I have had four phone calls in five days from future patients who are all suffering from sinusitis. Obviously, their first question is "can acupuncture help with sinusitis?"
As we start entering Spring then allergens can be stirred up and sinusitis triggered.
So, I thought I would address the question to help you if you live with sinusitis.
Love Andrea The Travelling Acupuncturist
Acupuncture in Hertfordshire and Central Bedfordshire
What is sinusitis?
Our sinuses are small cavities behind our cheekbones and forehead. Their job is to permit air to flow from the nose into the sinuses and allow drainage of mucous from each sinus into the nose.
In sinusitis, these channels become blocked because the sinus linings are inflamed (swollen)
Sinusitis usually follows a cold or flu virus spreading to the sinuses from the upper airways. A few cases are caused by bacteria infecting the sinuses.
The NHS website describes the symptoms of sinusitis as:
pain, swelling and tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead
a blocked nose
a reduced sense of smell
green or yellow mucus from your nose
a sinus headache
a high temperature
toothache
bad breath
Depending on the nature and severity of your sinusitis you will be offered:
Home treatment: this includes rest, drinking lots of fluids, painkillers, avoiding allergic triggers and using a saltwater solution or decongestant nasal sprays
GPs: if you visit your doctor then they may give you steroidal nasal sprays or antihistamines or antibiotics.
Surgery: functional endoscopic sinus surgery is carried out under general anaesthetic
The surgeon can widen your sinuses by either:
removing some of the blocked tissue
inflating a tiny balloon in the blocked sinuses, then removing it
Or is there another way of alleviating your sinusitis with acupuncture?
Acupuncture for sinusitis
In acupuncture, sinusitis is traditionally called Bi Yuan or "nose pool".
There are four main "patterns" which we might see when diagnosing:
Wind heat:
headache
blocked nose
reduced sense of smell
yellow mucus from the nose
headache
tongue: red sides and/or front
Lung heat
pain, swelling and tenderness around the cheeks, eyes, forehead
headache
high temperature
flushed face
thirst
blocked nose
reduced sense of smell
yellow mucus from the nose
tongue: red with sticky yellow coat
Liver & gallbladder fire
headache on temples and cheeks
dizziness
bloodshot eyes
blocked nose
reduced sense of smell
yellow mucus from the nose
red face
tongue: red with redder sides and sticky yellow coat
Stomach and spleen damp-heat
frontal headache
feeling of heaviness/muzziness in the head
reduced sense of smell
sticky yellow mucus from the nose
red cheeks
thirst
tongue: sticky yellow coat in the middle
What can I do for my sinusitis?
Would you consider trying acupuncture?
I always run a free telephone call consultation where we can discuss your signs and symptoms. Drop me a message if you would like to talk.
Acupressure points
I have added below some acupressure points you can use at home for sinusitis.
Facial cupping
When I treat patients with sinusitis I always use facial cupping. These silicone cups are used on the face and I can even show you how to do it and you can continue the treatment at home.
Food
If you have phlegm I always guide my patients to eliminate certain foods. For example
Dairy
Beer
Tropical fruits e.g. bananas
You can also add foods as below
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