The use of acupuncture and Chinese herbs for sinusitis

As the season and weather changes, we oftentimes are forced to experience symptoms that can only come from a sinus condition. Acupuncture is a very effective way of treating sinusitis. It helps relieve related symptoms such as sinus infections, sinus headaches, sinus congestion, and sinus pain.

Whether one is suffering from infectious sinusitis, allergic sinusitis, acute sinusitis, or chronic sinusitis, acupuncture can definitely help.

What is Sinusitis?
When a person suffers from an inflammation of his sinus cavities, he/she is suffering from sinusitis. The function of the sinus is to humidify and warm the air. The sinuses are mostly made up of cavities and they also serve to lessen the weight of the skull, serve as a buffer for trauma, and amplify the resonance of the voice.

The common cold, over-the-counter nasal sprays, chemical irritants, allergies, and other various factors can cause the sinus cavities to become inflamed. Sinus infection, on the other hand, may either be caused by bacteria or viruses.

Signs and Symptoms of Sinusitis
The symptoms of sinusitis may vary from day to day as well as may also vary for each individual. They include:
-Mucus that is watery or thick and green or yellowish in color
-Difficulty in breathing through the nose
-Sinus pain
-Sinus pressure
-Sinus headaches
-Nasal congestion

Apart from these main symptoms, secondary symptoms may also arise and may include difficulty in sleeping and lowered levels of energy.

Sinusitis Treatment
Acute sinusitis treatment may involve the use of over the counter medications (decongestants) and steam therapy through the use of vaporizers. In spite of its ability to relieve congestion, decongestants can also dry out the cavities too much which may result in the exacerbation of the pain.

Neti pots with saline rinses, and humidifiers/vaporizers are modes of treatment often used to treat chronic sinusitis. For bacterial sinus infections, the mode of treatment is usually antibiotic therapy. One should note though that serious complications may develop if you leave your infection untreated. For chronic sinusitis conditions caused by allergies, antihistamines or steroids may be prescribed by your doctor.

However, all of these treatment methods are only designed for symptomatic relief.

Why Use Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a powerful treatment that can resolve sinusitis in all of its forms including infectious, allergic, chronic, and acute sinusitis. Some of the benefits of acupuncture which you cannot get with Western conventional treatments include its ability to make your immune systems less sensitive in the future, help make your immune system stronger, besides of course, relieving you of your ongoing symptoms.

Acupuncture therapies are so potent that you may actually experience an immediate and significant reduction of your congestion during your treatment. Possessing analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, acupuncture can help treat the inflammation of the sinus cavities and lower pain levels. It can also aid in the faster movement of fluids in the body whilst at the same time helping breakdown the congested mucous.

Usually combined with acupuncture for sinusitis treatment is Chinese herbal medicine. A lot of Chinese herbs are endowed with anti-viral or anti-bacterial or properties, which makes it possible to kill the virus or bacteria responsible for your sinus infection. A customized plan of treatment may be designed for each patient based on their specific needs, if necessary.