This has been a rough week for me, so I apologize that it’s been a little quiet on the blog front. I got hit with not one, but two illnesses back to back. Last Sunday morning, I woke up and felt like a bus hit me. Fever, chills, achy, headache… random flu-like stuff. Three days later, just when I thought I was coming out of the woods… Wham! Sinus infection. So much for feeling better!
I used to get sinus infections twice a year when I worked in an office setting. Interacting with lots of people on a daily basis left me open to catching colds that would escalate into infections quickly. I had a doctor that once looked in my sinuses and immediately said “yeah, I bet you do get these a lot!” I’m not quite sure what he saw that prompted this comment. (Maybe the Mucinex blob guy was up there waving at him?) Whatever it was, it was clear that this was likely to be a common problem for me.
I’ve been really grateful that I haven’t been sick since I took time off to be home with my daughter. I had sort of forgotten how awful it is when picking your head up off the pillow seems like too much to manage. But this week reminded me of all that fun and left me scrambling for remedies I’ve turned to in the past to battle these issues.
Because the Heck household has a lot going on this week, I needed to pull out the big guns… fast.
Being prone to infections, I’ve learned strategies for getting rid of them without antibiotics over the years. In fact, I’ve built somewhat of a standard (for me at least) process. As I was running through that process this week, it dawned on me it be helpful to share some of these remedies with you all. I know some of these will sound hokey, but honestly, they almost always speed up my healing process and allow me to get rid of the symptoms without seeing a Dr. (and who doesn’t love avoiding a Dr. bill?!)
**If you see these stars next to one of my steps, it means I used this when I was pregnant and couldn’t use medications (although, I did give in and use a little Tylenol during this time). If you’re like me, you are always looking for something safe to try and help you’re your symptoms, so I’ve noted those for you below**
First things first: I always, always, start with Mucinex. The plain box. No decongestant or anything else. All of the decongestant formulations (even the one made for sinuses) are too drying and make my sinuses worse, so I stick with the plain stuff. Mucinex is an expectorant, which means it thins out the mucus in your sinuses and helps your body get rid of it.
Gross. I know, but it’s gotta go! I start taking this as soon as I feel that little tickle in the back of my throat that tells me something bad is coming. I add ibuprofen or an allergy pill if needed.
Second: Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey Drink. I’m actually sipping on this as I type right now. My husband laughs at me when I make this drink, but I swear it helps kill my colds and sinus infections faster.
My go-to concoction:
6-8 oz warm or hot water
1-2 Tablespoons Bragg’s Unfiltered and Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
1 teaspoon Honey
Heat up the water, stir in the ACV and the honey and sip away. When I’m really sick, I try to get three cups in a day. One morning, noon, and evening.
Couple of warnings: Vinegar is acidic, so drinking too much can cause stomach irritation and damage your teeth. If you have any pre-existing GI issues, I’d suggest talking with your physician before drinking this. I mean, I’d suggest talking with your physician before trying anything you read on the internet, but that’s just me!
What do these ingredients do?
Apple Cider Vinegar: High in vitamins and minerals (think B vitamins, potassium, etc.) which will help boost your immunity. ACV has been said to have expectorant, antihistamine, and antibiotic effects on the body, all of which are helpful when you are trying to get rid of a cold or sinus infection.
Honey: I mean, have you tried ACV? Not the best tasting drink. So, first off, a little bit of honey definitely makes this more palatable. But that’s not the best part… Honey has antibacterial properties. It also helps soothe the throat and suppress coughs.
Click here or here for more info!
Third: Breathe Right Strips.** I know, so nerdy!!! I always try to hide these from my hubby, but last night was so bad, I slapped one of these bad boys on while we were watching TV and I could breathe again almost instantly. I only realized how helpful these were about a year ago. I was pregnant with a sinus infection… which means… no meds. Awful. I looked everywhere for alternative remedies and found this as I was reading the comments section on a natural health website. I thought “Really? They can’t possibly be that good.” And then I tried them and instantly wished I had known about them sooner.
These are the dorky band aid looking strips you put across the bridge of your nose. They have some kind of elastic center that lifts the sides of your nose up which opens your nasal cavities. They honestly have been a game changer for me and allow me to get sleep at night. And if you suffer from sinusitis with any regularity, you know that sleep means everything.
If you have not tried these, they’re worth a try next time you’re sick. If you’re like me, you’ll be thankful you did, even if you have to put them on after your spouse falls asleep!
Fourth: Detox Baths. I don’t get to do these nearly as much as I’d like to, but I honestly feel different when I do. Earlier this week when I had a fever and chills, taking one of these felt like absolute heaven. I also use them when I’m trying to get rid of sinus issues. The steam and heat from the bath help clear out my nasal passages and sweating helps rid your body of toxins. Sometimes, I just lay there and visualize the illness leaving my body (I don’t think this part does anything for you, but mind over matter, right? And it puts me into a better mood which is always worth something when you’re sick!)
I’ve seen a ton of different recipes for these baths. I pulled mine together by taking the most common ingredients across all the recipes I reviewed.
Here is my go-to concoction:
1.5 cups of Epsom Salts
.5 cup of Baking Soda
2 Tablespoons Ground Ginger
I add these to the bathtub as it is filling and then use my hand to swish the water around and dissolve everything as best I can. I try to make the water pretty hot, because that’s how I like it, but you should be prepared that if a normal bath makes you sweat, this one will be even more intense. You may want to start on the cooler side until you have an idea of how your body responds. I put a timer on for 30 minutes. At that point, I check in with myself and see how I feel. If I’m feeling too hot, lightheaded, or not well, I’ll get out at this point. If not, I’ll drink some fluids and then reset the timer for another 15 minutes.
What do these ingredients do?
Epsom Salts: Epsom Salt is made of the minerals magnesium and sulfate. When you add this to your bath, these naturally occurring minerals soak into your skin. These minerals are reported to help the body flush toxins and aid in relieving muscle soreness.
Baking Soda: Detoxes and alkalizes the body (also, exfoliates and smooths the skin. Bonus!)
Ground Ginger: Encourages sweating. Sweating is one way the body gets rid of toxins and other impurities, which is exactly what you want when you trying to rid yourself of whatever bacteria or virus has made its home in your body.
Further information here and here.
Warnings: I’m not joking when I say that this bath makes you sweat. You will notice it pretty quickly and you will continue to sweat 30-60 minutes post bath as well. It is important to keep drinking fluids to reduce the chances of dehydration. You should also get out of the bathtub very slowly and carefully. It’s not uncommon for people to feel lightheaded from the heat. As always, this is not good for or recommended for everyone. If you have medical issues or concerns or are on any medications, ALWAYS discuss these types of things with your doctor before trying them at home. Ginger, for instance, should not be used if you are taking an anti-coagulant or blood thinner.
Fifth and Final:** Sinus rinse. This post is just full of nice sounding stuff, huh? Seriously though, this is also a game changer. I use the NeilMed Sinus Rinse that you can find at any grocery store or pharmacy. It washes out pollen, allergens, and other gross stuff from your sinuses. It also provides a little moisturization which soothes painful sinuses. I did not use a rinse this time around because by the time I got through step four of the process, I was feeling better. If it had stretched on though, this would have been my next step.
Considerations: Always use distilled, bottled, or previously boiled water. You don’t want to end up with any organisms in your sinuses… remember, sinuses are close to your brain so take care to use the correct type of water. Be prepared for some nasty stuff to come out of your nose. Especially if you have a full-blown infection. And, on that note, be careful of your ears. When you are really congested, your ears get full too. Do everything gently and without a lot of pressure (there are warnings about this on the box… always read directions first!) If your nose is completely blocked, this rinse will not work and is not recommended. When I’m in this position, I generally stick with the other options and try to use this whenever I can breathe again.
I’m interested in whether anyone has any different remedies I haven’t thought of yet? Have you tried any of the above? Did they work for you? Send me messages and comments on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter! I love hearing from you!! Even better, use the like and share buttons on this page to pass this info along to others you think will find it helpful!
And, as always, stay healthy as heck! KH