Surviving Sinusitis

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses which can be any one of the four paired cavities in the
facial bones of the skull that connects with the nose. The pain and discomfort associated with
Sinusitis is due to the sinus cavity becoming blocked by excess mucous production from an
infection which causes pressure on the surrounding tissue around the socket.
You could have either Acute Sinusitis or Chronic Sinusitis. Acute Sinusitis involves a sudden,
severe inflammation of one or more of the sinuses, and lasts less than three weeks. This usually
occurs after upper respiratory tract infections. Chronic Sinusitis though, is where the duration of
symptoms is longer than three weeks and can significantly interfere with daily life.
Approximately 50% of cases of Sinusitis are caused by bacterial infections. Other causes are viral
and fungal infections and sometimes from a deviated septum, nasal polyps or narrow sinuses.
Still other causes include the inhalation of irritants such as dust, dry air, tobacco smoke, food
allergies, hay fever, stress and swimming in chlorinated swimming pools.
The symptoms which often accompany Sinusitis include coughing, earache, fatigue, fever,
halitosis (bad breath), mucous discharge from the nose, nasal congestion and pain in the cheeks
and below the eyes.
In dealing with this condition, it is very important to have adequate amounts of water as you will
be losing large amounts of fluids through the mucous membranes. The body needs as much fluid
as it can to remove the toxins it is fighting, from the body.
Some interventions you can try which usually help enormously include:
Avoid wheat, dairy and sugar
Add plenty of vegetables to your diet
Eat organically as far as possible to avoid the sprays and hormones in foods
Take around 2-3g Vitamin C daily, every day
Take 3g ultra-refined fish oil (to avoid the mercury in cheap brands) daily
Health Tip: Olive Leaf for Sinusitis (80 words)
Olive leaf extract is quite astounding in its ability to almost completely clear a sinus infection. The
likely underlying mechanism for this effect is the oleuropein content which is contained in the olive
leaves. The extract seems to have the ability to suppress the toxic bacteria that are involved in
approximately 50% of sinusitis cases. The usual dosage of olive leaf is between 500mg to 1,000
mg per day. It acts like a natural and safe antibiotic and an immune-enhancer.
Q & A: Could you Have Sinusitis? (200 words)
Take the following quiz to see if you have sinusitis. Choose "yes" if you have any of the following
symptoms for ten days or longer; otherwise, choose "no."
YES

NO

Do you have facial pressure and/or pain?

..

Do you have severe or mild headache pain?

..

Are you experiencing congestion or a stuffy nose?

..

Is there thick, yellow-green nasal discharge?

..

Would you say you have a low-grade fever?

..

Do you suffer from bad breath?

..

Are you experiencing pain in the upper teeth?

..

If you answered "Yes" to three or more of the symptoms listed above, you may have a sinus
infection resulting from allergies, bacteria, or a response to fungi. An examination by your GP or
an ear, nose and throat specialist may be necessary if your symptoms do not resolve themselves
from the natural remedies suggested.
People with allergies, especially untreated allergies, are at greater risk of sinus infection because
they often have inflammation of the tissue lining the nose, which can block sinus openings if
you have a cold for three weeks it is likely that you have a mild or chronic sinus infection.
RECIPES:
Quick Garlic Potatoes (A speedy accompaniment, very moreish)
What you need:
1 medium potato per person, unpeeled,
Half tbsp olive oil per potato
1 clove of garlic per potato, crushed.
What you do next:
Cut the potatoes lengthways into slices 5mm thick. Boil the slices for 4-5 minutes until
tender.
Cut a criss-cross pattern on the surface of each slice.
Mix the garlic into the oil, and use to brush the potato slices.
Cook under a hot grill until crisp and well-browned, turning once.
Utterly divine!
Healthy Carrot Cake Fingers (makes 16)
What you need:
100g/1 cup grated/shredded carrots
250g/2 cups self-raising flour
2 tsp ground cinnamon
300g/1 1/3 cups brown sugar
100g/1 cup desiccated coconut
100g/ cup sultanas
75g/ cup chopped walnuts
2 eggs
tsp vanilla extract
100g/ cup butter, melted
100ml/scant half cup olive oil or macadamia oil
What you do next:
Grease a 20cm square, loose-based cake tin. Heat the oven to 180C.
Sift flour and cinnamon into a bowl. Stir in the carrots, plus sugar, coconut, sultanas,
walnuts.
In another bowl, beat together eggs, vanilla extract, melted butter and oil. Stir this mixture
thoroughly into the flour mix.
Put mixture into cake tin and bake for 45-50 minutes until golden and firm to touch. Leave
to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn on to a wire rack to cool. Cut into fingers.