MANAGING SINUSITIS WITH AYURVEDA

Firstly understanding sinuses: Sinuses are defined as the air-filled spaces in the skull. There are four paired cavities or spaces in the nasal bones, head, cheeks, orbits of the eye namely maxillary, ethmoid, frontal, sphenoid. All of these sinuses are connected to narrow channels that open in the nose. There is secretion of mucus in the sinuses that is drained out through nose. This drainage clears the nose from all the dirt and bacteria and maintains the air flow. Until your drainage is maintained you are having healthy sinus.

Location of sinuses:

• Ethmoidal sinuses- between eyes
• Maxillary sinuses- below the eyes
• Sphenoidal sinuses- behind the eyes
• Frontal sinuses- located above the eye

What is sinusitis?

When the nasal passages and sinuses and the area around the check bones become inflamed and blocked due to excessive production of mucus is known as sinusitis. The tissues inside the nose get swollen, red, inflammed. This blockage develops pressure in the head and tenderness below the eyes causing headache. The blocked mucus and fluid leads to the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms. The biggest sinus is maxillary and often got infected.

What does Ayurveda explains about sinusitis?

Ayurveda has mentioned in text head and neck is the region of predominant kapha dosha. The nature of kapha dosha is heavy (guru), slimy (pichhil), mucus (snigdha) and having properties to settle down. When favorable conditions occur for kapha dosha, it gets accumulated in the prone areas.

The term “pennas roga” is given to the sinusitis. It mostly occurs due to vitiation of vata and kapha dosha. The symptoms  are very much similar to nasa roga and shiro roga. The most common symptoms are shoon akshikoota (inflammation around orbits ), mand ruja (mild pain), gurutvam (heaviness), bharma (giddiness) etc.

Ayurveda has mentioned some factors for Sinusitis:

• Ratrijagrana (excess awakening at night)
• Ambu kreeda (playing excess in water)
• Raja (exposures to allergens)
• Vega dharana (suppression of natural urges)
• sheetambupana (drinking excess cold water)
• dushta anna (contaminated food)
• utsedha (inflammation of sinuses)
• ati Madhya pana (excessive alcohol intake)

Risk factors:

• History of nasal allergies
• Nasal polyps (growths)
• Asthma
• Abnormal nasal structure
• Deviated nasal septum
• Smoking also increases chances of sinusitis many folds
• Low in immunity
• Excessive kapha dosha inside the body (water element)
• Previously having adenoids
• Cystic fibrosis

What causes sinusitis?

• Sudden environmental change (ritu parivartan)
• Low physical exertion (compilation of kapha dosha)
• Contact with dust, fungus or molds
• Continuous exposure to allergens such as pollen, dander
• Infection of upper respiratory infection

Most common Symptoms of sinusitis:

• Congestion or fullness in the face
• Nasal blockage or obstruction
• Mild fever with chills
• Watery eyes
• Throat Irritation
• Sneezing or Cough
• Pus accumulation in the nasal cavity
• Discolored postnasal drainage
• Headache
• Thick sputum

How to prevent sinusitis?

• Drink leukwarm water
• Steam inhalation
• Sleep with your head elevated
• Maintain nasal hygiene
• Bathe nasal passage regularly
• Drtink herbal tea like green tea, ginger tea

How Ayurveda helps in curing Sinusitis?

Ayurveda focuses on balancing vata and kapha dosha in order to balance sinusitis. The ayurveda regimes that are helpful in sinusitis are as follows:

• Internal herbal medications
• Deepan pachan herbs for ama pachna (toxins) and increases digestive power.
• External therapies
• Panchkarma therapies (detoxification and rejuvenation)
• Rasayana herbs to increase immunity
• Modification of diet
• Lifestyle management

Procedures involve:

• Nasya therapy: Adding drops of cow ghee or medicated oil drops in both the nostrils, morning or evening. This increases the respiratory immunity of a person and hence helpful in preventing sinusitis.
• Oil pulling Therapy: Swish 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or sesame oil into your mouth for a minute or two, spit it off and rinse mouth with warm water. This procedure in Ayurveda is known as Gandhoosh or Kawal . It is being said that it activates salivary enzymes that absorb bacterial, chemical or environmental toxins from the blood. It is helpful in detoxification of the body as a whole.
• Shirodhara : Shirodhara is the best panchlarma procedure while managing diseases of head and A steak of warm medicated oil or decoction is being poured on the forehead for about 30-45 minutes.  It is helpful in relieving headache, watery eyes, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis.

Herbs essential for sinusitis:

• Haridra (Curcuma longa)
• Marich (Piper nigrum)
• Aswagandha (Withania somnifera)
• Tulsi (holy basil)
• Vacha (Acorus calamus)
• sunthi (dry ginger)
• Pipali (Piper longum)

Managing Sinusitis with Chandigarh Ayurved Centre

1. Kapha Powder

This is a mixture of pure herbs & minerals which contains – Abhrak bhasma, Sitopladi churna, Godanti bhasma, Laxmi vilas rasa, etc. The powder is beneficial in a variety of diseases relating to respiratory disease, digestive system, immune system, etc. It can work in the management of cough, chronic fever, sore throat, tonsillitis, etc.

Recommended Dosage – Take 1 Sachet twice daily with normal water.

2. Kas Shwas Hari Rasa

Kas Shwas Hari rasa is an excellent remedy for upper respiratory related problems. It balances Kapha and reduces Vata Dosha. The tablets contain – Shwas kasa chintamani rasa, Sutshekhar rasa, Laxmivilas nardiya rasa, Talisadi churna processed in Bhawana Vasa Kwath. It is traditionally administrated in problems like recurring cough, migraine, asthma, sinusitis, etc.

Recommended Dosage – Take 1 tablet twice daily with normal water.

3. Cough go tablets:

Cough Go tablets help in balancing the kapha dosha. It shows effective results in Chronic Cough,common cold, and all respiratory diseasesalong with Seasonal Allergy, Bronchitis, Bronchial Asthma. It contains pure herbal ingredients like Sonth (Zingiber officinale), Mulethi (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Pippali (Piper longum), Kali mirch (Piper nigrum), Laxmi vilas rasa, Abhrak bhasam, Tankan bhasam etc. These ingredients contain natural Kapha doshahar properties and help in curing all respiratory diseases and diseases related to Kapha dosha, Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, Bronchodilator, Immuno-modulator, Expectorant properties.

Recommended Dosage: Take 1 tablet twice daily with normal water.

4. Broncho care syrup:

Broncho Caresyrup is herbo mineral and purely ayurvedic formulation. It act on Vata and Kapha dosha from which it mainly reduces Kapha. It means it reduces phelgm production in the lungs and balances sections in the body. It exerts mucolytic and expectorant action on the respiratory system. It increases digestive firewhich help improve appetite. It also help in chronic bronchitis and asthma symptoms. Broncho care is antioxidant, anti inflammatory, immuno modulator and a good detoxifier.

Recommended Dosage – Take 2 teaspoonfuls twice daily.

5. Anu Tailam

Anu tailam is the wonderful Ayurvedic nasal oil that is a very effective remedy for allergies, sinusitis, headache, etc. This herbal oil has both the lubricating and cooling effect. It cleanses and moistens the mucous membranes, kills bacteria and fungi, thin mucus and stimulates its flow, shrinks swelling in the mucous membrane of the sinus. Anu tailam is very refreshing and can be used for mental fatigue also. The base oil of Anu Tailam is Sesame oil and other ingredients like– Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Brihati (Solanum indicum), Chandan (Santalum album), Mustaka (Cyperus rotundus), etc. It possesses anti-bacterial properties and eliminates the excess mucus from the nasal cavity and balances adequate secretion of mucus.

Recommended Dosage – Put 2-3 drops of Anu tailam in each nostril.

6. Trikatu tablets:

Trikatu Tablet helps to eliminate excess Kapha or mucous from the body, supports respiratory system, manages weight, helps to take out impurities or ama from the body, supports healthy detoxification, reduces swelling. This tablet is made up of equal parts of three herbs such as Pippali (Piper longum), Shunthi (Zingiber officinale), & Marich (Piper nigrum) that maintains the metabolism in the body. The regular use of this tablet balances the thyroxin hormone and treats hyperthyroidism naturally. It is an Appetizer and it improves digestion, supports normal gastric function, and normal circulation, Flatulence, Loss of appetite, Abdominal bloating, Abdominal distension, Indigestion, Hyperthyroidism, Belching, Tinnitus, Boosts metabolism, Weight management.

Recommended Dosage: Take 1 tablet twice daily with normal water.