How to Prevent Sinusitis Naturally with Ayurveda
- Veena Haasl-Blilie
- Sep 16, 2022
- 8 min read
Updated: Oct 3, 2024
If you have a closet filled with remedies you've experimented with for your sinus problems, are you open to trying something ancient that dates back 5,000 years? Ayurveda, a tried and tested method, can aid in preventing sinusitis by balancing the doshas.
Explore more on the Saumya Blog, selected top Ayurveda blogs and websites.
Before jumping into sinus issues and Ayurvedic home remedies, let's explore prana. Prana is foundational. The way we breathe changes how energy, prana, flows throughout our bodies and minds. When we learn to breathe diaphragmatically, we're calmer and healthier, mentally and physically.
Prana means "life force" and ayama means "expansion." Pranayama practices help us permeate our bodies and minds prana, with the vital force. Pranayama increases your vitality." -Veena, Saumya Ayurveda
Explore pranayama (breathwork) in depth with our popular article: Ayurveda Breathwork Pranayama
How to Prevent Sinusitis Naturally with Ayurveda
Autumn marks a major seasonal shift in many parts of the world. As the hot and humid days of Pitta give way to the cool, dry winds of Vata – it can throw the doshas out of balance. This, in turn, can throw our immune systems out of whack.
Sinus crud, constant throat clearing, and persistent sniffles can feel like an inevitable part of life this time of year – but they don’t have to be. This blog takes a closer look at how Ayurvedic sinus treatments can put an end to seasonal suffering.
Why are My Sinuses Worse in the Fall?
The transition from summer to fall is a particularly dynamic time of year. Ragweed and other allergens circulate more easily in Vata’s winds. As we return to school - and spend more time indoors in general - our environments become a petri-dish for bacteria and viruses.
Autumn is also a vulnerable season for the doshas in general. Shifting from fiery Pitta to cool, dry Vata energy can throw the doshas out of balance. When this happens, our immune systems become comprised – right at the onset of cold and flu season!
The best Ayurvedic sinus treatment is, simply, prevention. When we develop practices and habits that help us feel our best, we’re better equipped to stay healthy all year long.
“I feel much, much better. Amazing. I Feel Ten Years Young and at 76, That Really Matters. Digestive issues are totally 100% gone. Not an issue at all. I feel great! Blood sugar and lifelong sinus issues, much better.” -Kathy B., Minneapolis, Minnesota
Related Readings: Ayurveda Remedies for Mucus and Congestion
The 3 Doshas & Seasonal Sinus Issues
Every person is comprised of a unique mix of the three Ayurvedic doshas – Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. These doshas are the energetic building blocks of the universe and are present in everything around us.
We’re all affected differently by seasonal shifts, depending on the balance of each dosha in our bodies and environments. Here’s how doshic imbalances manifest in our sinuses and respiratory systems:
In Ayurveda, it’s important to treat the whole person. But what’s best for one person may not be best for someone else. An Ayurvedic practitioner can help assess what’s happening in your body – and how to regain balance.
7 Seasonal Sinus Treatments in Ayurveda
While personalized treatment is essential, it’s helpful to understand the most common Ayurvedic sinus treatments. Read on to learn Ayurveda can help prepare your body and immune system for seasonal shifts in the world around you.
1. Nasya Oil Treatment
Nasya oil is an herb-infused oil used in Ayurveda to cleanse and nourish the nasal passageways. Regular Nasya oil treatment can help relieve mucus and congestion, pacify doshic imbalances, and improve breathing to support the flow of prana.
Nasya oil therapy is simple, and it only takes a few minutes. An Ayurvedic practitioner can help ensure you’re using the proper herbal blend, and that daily application is right for you.
2. Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is an Ayurvedic treatment that alleviates excess doshas in the head and mind. It helps cleanse oral ama - or toxins - to ease congestion and support healthy sinuses.
An experienced Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner can assess your prakruti (constitution) and vikruti (nature) to determine which type of oil is optimal for your doshic balance. After this, the process is simple:
Place one tablespoon of oil in your mouth (usually coconut or sesame oil).
Swish the oil through your teeth and gums for 15-20 minutes.
Spit the oil in the trash or toilet when you’re finished. Don’t swallow it or spit it in the sink.
When you’re just getting started, start with five minutes and work your way up to 15 or 20. The oil may quickly change consistency and color at first, which means it’s full of oral gunk. If this happens, spit it out and continue the following day.
3. Herbal Steaming
Herbal steam baths are an Ayurvedic sinus treatment that balance the doshas in the head and respiratory system. Steaming involves mixing Ayurvedic herbs into boiling water, leaning over the bowl and placing a towel over your head to trap the steam, and breathing it in for 10 to 15 minutes.
Eucalyptus, basil, and rosemary are all great for herbal steaming – but the best combination of herbs depends on your specific symptoms and Ayurvedic constitution.
"I found your sinus blog and did the essential oils over boiled water method and it cleared up my nose after one session!! It was soooo goopy, I couldn't believe how clear it got."
--J.D., USA
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4. Herbal Therapy
Ayurvedic herbs aren’t just good for steam baths. Ingesting certain anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial herbs can help prevent and relieve sinus and respiratory issues.
Ginger and Honey: A spoonful of honey and ginger every morning helps boost the immune system and alleviate allergies.
Cinnamon: Adding a little cinnamon to your diet can help reduce inflammation, a key trigger for sinus and respiratory issues.
Salt & Turmeric: Gargle warm salt and turmeric water, which have anti-microbial properties.
Herbal Water: Add basil leaves, mint leaves, cloves, and ginger to boiling water and sip throughout the day for sinus relief and immune support.
Which Ayurvedic herbal remedy is correct for you depends on your constitution, current conditions, location, stage of life, and the season.
As with all herbs, the tenet of Ayurveda is that what works well for one person may be incorrect for another. (Herbs are listed for informational purposes only.)
"Ayurveda is gentle and effective because it is not a one size fits all approach. It is a compassionate look at the unique you, gaining a clear picture of what is going on for the whole you, then with clarity and specificity, providing you the most supportive and gentle herbal remedies." - Veena, Saumya Ayurveda
Explore More: Ayurvedic Remedies for a Sore Throat
5. Yog-Asana
Yog-asana (the physical part of a yoga practice) benefits our physical and mental health in many ways. The following poses, in particular, support the sinuses and respiratory system:
Adho Muka Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog): This foundational pose helps improve circulation and open blocked channels to decongest the nasal cavities.
Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose): This pose stretches your chest and lungs to enhance the breath and flow of prana. It also invigorates the heart and reduces stress to boost immunity.
6. Vata Grounding Diet
When Vata is out of balance, we become more vulnerable to respiratory infections. To ground and soothe Vata, consume foods that counter-balance its cool, dry properties.
Favor meals that are warm (energetically and in temperature) rather than cold or cooling. Oily foods like avocado, sesame oil, olives can help increase moisture. In general, it’s wise to shift your diet from light and fresh to grounding, dense, and nourishing this time of year.
Ayurvedic Spaghetti squash, carrot ginger soup, and Kitchari porridge are a few of our favorite recipes to calm Vata during this seasonal transition.
7. Ayurvedic Cleanse and Detox
Ayurvedic detox diets help flush contaminants, correct doshic imbalances, and give your body a clean slate to combat respiratory issues. They’re one of the best Ayurvedic sinus treatments – but it’s essential to take the unique needs of your body into account.
Explore this guide to learn how to do an Ayurveda detox diet at home – and consult Saumya Ayurveda to ensure you choose foods and herbal remedies that make sense for your Ayurvedic body type.
Ayurveda Dosha Quiz
Did you take a quiz or several and find yourself more confused? How do you know which dosha or doshas you are? The question can leave us flummoxed. And yet, you need a clear dosha assessment because that is the foundation to diagnosis, treatment and maintaining good health. If the doshic picture isn't clear, how can Ayurvedic treatment be correct?
There are three main dosha types, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, BUT...there are many combinations. Now add to that, the qualities of each dosha and dosha combination, and now layer that with any imbalances in one or more of the doshas and yes--it can make your head spin.
Explore our article, How to Recognize Dosha Imbalances in Your Life, for comprehensive lists of dosha imbalances. Then, turn to Saumya Ayurveda as your experienced guide in learning about and balancing your distinct constitution.
“So glad I came across Saumya Ayurveda’s clinic. This is a gem offering holistic preventive care. I had great results with seasonal allergies and general well-being.
Veena is extremely knowledgeable and takes great care in remedying underlying health issues. Thank you for all your help and continued services to our community.” --Pawan K., Corrales, New Mexico
“I feel much, much better. Amazing. I feel ten years younger and at 76, that really matters. Digestive issues are totally 100% gone. Not an issue at all. I feel great! Blood sugar and lifelong sinus issues, much better.” -Kathy B., Minneapolis, Minnesota
“I've been working with Veena since 2010. She has helped my overall health improve in many ways. We addressed my health concerns using food, oils, spices, lifestyle and herbs that best support me. I used to have chronic sinus infections and in the first year of her care, I didn't have one." --M.B,. Minneapolis, Minnesota
How to Prevent Sinusitis Naturally with Ayurveda
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We all want to be heard, understood, and cared for as whole beings, not a set of isolated symptoms. True health is more than the absence of disease, which is why Western medicine so often leaves us feeling hopeless and unseen.
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MEET VEENA: YOUR AYURVEDIC GUIDE
Veena is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and meditation teacher, and monk.
She is President Emeritus and teaching faculty of the Meditation Center.
Veena fell in love with the traditional medicine used in her family’s home, learning herbal remedies at her grandmother's knee.
An experienced Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, Veena’s deep, intuitive knowledge of Ayurveda empowers her clients to reclaim their fullest, most vibrant lives –mentally, physically, and spiritually.
Veena individualizes treatment plans to each person, rather than offering a one-size-fits-all approach, so it fits your life and becomes woven in your lifestyle, naturally.
