lightly crush the roots and add hot water to make ginger tea. The spicy aroma of this tea will definitely warm up your nasal passages and aid sinus drainage. You can either snuff this mixture or apply it as a compress over your cheeks, eyes, and sinus areas for 10-15 minutes to help reduce facial pain, pressure, and inflammation. You can also add one teaspoon of Golden Seal to this mixture. Let it steep for 10 minutes and mix it into the ginger mixture, or use it as a compress.

For fungal infections, put a little eucalyptus oil in some warm water and snuff it.

Sinus infections can be very successfully treated with natural methods. You must first diagnose what is causing the infection and then apply the appropriate protocol for the treatment.