All it takes is a bit of ‘exercise’ of your tongue and thumb. If you are willing to do it, then you already have everything you need to clear your sinuses in less than 20 seconds!
What is the cause of nasal congestion?
A stuffy blocked nose often occurs as a symptom of another existing health problem such as a sinus infection, the common cold or the flu. Usually, these health problems are minor: they include allergies, nasal polyps, (noncancerous growths on the nasal passages or sinuses due to inflammation,) chemical exposures, environmental irritants and hay fever.
When the lining in the sinus cavities gets inflamed due to irritants, bacteria or viruses, your nasal passage swells and gets badly blocked up, making it hard for you to breathe in and out.
Nasal congestion usually clears up in the course of a week or two, but with this, let’s call it ‘sinus draining technique,’ you do not have to wait as long as that to breathe easy ever again!
This is how you can clear your congested sinuses in as little as 20 seconds:
Are you ready to breathe smoothly? Follow these two simple steps:
- Push your tongue against the top of your mouth and place your thumb between your eyebrows.
- Apply pressure with your thumb for about 20 seconds. Your sinuses will begin to drain!
What is the science behind this trick?
Your vomer bone is a bone that runs through your nasal passages to your mouth. According to Lisa DeStefano, D.O., an assistant professor at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, this technique causes the vomer bone to rock back and forth. The back and forth motion loosens congestion, allowing your sinuses to drain.
Four additional DIY remedies for nasal congestion
If the technique mentioned above doesn’t really work for you, don’t panicky rush to your drug store for a solution as yet! Try these four super natural remedies. You may already have these supplies at home.
- Organic apple cider vinegar
Organic ACV is our favorite remedy for curing a sinus infection. Thanks to the launching of this page, thousands of people now know about this amazing and effective home treatment.
The secret is to take apple cider vinegar before the sinus infection occurs, which for most people is at the very start of allergies, colds, flu, etc. We have found that when apple cider vinegar is taken either as a daily tonic or at the first sign of an allergy or cold (i.e., sinus headache, stuffy nose, and watery eyes), one can completely stop the histamine response or allergic reaction.
ACV contains an array of nutrients including vitamins B1, B2, A, and E, calcium, and magnesium. These nutrients help clear the sinus cavities and treat allergy symptoms. Additionally, ACV thins mucus almost immediately. One of the first things you will notice after drinking apple cider vinegar is that the color of your mucus goes from white or green and thick, to thin and clear. The thinning of mucus is the key to kicking your sinus infection.
Once you have thinned mucus, you can clobber the sinus infection with one of many remedies from this page. Wild oregano oil (described below) is also one of our favorites for bacterial infections, but grapefruit seed extract is also very potent. Whatever remedy you try, remember to keep sipping apple cider vinegar throughout the day for several days and drink lots of water.
Apple cider vinegar can be used in a couple of different ways to treat a sinus infection.
Directions: To form a tonic for internal use, mix 1/8 to 1/4 a cup of apple cider vinegar into 16 ounces of water. Sip the tonic throughout the day. Alternatively, you can gulp up to 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in 8 ounces of water all at once.
Here is another efficient mixture you can prepare on you own any time you are troubled with your sinuses:
Directions: Mix eight ounces of warm water with 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon of honey, or take 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar three times daily. You sinuses should clear up in a few days.
Optional: You could also mix half a cup of apple cider vinegar with half a cup of water, heat it on the stove, and inhale the steam with your mouth and eyes closed.
Remember, the key to treating a sinus infection with apple cider vinegar is to catch and treat the infection as early as possible. If you catch the condition early, you’ll be able to quickly eradicate the condition and prevent further issue.
- Turmeric
While there is a lack of research focusing on turmeric’s ability to treat sinus infection, this does not stop individuals around the world from utilizing turmeric for sinus infection relief. The active ingredient in turmeric, known as curcumin, helps to heal the sinus cavity and clear the airways. Since sinus infections are caused by nasal inflammation, and turmeric possesses anti-inflammatory properties, the spice can be an effective solution for sinus infection.
If you are able to find turmeric root at a local health food store, then purchase it without hesitation.
Directions: Try mixing about 2, 2″ pieces of turmeric root with 1 lemon, 1 tablespoon of honey, cayenne pepper, and water to create a turmeric smoothie. You may also add banana for extra flavor. Many individuals see complete improvement within 3 days of drinking the smoothie, even if the sinus infection has been present for weeks at a time.
In addition to being one of many natural cures for sinus infection, turmeric can have a profound positive effect on your health. Turmeric uses are vast, with the spice being able to detoxify the liver and even fight cancer. In fact, turmeric has been shown to have anticancer properties many times, showing how incredible the spice can really be.
So, sprinkling some turmeric on your next meal can help to treat the nasal inflammation that is seriously blocking up your sinuses.
- Nasal saline rinse
This may not be the most comfortable solution for you, but many people have relied on a saline rinse to clear up their sinuses.
Sea salt is salt produced from the evaporation of seawater or water from saltwater lakes, usually with little processing. It is also called bay salt or solar salt. Commercially available sea salts on the market today vary widely in their chemical composition and none have the same composition and proportion of elements found in natural seawater, so while you are on holiday, take some seawater in a sterile bottle for this important purpose. You can also keep it refrigerated for a longer use.
Directions: This mixture can consist of a quarter teaspoon of sea salt/pickling salt with one cup of warm water. This rinse gets poured through one nostril and out the other to clear the sinuses.
If you have never done a saline rinse before, ask someone for assistance or read and follow the instructions on the package or leaflet very carefully.
- Wild oregano oil
Hands down, oregano oil is one of the best natural supplements you can get. It is produced from the perennial herb oregano and loaded with free-radical-crushing antioxidants.
Wild oregano oil is not as widely available or as cheap as the above mentioned remedies, but if you happen to get your hands on this oil, simply ingest it, or steam it over the stove and inhale it to effectively clear up your sinuses.
If your choice is to only inhale it, you also sort of ‘intake’ some of the health benefits of oregano oil which include: protection against harmful organisms, essential nutrients, digestive aid, menstrual aid, allergy support, graceful aging, weight loss, discomfort ease, and so on. So, you reap the benefits while not adding extra calories to your carefully planned diet!
