By Michael A. Smith, MD
The good news is that nature provides a number of highly effective and non-toxic alternatives. We’ll get to those in a moment. But first, let’s review some of the symptoms associated with sinusitis. This is important because in rare cases, and if not treated properly, sinusitis can actually progress to the point of requiring surgery.
Here are the common symptoms of sinusitis:
- Thick and/or colored nasal discharge
- Pain in the forehead
- Swelling around the eyes
- Tenderness on the sides of the nose
Now, here’s a list of symptoms that most definitely require a visit to your doctor since they represent a more serious situation and may necessitate aggressive treatment:
- Upper jaw pain
- Pain in the eyes
- Neck pain
- Loss of sense of smell
- Stiff neck
Quercetin is Better than Most MedicationsQuercetin is one of a thousand or so members of the bioflavonoid family. It’s a colored pigment found throughout the plant kingdom, where it provides plants with antioxidant protection against environmental stresses. Here are some of its anti-allergy and sinus protecting properties:
- When used in nasal sprays with other herbal preparations, quercetin significantly reduces nasal and sinus symptoms, comparable to antihistamine sprays.1
- Quercetin safely and effectively relieved nasal and sinus symptoms in fast developing IgE-mediated allergies — the cause of many acute cases of sinusitis.2
- In laboratory studies, quercetin inhibits histamine release, which is implicated in sinus pain and pressure and fluid build-up. As fluid builds up, this increases your risk for secondary sinus infections.2,3
NAC is a Natural Mucus ThinnerN-acetylcysteine, better known as NAC, is a special form of the amino acid L-cysteine. NAC raises levels of glutathione, a potent internal antioxidant.4
For many years, NAC has been used to treat bronchitis and other lung conditions as an expectorant or mucus thinner.5 It’s also a powerful anti-inflammatory. Just make sure to take NAC on an empty stomach for the best results.
Rosmarinic Acid Prevents Fluid Build-upRosmarinic acid is a plant antioxidant found in basil, sage, mint, rosemary, and perilla leaf.6 Oral supplementation with extract of rosmarinic acid has been shown to suppress allergic reactions in mice and, more recently, in humans.7,8
Rosmarinic acid relieves symptoms by preventing the activation of immune cells involved in the initial response to an allergen. Blocking the initial response is important because once the body starts to react to an allergen, the resulting fluid build-up increases the risk for sinus infection.9
Now that you know how rosmarinic acid works, you might be thinking that if it can stop immune cell activation, it might have an overall weakening effect on your immune system. Well, don’t worry because it doesn’t.
Most experts, like those from The National Institute for Environmental Studies in Japan, believe that rosmarinic acid only affects immune cells involved in the initiation of an allergic response and other immune cells for fighting bacteria and viruses and cancer are not affected.
How to Enjoy Winter without Sinus PainGo ahead and use quercetin, NAC, and rosmarinic acid daily this winter to prevent any problems with your sinuses. If you do have a bad day and your sinuses start acting up, consider adding the following to your regimen for a few days:
- Olive leaf extract
- Oil of oregano
- Garlic extract
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- Altern Med Rev. 2000 Oct;5(5):448-54.
- Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao. 1990 May;11(3):285-8.
- Clin Chem Lab Med. 2002 May;40(5):496-8.
- Respir Care. 2007 Sep;52(9):1176-93; discussion 1193-7.
- Indian J Exp Biol. 1999 Feb;37(2):124-30.
- Biol Pharm Bull. 2001 Oct;24(10):1206-9.
- Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2004 Mar;229(3):247-54.
- J Immunol. 2004 Jan 1;172(1):79-87.
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