Sinus Infection

Neti pot! Or saline irrigation. Worked for my chronic sinus infection and research shows it helps cut down on the duration of colds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzK9Gn4E_Eg

Try a neti pot and the enzyme bromelain, although some people are just prone to the kind of sinus infections that require the big drugs.

littlek and I agree, so we must be right.

Thanks a million Littlek. A really hate taking antibiotics or anything else for that matter, so this is great :-D

Many thanks to you too GW :-D

This one is good too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jckly-BKiiE&feature=related

Only problem now is finding that stuff. Do they sell it at drug stores?

Yes, they sell it in some drug stores. I'd try an apothacary. Maybe ask Hamburger or ehBeth for likely Canehjun store names.

Greenwitch - what's this bromelain of which you speak?

Thanks k, I appreciate it! I've only had 2 sinus infections before now and since I remember how unpleasant they were, I'd like to nip it in the bud ASAP.

hamburger makes his saline solution from scratch

Isn't bromelain a pineapple enzyme?

I just said this earlier today but can do it again!

It's helped hugely with my sinus infections (as in, I don't really get 'em anymore -- do a saline lavage at the first sign).

Recipe for saline:

1 pint purified water
1 teaspoon kosher salt (no iodine)
Pinch of baking soda

Warm up water until it's warm but not hot. Stir in salt etc. until clear. (If it never gets clear, that's fine. Sometimes happens.)

Use a bulb syringe (CVS, Walgreens et al have em) to squirt the saline gently into the nostril, aiming at the back of your head.

Blow your nose.

Repeat.

Works wonders.

You can get that kosher salt at our beloved Bulk Barn :wink:

Thanks Soz. I know those are things they'll have at my drug store. Do I tilt my head back when I'm doing this?

Hey, then I'd get to see the Bulk Barn boy :-D

Unfortunately, the Bulk Barn is a bit too far for me to travel. I think I can get the kosher salt right at the super market.

Nope. Just look straight ahead.

I tend to lean my head back a bit once it's in -- the term of art around here is "let it marinate a bit." :-D That's not necessary though, and the official directions I got to start all of this out (from sozlet's ENT) say to just look straight ahead.

By the way, it's MESSY. The saline doesn't all go in and stay in. Maybe 25% of it goes in and the other 75% comes right back out. So probably best to do it over the sink.

That makes it sound worse than it is though, really not bad.

Is purified water spring water? I know, stupid question, but I really don't know.

Thanks again Soz. Messy is ok as long as it works :-D