Sinusitis, also known as a sinus infection or rhinosinusitis, is inflammation of the sinuses resulting in symptoms. Common signs and symptoms include thick nasal mucus, a plugged nose, and pain in the face. Other signs and symptoms may include fever, headaches, poor sense of smell, sore throat, and cough.
Types : 1)Acute sinusitis usually starts with cold like symptoms such as a runny, stuffy nose and 2)facial pain. It may start suddenly and last 2-4 weeks. 3)Subacute sinus inflammation usually lasts 4 to 12 weeks. 4)Chronic inflammation symptoms last 12 weeks or longer. 5)Recurrent sinusitis happens several times a year.
Homeopathy treats successfully all of these types and few remedies I have used in my practice are :
Hepar sulphuris
A person needing this homeopathic remedy often experiences a copious mucus discharge from the nose with an almost constant need to blow the nose. The mucus discharged may be thick yellow or green, and maybe even offensive smelling. There can also be heat and burning in the nose with the interior of the nose sensitive to the passage of air (particularly cold air) and touch. The nose is frequently stuffed up in the morning and there may be itching in the nose that causes sneezing. There can also be head pain felt as an aching in the forehead or a boring pain at the root of the nose. You may feel worse when blowing the nose; from cold in general (you will find yourself hypersensitive to cold, pain and touch); in cold air; and in cold and dry weather.
Kali bichromium: One should think of this remedy when discharges from the nose (and throat) are tough, stringy, adherent mucus – mucus which can be drawn out into long strings. The nose may be stuffed up, especially the upper part, and there may be difficulty detaching thick mucus –even if there is a lot of post-nasal drip. If there is head pain, it is often felt over one or both eyes and can at times be of a throbbing nature and very painful. One may also experience pain from the back of the head to the forehead if the nasal discharge ceases. This, too, is a remedy where there is a lot of mucus!
Mercurius solubilis
A person needing this homeopathic remedy often experiences much sneezing with a fluent and often acrid discharge from the nose. Some portion of the mucus may trickle down post-nasally into the throat causing hawking, hoarseness and a dry, rough cough from continual tickling in the throat. The acrid discharge from the nose (which may at times take on a greenish hue) can smell like old cheese. There are often pressing and/or tearing pains in the forehead, cheeks, upper teeth, and ears. If there is a headache, there is also much congestion to the head with the head feeling as if it would burst or as if it is in a vise. The patient is thirsty even though the mouth is quite moist. The breath will often be very offensive during the illness. Typically someone needing this remedy feels worse in damp weather, at night and from either cold or warm air. They may also feel a bit restless during the ailment.
Phosphorus
Someone needing this homeopathic remedy often complains of having a stuffed nose one moment and fluent nasal discharges the next. These symptoms often come with a feeling of dullness in the head and a sore throat. Hoarseness often follows. The mucus from the nose is typically profuse, greenish, yellow and blood-streaked. In fact, there is frequently blood in the mucus on blowing the nose. Your patient may complain that their smell and taste are gone. There will frequently be a dull pain in the forehead to the root of the nose and to the upper eyelids, with a feeling of pressure extending into eyes or a pressive headache above the eyes. Someone needing Phosphorus is always thirsty for cold drinks during their illness.
Pulsatilla
Someone needing this homeopathic remedy often complains of nasal congestion that is stopped up at night and flows more easily in the morning. The discharge from the nose in the morning is typically yellow or yellow-green and can be offensive smelling.Your loved one may complain of feeling much worse and much more congested in a warm room and far better and less congested in the cool, open air. Head pain is usually frontal with what can be described as tearing pains in the sinuses beneath the eyes. The head pains can feel heavy, with bursting and throbbing pain and may be relieved by wrapping the head tightly. Pulsatilla patients are typically thirstless, even with dryness of the mouth. They may also complain of a bad taste in the mouth with the dryness. Mentally – they may be a bit weepy and needy.