Sinus Infection Home Remedies

These sinus infection home remedies provide relief by promoting sinus draining, opening up nasal passages and thinning mucus, all of which help relieve sinus infection pain. Used in concert with antibiotics to clear the root cause of infection, you should begin to feel better in a few short days.

Promote Drainage
If you have a sinus infection, your nasal passages are probably very dry. Drinking a lot of water and warm beverages like tea can help keep them hydrated. It's also a good idea to inhale steam two to four times each day. Lean over a bowl of boiling water or tea, use a steam vaporizer or place a hot damp towel over your face.

Open Nasal Passages
Use a saline nasal spray to wash out mucus and bacteria. You can find one at the drugstore or make your own at home from salt and water. You can also pour the salt water through your nasal passages with a netti pot, which can be found at natural health stores. A hot steamy shower can work well, too. At the same time, avoid smoke, which can irritate already inflamed nasal membranes.

Relieve Pain
If you have a headache or pain in your cheeks, temples, teeth or behind your eyes, an over-the-counter pain medication can help. Look for aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce pain and swelling, which can open up airways, too.

Thin Mucus
Buy an over-the-counter cough syrup that contains an expectorant to help expel mucus from lungs and respiratory passages.