Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsRestNasal LavageFluidsSteamWarm CompressHumidifiersEssential OilsAntioxidantsDietOTC Medications
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Rest
Nasal Lavage
Fluids
Steam
Warm Compress
Humidifiers
Essential Oils
Antioxidants
Diet
OTC Medications
Sinus infections, also known assinusitis, usually resolve on their own within a week with at-home treatments.
Though your first instinct may be to reach for the medicine cabinet, certain home remedies for sinus infection may work just as well—either on their own or in complement with over-the-counter (OTC) medications. These include nasal lavage, steam inhalation, essential oils, and simple rest.
Ines Fraile/ Getty Images
As with all infections, sinusitis benefits from rest and getting plenty of sleep. Doing so helps support theimmune system, conserving energy so that resources can be redirected to fight the infection.
7 Things to Do When You Are Sick
You can rinse your sinuses with the following tool easily found at drugstores:
Nasal lavage can be done with distilled bottled water or tap water that has boiled for three to five minutes and then cooled. (Do not use plain tap water because it contains organisms and is not sterile.)
Fluids and Hydration
As with any infection, staying hydrated is crucial for your recovery. Among other things,dehydrationcauses blood to thicken, reducing the volume of defensive white blood cells that can reach and neutralize the infection.
Drinking water and other fluids (such as juice, broth, and herbal tea) can also help thin mucus clogging your sinus passages. Many experts recommend drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily and possibly more if you are ill.
Avoid caffeine and alcohol which havediureticeffects. These promote urination and can increase the risk of dehydration.
Simple Tips to Drink More Water
Steam Inhalation
You can do this with a steam inhaler purchased at a drugstore or with the following at-home method:
How to Make a Dry or Moist Warm Compress
A warm compress is a form ofheat therapythat can help a sinus infection in several ways. Firstly, the heat increases blood circulation in the sinuses, promoting healing. It also eases congestion which contributes to sinus pain and pressure.
The easiest method is to soak a washcloth in warm water and place it over your eyes, nose, and forehead for 10 to 15 minutes (or until the cloth cools), This is best done lying down, allowing the loosened mucus to drain into the back of your throat.
Sinus Pain Treatment: Medications and Home Remedies
Humidifiers and Vaporizers
Vaporizers work similarly to humidifiers but use steam rather than a cool mist.These may be less suitable for small children who can get too close and burn themselves.
Choosing the Best Humidifier
Certainessential oilscan be very beneficial for people with sinuses and congestion. When used as aromatherapy, some have proven just as effective in opening sinus passages as OTC decongestants.
These include:
Eating a healthy diet benefits any illness, and a diet rich inantioxidantsmay be especially beneficial for infections like sinusitis. Antioxidants are substances found in certain foods that combatfree radicalsthat can undermine your immune health.
Some fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants include:
Antioxidant supplements are also available in tablet, capsule, or soft gel formulations. Many include antioxidants likevitamin C,beta-carotene, andvitamin E.It is unclear if any of these antioxidants in supplement form offer benefits beyond that of a balanced diet.
Antibacterial Foods
Certain foods have antibacterial properties that help bolster the immune response. Research has found that the following may have antibacterial properties that can resolve a sinus infection:
The 10 Best Foods to Eat When You’re Sick
Oral decongestants likeSudafed (pseudoephedrine)work the same but deliver medication throughout the body rather than locally. Sudafed can cause numerous side effects, particularly if overused, including headaches, nausea, dry mouth, jitteriness, and insomnia.
Other OTC drugs sometimes used to treat sinusitis include:
All drugs cause side effects so be sure to read the product label or speak with your pharmacist. Use OTC medication only as prescribed.
Do You Need Antibiotics?
Even if the cause is bacterial, mild cases may resolve on their own without treatment. If symptoms improve after two or three days, treatment is likely unnecessary; if they do not, a short course of antibiotics may be prescribed that need to be taken to completion to avoidantibiotic resistance.
Summary
Sinus infections often resolve on their own with self-care strategies. These include getting plenty of rest and fluids; using nasal irrigation, steam inhalation, aromatherapy, or a warm compress; eating a healthy diet; and using OTC medications to help manage symptoms.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sinus infection basics.Czerwaty K, Piszcaatwoska K, Brzost J, et al.Immunological aspects of chronic rhinosinusitis.Diagnostics (Basel).2022 Oct;12(10):2361. doi:10.3390/diagnostics12102361Vandenbulcke R, van Holsbeeck B, Crevits I, Marrannes J.Frontal sinus barotrauma.J Belg Soc Radiol. 2016;100(1):60. doi:10.5334/jbr-btr.908Little P, Stuart B, Mullee M, et al.Effectiveness of steam inhalation and nasal irrigation for chronic or recurrent sinus symptoms in primary care: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.CMAJ. 2016;188(13):940-949. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160362UCLA Health.Risks and rewards of nasal rinses: what you need to know.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Saline sinus rinse recipe.Harvard Medical School.How much water should you drink?National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol’s effects on health.Mount Sinai.Sinusitis.MedlinePlus.Sinusitis.Horváth G, Ács K.Essential oils in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases highlighting their role in bacterial infections and their anti-inflammatory action: a review.Flavour Fragr J. 2015 May 26;30(5):331-341. doi:10.1002/ffj.3252Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.Antioxidants.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Antioxidant supplments: what you need to know.Quinto EJ, Caro I, Villalobos-Delgado LH, Mateo J, De-Mateo-Silleras B, Redondo-Del-Río MP.Food safety through natural antimicrobials.Antibiotics (Basel). 2019;8(4):208. doi:10.3390/antibiotics8040208University of Rochester Medical Center.Take care with nasal decongestant sprays.National Health Service (UK).Side effects of pseudoephedrine.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sinus infection basics.Czerwaty K, Piszcaatwoska K, Brzost J, et al.Immunological aspects of chronic rhinosinusitis.Diagnostics (Basel).2022 Oct;12(10):2361. doi:10.3390/diagnostics12102361Vandenbulcke R, van Holsbeeck B, Crevits I, Marrannes J.Frontal sinus barotrauma.J Belg Soc Radiol. 2016;100(1):60. doi:10.5334/jbr-btr.908Little P, Stuart B, Mullee M, et al.Effectiveness of steam inhalation and nasal irrigation for chronic or recurrent sinus symptoms in primary care: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.CMAJ. 2016;188(13):940-949. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160362UCLA Health.Risks and rewards of nasal rinses: what you need to know.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Saline sinus rinse recipe.Harvard Medical School.How much water should you drink?National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol’s effects on health.Mount Sinai.Sinusitis.MedlinePlus.Sinusitis.Horváth G, Ács K.Essential oils in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases highlighting their role in bacterial infections and their anti-inflammatory action: a review.Flavour Fragr J. 2015 May 26;30(5):331-341. doi:10.1002/ffj.3252Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.Antioxidants.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Antioxidant supplments: what you need to know.Quinto EJ, Caro I, Villalobos-Delgado LH, Mateo J, De-Mateo-Silleras B, Redondo-Del-Río MP.Food safety through natural antimicrobials.Antibiotics (Basel). 2019;8(4):208. doi:10.3390/antibiotics8040208University of Rochester Medical Center.Take care with nasal decongestant sprays.National Health Service (UK).Side effects of pseudoephedrine.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sinus infection basics.Czerwaty K, Piszcaatwoska K, Brzost J, et al.Immunological aspects of chronic rhinosinusitis.Diagnostics (Basel).2022 Oct;12(10):2361. doi:10.3390/diagnostics12102361Vandenbulcke R, van Holsbeeck B, Crevits I, Marrannes J.Frontal sinus barotrauma.J Belg Soc Radiol. 2016;100(1):60. doi:10.5334/jbr-btr.908Little P, Stuart B, Mullee M, et al.Effectiveness of steam inhalation and nasal irrigation for chronic or recurrent sinus symptoms in primary care: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.CMAJ. 2016;188(13):940-949. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160362UCLA Health.Risks and rewards of nasal rinses: what you need to know.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Saline sinus rinse recipe.Harvard Medical School.How much water should you drink?National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol’s effects on health.Mount Sinai.Sinusitis.MedlinePlus.Sinusitis.Horváth G, Ács K.Essential oils in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases highlighting their role in bacterial infections and their anti-inflammatory action: a review.Flavour Fragr J. 2015 May 26;30(5):331-341. doi:10.1002/ffj.3252Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.Antioxidants.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Antioxidant supplments: what you need to know.Quinto EJ, Caro I, Villalobos-Delgado LH, Mateo J, De-Mateo-Silleras B, Redondo-Del-Río MP.Food safety through natural antimicrobials.Antibiotics (Basel). 2019;8(4):208. doi:10.3390/antibiotics8040208University of Rochester Medical Center.Take care with nasal decongestant sprays.National Health Service (UK).Side effects of pseudoephedrine.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sinus infection basics.
Czerwaty K, Piszcaatwoska K, Brzost J, et al.Immunological aspects of chronic rhinosinusitis.Diagnostics (Basel).2022 Oct;12(10):2361. doi:10.3390/diagnostics12102361
Vandenbulcke R, van Holsbeeck B, Crevits I, Marrannes J.Frontal sinus barotrauma.J Belg Soc Radiol. 2016;100(1):60. doi:10.5334/jbr-btr.908
Little P, Stuart B, Mullee M, et al.Effectiveness of steam inhalation and nasal irrigation for chronic or recurrent sinus symptoms in primary care: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.CMAJ. 2016;188(13):940-949. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160362
UCLA Health.Risks and rewards of nasal rinses: what you need to know.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Saline sinus rinse recipe.
Harvard Medical School.How much water should you drink?
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol’s effects on health.
Mount Sinai.Sinusitis.
MedlinePlus.Sinusitis.
Horváth G, Ács K.Essential oils in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases highlighting their role in bacterial infections and their anti-inflammatory action: a review.Flavour Fragr J. 2015 May 26;30(5):331-341. doi:10.1002/ffj.3252
Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.Antioxidants.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Antioxidant supplments: what you need to know.
Quinto EJ, Caro I, Villalobos-Delgado LH, Mateo J, De-Mateo-Silleras B, Redondo-Del-Río MP.Food safety through natural antimicrobials.Antibiotics (Basel). 2019;8(4):208. doi:10.3390/antibiotics8040208
University of Rochester Medical Center.Take care with nasal decongestant sprays.
National Health Service (UK).Side effects of pseudoephedrine.
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