Congestion. Pain and tenderness. A runny nose. These are some of the most common symptoms of sinus problems. Did you know that the nerves that control circulation, muscle tone, and mucous membranes in your sinuses come out of your neck at the base of your skull and travel across your cheek?
If you have a lot of tension in the base of your skull, that can quickly pinch or irritate those nerves, and affect the sensitivity of mucous membranes in your sinuses. It can contribute to a lot of congestion and blockage, and make your sinus complaints considerably worse.
The Role of Chiropractic
Chiropractic adjustments can help get the tension out of your neck-remove the pressure off those nerves. There are some things you can do to help massage the sinuses, but helping open up that congestion-flush that irritation out-can make an enormous difference in the pressure in your sinuses and your ability to breathe through your nose and help you feel better.
When Dr. Douglas Briggs, a chiropractor in our Wilmington office, was younger, he suffered from severe sinus and allergy problems. He had gone the traditional medical route with allergy shots and medicine, but didn’t get relief. To try to get relief from his pain and congestion, he was taken to a chiropractor. “The first time I got an adjustment, my sinuses opened up and drained almost immediately,” he said. His experience made such an impact that Dr. Briggs decided to become a chiropractor.
How Acupuncture Can Help
There are some classical acupuncture points known to help relax and open up the sinuses and drain congestion.
Other Natural Approaches
If you have certain food allergies, that can contribute to irritation if you have a lot of congestion trying to drain out. Many times, we’ll recommend doing sinus irrigation with a neti pot to flush some dust and debris out of your sinus cavities.
Drinking a hot beverage such as tea is also helpful to get the steam up into the sinuses to break up some of that tight, dried mucus, and help clean out your sinuses after you get them to relax.