By Andrew Gaeddert
How does chronic sinusitis develop?
A person breathes airborne particles including mold. An allergic reaction is produced causing grooves to form in the lining membranes of the sinuses. These grooves trap mucus. The stagnant mucus gets infected, causing nasal polyps and a thickening of the sinus lining, thus obstructing the outflow of mucus. The polyps cause more infection. The infection causes more polyps, leading to more infection.
When do you use Nasal Caps 2 and Xanthium Relieve Surface?
I usually recommend Nasal Caps 2 when there is sinus congestion or sinus blockage. I recommend Xanthium Relieve Surface for allergic conditions if there is heavy nasal drainage, watery or itchy eyes, as well as allergic skin conditions.
What about for the initial stages of a cold, when the nose is running?
You could use Nasal Caps 2, which would be the better formula even if the nose is running. However, I would definitely add either Cold Away or Isatis Gold to actually treat the initial stages of a cold or flu.
What if there is a sinus infection?
If there is colored nasal discharge, I would use Nasal Caps 2 with Coptis Purge Fire. As many chronic sinus infections involve fungus, consider the antifungal formula Phellostatin with Nasal Caps 2, especially for chronic sinus infections.
How do you determine if someone has fungal sinusitis?
The best method is to take a culture. Other questions you might ask: Is this a chronic or acute condition? In my experience fungal infections are more likely in those who have chronic sinusitis, those who have taken antibiotics, and clients who respond adversely to mold. Does the woman have a history of vaginal yeast infections, or does the man or woman tend to get fungal skin infections? Finally, if antibiotics have not helped, their sinus infection might be another clue that the person has fungal sinusitis.
I do want to mention here that individuals who have cancer, AIDs and others with severely compromised immune systems should be treated medically, which may involve the use of prescription antifungal drugs. For less severe conditions Phellostatin works well to treat Candida Related Complex and other chronic fungal infections. T
In my area, we get the Santa Ana winds which produce allergic type symptoms.
Xanthium Relieve Surface is a wind formula. For people who are susceptible to wind invasion, I would consider combining Xanthium Relieve Surface with Head-Q formula. A person who is susceptible to wind typically has headache, tightness in the upper back, and migrating pain. Wind symptoms tend to come and go.
I am treating a young boy who has severe allergy symptoms when the flowers are blooming and pollinating. We had great results using Xanthium Relieve Surface and Astra C during the spring. He sometimes has asthma symptoms in cold weather. What would you suggest?
I would suggest using Astra C during winter and fall to prevent allergy symptoms in spring and summer. CordySeng can be added for asthma symptoms, but asthma can be serious so I would also suggest consulting with the boy’s primary care physician.
My practice is in Colorado. We have a very dry climate, and some of my clients have both runny nose and congestion. Other clients have extremely dry and even bloody sinus passages. What do you suggest?
One of the functions of cordyceps is to strengthen and moisten the lungs, which in turn will moisten the nose. Therefore, I would suggest using CordySeng as a prevention strategy. If there is heat signs such as bloody nose, I would consider Lily Bulb formula for dry sinus cavity. In general, if there is both runny nose and congestion, I would select Xanthium Relieve Surface.
I have clients that have had sinus surgeries and take steroids and inhalers ever y day. One client in particular is being treated by an allergist, and has blocked sinuses almost all the time. He generally has a cold type constitution but he gets cold and flus frequently. There is a lot of puffiness and even redness around the nose, cheeks and forehead.
Surgeries produce stagnation, as do many of the Western medications used to treat sinus conditions. The puffiness suggests stagnation, whereas, the redness indicates heat. I would certainly use Serramend, and I would add Coptis Purge Fire for the short term, if there are heat signs. He would find it useful to use Cold Away at the first stages of a cold or flu, and add Coptis Purge Fire for fast pulse, elevated body temperature, and rubor.
Some of the athletes in my practice train outside during the winter months. I’m afraid their lungs have a hard time recovering.
CordySeng would be an excellent formula to prevent lung and sinus conditions. If they catch infections easily, they might also add Astra C. I particularly recommend CordySeng for weaker individuals who work or train outdoors in the cold weather.
Some people who visit my clinic complain they have damp sinus headaches. This is particularly a problem when barometric pressure changes, or a cold or wet front comes in. They start to get sinus headaches but not necessarily infections.
We see this often in the San Francisco bay area where fog just rolls in and does not disperse. For people who tend to get sinus symptoms including sinus headache, I would select Head-Q.
Head-Q consists of herbs that treat dampness and exterior wind. You will get your best results using a larger than normal dosage of 3-5capsules BID, at the earliest sign of symptoms. Head-Q can be used by itself or combined with Nasal Caps 2. I would suggest, as a prevention strategy, that people who are predisposed to sinus infections, particularly in windy or damp environments, use Astra C. If the lungs are weak I’d also use CordySeng. Clear Phlegm and Serramend may also play a role in the treatment of sinus headaches. For example, use Clear Phlegm when there is a sinus headache, profuse sputum, dizziness, nausea, or irritability. Serramend would be used for chronic sinus headache. I would also add herbs depending upon the client’s symptoms.
Can Serramend and CordySeng be taken long term?
Yes. Serramend is particularly good at increasing circulation and thinning secretions. One problem with chronic sinus conditions is poor circulation. For people who have a weak constitution, or they work outdoors during the winter, CordySeng can be used or combined with Serramend.
My client is taking Serramend for chronic sinus congestion. Serramend has relieved most of the congestion and phlegm, but he still has sinus headaches. Would you recommend Nasal Caps 2?
I would continue to take Serramend, six capsules per day. If you believe the sinus congestion is causing the headaches, it does make sense to consider Nasal Caps 2. Other contributing factors could be phlegm as well as dampness and wind. If your client has signs of dampness and wind, I would consider Head-Q. If your client has impacted mucus, Clear Phlegm should be considered. I would use Serramend with one or two of the abovementioned formulas.
What would you suggest for a client who has a snoring problem in addition to sinus congestion?
Snoring, if combined with sleep apnea, is currently considered more dangerous than in the past. Therefore, I would make sure your client has been medically evaluated. For snoring or mild sleep apnea, I would consider Schisandra Dreams, an adjunct to medical treatment. Schisandra Dreams when taken thirty minutes before bed, not only improves sleep but also helps regulate breathing.
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