Chronic sinusitis affects over 37 million Americans a year. It is the most common chronic condition in the United States today.1 Bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa and environmental conditions, such as molds, can cause sinusitis.
The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery describes chronic sinusitis as "a prolonged sinus infection; one that usually lasts for more than three months ... when you breathe in through your nose, the sinuses (which are air-filled) act like a filter, which creates mucus. If your sinus pathways do not properly drain, your sinuses can become 'diseased.' This can result in difficulty breathing through your nose, facial pain, and blockage of the sinuses among other symptoms. A sinusitis condition can interfere with one's lifestyle because of the constant pain and discomfort ... generally, a sinusitis condition will last more than 10 days and could also cause a discharge of thick yellow/green mucus, nasal congestion, and facial pain/pressure. There is no known 'cure' for chronic sinusitis. The right treatment can help resolve a current infection, but there are no guarantees that the infection won't return."
When a client complains of sinus discharge; post-nasal drip; headache; hearing problems; ear infection; a sinus cold; or sinus allergies that won't go away (or that come and go), we think of sinusitis. Often it's not apparently acute, but over time, it really puts a burden on the immune system - especially in immunocompromised people - and if left untreated, it can lead to serious infection requiring strong antibiotics.
There are four main treatments a Western doctor prescribes:
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) offers treatment approaches to sinusitis in both early and late stages. In early stages without severe infection, we often use treatment as an alternative to Western therapies. In later stages, we often combine therapies in a complementary manner.
Chinese medicine practitioners often use acupuncture, Chinese or Western herbs, sinus washes/steams, and massage as basic treatment. I personally find acupuncture to work wonders immediately for clearing the sinuses and relieving pain. Nutrition, including diet and nutritional supplements, are also a major part of the treatment plan.
Chinese Differential Diagnosis
The following diagnoses are found in chronic and acute sinusitis:
Acupuncture Treatment
The following acupuncture points are often used for chronic sinusitis:
These points are chosen based on differential diagnosis:
Apply white flower oil under the patient's nose during treatment (not too much for sensitive skin). Acupuncture treatments should be considered at least twice a week for acute or difficult situations.
Nasal Wash
A nasal irrigating bulb or glass nasal douche can be performed in several ways. I recommend the following techniques: Use a mild salt-water solution in a glass nasal douche to gently clean sinus passages. Use sea salt or kosher salt. Do not use commercial salt with chemicals that keep it flowing! Use spring water that is not chlorinated; filtered water; or boil tap water to destroy the chlorine. Warm water feels much more comforting than cold water; too warm is painful. Use ½ to 1 teaspoon salt in 1 cup water. Work up to 2 teaspoons of salt per cup. Warm water may also be used alone.
Using a glass nasal douche (available at some pharmacies), gently pour several drops into each nostril and tilt the head. Let the solution run into the sinuses or down the throat. If the solution stays in the sinuses, spit it out of the mouth with any phlegm that may be in the solution. Repeat 3-5 times each side. Be careful not to force the solution into the sinuses with too much pressure, especially if the client has a cold and stuffy nose. With ear congestion, be very gentle and use small amounts of water to begin.*
The areas with damaged tissue may feel a sharp sensation, which only lasts a few seconds. In time, this discomfort will subside as the tissues heal. The benefits are worth the temporary sensation. The sinuses will begin to drain, and as old build-ups begin to work loose, phlegm of various colors and consistencies will be discharged. There may be some blood in the phlegm initially as well.
Herbs
Add herbal essential oils to hot water (in a portable mug or in a simmering kettle), a vaporizer, essential oil atomizer, candlestick oil evaporator, or in a sink. Cover the client's head with a towel tent and instruct him or her to close the eyes and breathe in. The solution also may be applied to a washcloth covering the face. In addition, oils can be applied below the sinuses and breathe in steam. One can use white flower oil quite effectively in this case.
Massage
Acupressure can be performed on the sensitive spots on the forehead; hairline; cheeks; nose; ears; palate; and LI 4. The points mentioned above also may be used for sinus massage. Reflexology massage on the fingers and toes is beneficial. For blocked ears, massage behind the ears with white flower oil. I recommend clients perform self-massage to the facial area.
Conclusion
If done consistently for two to three months, using the above treatments in the clinic along with home self-care can have profound healing effects on chronic sinus infections; allergies; asthma; chronic coughs; or post-nasal drip.
* Note: Patients with ear infections should not do the sinus cleanse until the infection has cleared.
References
Chronic pain afflicts over 20% of the adult population. Sadly, most MDs have essentially no education in treating pain, beyond offering a few toxic medications. Then they tend to steer people with pain away from those health practitioners who are trained. This puts the acupuncture community on the front lines for addressing this epidemic.
When the body is going through a stressful event, the sympathetic system is activated. This activation will help the body with a life-threatening situation. If this state is activated for prolonged periods of time, it starts to consume energy. These traumatic events that generate stressors in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) will eventually become internalized.
| Digital Exclusive
One of the things that makes acupuncture so difficult to measure is that the medicine actually does contain some esoteric aspects. There have been numerous studies that demonstrate the neurochemical reasoning behind why acupuncture points stimulate the autonomic nervous system to enact change However, not all the benefits of TCM can easily be measured by randomized, controlled trials. But does that make them fundamentally and definitively untrue?
| Digital Exclusive