Sinusitis

Sinusitis

You're probably familiar with Tiger Balm, that strong-smelling oriental ointment that comes in a red tin decorated with a tiger. I have used it for colds and headaches, and I like it. Tiger Balm is filled with potent aromatic herbal extracts--menthol from peppermint, eugenol from cloves, cineole from cajuput (a close relative of teatree), cinnamaldehyde from cinnamon, and camphor. It clears the sinuses faster than a tiger can pounce.

Someone once told me that Tiger Balm was being abused as a hallucinogen. It sounded silly, but just to be sure, I called a friend of mine at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to inquire. He laughed and said no, he had not heard of its being abused. I asked why he laughed. He said that every time he had sinusitis, a Chinese colleague pushed Tiger Balm on him. Finally he tried it, and he confided, "It worked."

When I reminded him that it was basically a concoction of herbal
aromatics, he replied, "No wonder it works." I wish everyone at the FDA felt as he did. Then maybe we'd see herbs approved for all of the medicinal uses that they're good for.

Sinusitis is inflammation, and almost always infection, of the air-filled bony cavities surrounding the nasal passages. It typically develops following a cold or a bout of hay fever. It may also be associated with a dental infection. Mucus fills the sinuses and then becomes infected, typically with bacteria: haemophilus, pneumococcus, staphylococcus or streptococcus.

Sinusitis causes nasal congestion, sometimes severe pain across the nose and cheeks and often a headache as well. Only a small fraction of colds progress to sinusitis. But in susceptible people, almost anything that starts as a cold can turn into a sinus infection.

Green Pharmacy for Sinusitis

There are a number of herbs that can help treat this condition.

Garlic (Allium sativum) and onion (A. cepa). These related herbs are broad-spectrum antibiotics. Garlic is the more potent, but onion still rates in my book. Many studies have confirmed garlic's antibiotic activity, most recently a study of people with AIDS who took the herb to ward off all sorts of opportunistic infections, including sinusitis.

Take capsules if you like, but I prefer to peel and chop whole garlic cloves and use them as food. Naturopath Jane Guiltinan, N.D., chief medical officer at Bastyr University in Seattle, feels the same way.

With my perverse affinity for alliteration, may I suggest my Sinusoup. Begin with your vegetarian minestrone and add heaping helpings of garlic and onions, plus horseradish, hot pepper and ginger. On a cold winter day, it warms the soul as it opens the sinuses.

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis). This is another powerful broad-spectrum herbal antibiotic, with at least two active constituents, berberine and hydrastine. Naturopaths Michael Murray, N.D., and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., president of Bastyr University, call goldenseal the most effective botanical treatment for acute bacterial infection. I'd have to agree. Lately I've combined goldenseal with echinacea and used it to treat all sorts of minor infections. In fact, I carry it in my travel first-aid kit.

Echinacea (Echinacea, various species). Native to the American Plains, this herb was a favorite American Indian remedy for all sorts of infections. German researchers have shown beyond any doubt that echinacea is an immune stimulant that speeds the healing of bacterial, fungal and viral infections. Studies in other countries support these findings.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) and peppermint (Mentha piperita). Aromatherapists suggest rubbing diluted essential oils of eucalyptus or peppermint on the forehead and temples to relieve sinusitis. Mix a few drops of either or both oils into a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil before applying it to your skin. You can also add a few drops of the essential oils to your bathwater. But use these oils sparingly, as too much can be overwhelmingly caustic. And never ingest them; even a small amount can be toxic.

If you don't have these herbal oils on hand, the bruised leaves work well. You can mash some leaves, moisten them with water and make them into a poultice. Either place it on your chest or stuff it into your nostrils (be careful not to push it in too deeply).

In Lesotho, Africa, people push crushed mint leaves up their nostrils to deliver the antiseptic oil to infected sinuses. I have tried this myself and think it helps. If you don't have peppermint on hand, any mint will do, including spearmint, mountain mint (except if you are pregnant) and oregano, all of which contain antiseptic essential oils. I'd also suggest drinking tea made with eucalyptus and any of the mints.

Oregano (Origanum vulgare). Here's a member of the mint family that's simply loaded with antiseptic compounds. Oregano is useful as a hot tea (inhale the vapors as you drink) or in a massage lotion. You can add a few drops of the essential oil to any skin lotion or to vegetable oil.

Oregano Oregano, once prescribed by Chinese physicians to treat fever and other conditions, has proved to be well-endowed with antiseptic compounds.

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba). Ginkgo is best known as a treatment for the infirmities of old age, particularly stroke, because it increases blood flow in and around the brain. But this herb also has respiratory benefits. Several herbalists I respect recommend it for sinusitis.

The active constituents in ginkgo (ginkgolides) occur naturally in a concentration too low to be beneficial. The standard commercial extraction process boils down 50 pounds of leaves to get 1 pound of medicinal extract. When you buy ginkgo, look for a 50:1 extract and follow the package directions. You can try 60 to 240 milligrams a day, but don't go any higher than that. In large amounts, ginkgo may cause diarrhea, irritability and restlessness.

Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana). I'm a big believer in horseradish (and Japanese wasabi) for clearing the sinuses. You might try a straight spoonful of ground horseradish if you're extremely brave, or you can add this hot herb to my Sinusoup.

Pineapple (Ananas comosus). Bromelain, a compound found in pineapple, is useful for treating sinusitis, according to pharmacognosist (natural product pharmacist) Albert Leung, Ph.D., co-author of The Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients.

Naturopaths say that combining 250 to 500 milligrams of pure bromelain with goldenseal enhances the herb's already potent effectiveness. I enjoy pineapple and its juice, so I'd probably chase my goldenseal capsule with the juice rather than taking a bromelain pill.