Sinusitis is an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. The inflammation may be due to an allergy or infection from virus, bacteria or fungus.

In normal condition sinuses are air-filled cavities. When these sinuses are blocked and filled with mucus, infective micro-organism starts growing and produce symptoms of sinusitis.

Common causes for Sinus Block:

  • Common cold,
  • Deviated Nasal septum,
  • Allergic rhinitis,
  • Nasal polyp

Symptoms:

  1. Acute sinusitis: Severe headache, facial pain, heaviness of head, pain over involved sinuses, fever, nasal stuffiness, may associated with thick yellow or green nasal discharge, symptoms may last for 10 to 14 days.
  2. Subacute sinusitis: Moderate Headache which disturb regular activity, heaviness of forehead, pain around involved sinus, Nasal stuffiness and may associate with yellowish or greenish mucus discharge.
  3. Chronic Sinusitis: Symptoms same as subacute but in less severe form, may associate with yellowish or greenish mucus discharge, Halitosis, post nasal drip and the symptoms last for more than 3 months.

Investigations: X-ray, CT scan, Nasal endoscopy

Diet and Lifestyle tips for Sinusitis:

Diet:

  • Food should be processed with Turmeric, Pepper and Ginger.
  • Avoid Kaphakara aharas(Snigdha, sheeta, pichila and kledayukta)like ice cream, curds, milk, banana, oily, fried, Chinese and junk foods.
  • Avoid fruits especially in the night when you are suffering from sinusitis.
  • Avoid excessive drinking of water, drink only warm water when you feel thirst.

Lifestyle:

  • Steam inhalation twice daily, the water may have camphor or few drops of Eucalyptus oil.
  • Warm compress over affected part gives relief from pain and heaviness.
  • Avoid head bath and oil application.
  • Avoid day sleep, Suppression of natural urges.
  • Don’t directly expose to Air-condition, fan or sitting close to a window while travelling in an open vehicle.

Ayurveda Treatment concept:

  • Kaphaja shirashoola chikitsa.
  • Srotoshodhana.
  • In Pitta and Raktadusti associated condition according to prakopa of anubhanda dosha.

In Acute Sinusitis (Kaphaja) treatments like Mukhabhyanga, Swedana helps to vilayana of kapha and Nasya with swarasa like gudardraka nasya which does the shirorechana. Avoid sneha nasya in acute stage, it will worsen the condition. Internal medicine should be kapha pachana, lekhana and srotoshodhana.

In Chronic sinusitis kapha will be in ruksha and leena stage, so the aim of treatment should be kapha vilayana by snehana and swedana followed by  Nasya with shirovirechana sneha nasya like Shadbindu taila or Anutaila.

Treatment Procedures:

1. Mukhabhyanga: Karpoora taila

2. Swedana: Nadi sweda or steam inhalation( Hot water with eucalyptus oil few drops and camphor)

3. Nasya:

      Swarasa Nasya:

  1. Gudardraka nasya(Guda 4 pinch+Ardraka swarasa1 teaspoon, Dose: 4 to 6 drops each nostril after proper snehana and swedana).
  2. Ardraka swarasanasya( Ardrakaswarasa 1teaspoon+Milk 1teaspoon)

      Snehanasya: 1 Anutaila 2.Shadbindu taila

4. Lepa:

  1. Rasnadi Churna: External application with warm water or lemon juice.
  2. Kacchoradi Churna: External application along with warm water over effected sinus.

Internal Medicines:

1. Kashyam:

  • Varunadi Kashayam (Kapha vatahara)
  • Amruthothara (Kapha vatahara, pachana, kaphanulomaka – Useful in Acute stage)
  • Dashamoola katutraya( Sub acute and chronic stage)
  • Guggulutiktakam kashayam

2. Churna:

  • Talisadi churna(Kaphavatahara, lekhana)
  • Sitopaladi churna(Pittakaphahara)
  • Laghu Sutshekhara mishrana(Pittakaphahara, ruksha, Sinusitis associated with thin discharge)
  • Trikatu churna(Kaphahara, Lekhana, Srotoshodhana)

3. Guggulu:

  • Triphala guggulu
  • Kaishora guggulu(Pitta and raktanubhanda condition)
  • Kanchanara guggulu(Kaphahara)

4. Vati/Rasayana/Vataka:

  • Mrityunjaya rasa
  • Tribuvana keerthi rasa
  • Naradiya laxmi vilasa rasa
  • Vyoshadi vattakam
  • Vettumaran gulika
  • Kamaduga rasa
  • Gandaka rasayana

5. Arishta/Asava:

  • Amritharishta(Tridoshahara)
  • Dashamoolarishta(Kaphavatahara)
  • Pippalyasava(Kaphapittahara)

6. Leha:

  • Chitrakaharitaki
  • Dashamoolaharitaki
  • Agatsya rasayana

7. Gritha:

  • Shatphala gritha: Useful in chronic sinusitis with Vatakaphanubanda condition.