Sinus problems are a common feature of winter for many people and a yearlong problem for others who are allergy sensitive. Sinus difficulties may result in snoring, bad breath, dry morning mouth, facial pain and various types of head-aches. This pain may be very severe and the sinus headache so debilitating it may be misdiagnosed as migraine. Individuals’ sinuses seem to be as different as the individuals themselves and what helps one sufferer may not be appropriate for another. Because this malady is so ancient and so widespread, many different and effective cures have been developed. Not every cure is suitable for every patient!

A “sinus” is a deep groove or cavity in either bone or soft tissue of which there are many in the body, but the sinuses of the face, around the nose, under the eyes and slightly over the eyes are the ones which concern us now. They are richly lined in mucus membranes which are constantly moist, acting as dust traps as the air, breathed through the nose, is warmed and moistened before it proceeds into the lungs. Often the sinuses are described inaccurately as “filters”, but they are more like traps or slush pits where heavy particles settle and where germs will hopefully get caught before they can go into the more vulnerable lungs. The sinuses are continually producing mucus to cleanse themselves and to inject sprays and dribbles of moisture into the throat and mouth and upper lung. In fact, your sinuses produce around two litres (yes, you read that correctly!!!) of mucus daily to accomplish this job. If they become infected or irritated the quality and quantity of this mucus production can change dramatically. They are easily irritated by foreign substances and may initially try to evacuate the invader through sneezing—do not suppress your sneeze it is good for you, just be sure you COVER your mouth and nose with a handkerchief or tissue.

The membranes of the sinuses are very absorbent, which is why many medications are prescribed to be taken through the nose in sprays. In the not too distant past there were ranges of medications known as stenorifics which dosed the patent with dry “snuffs”, carried into the nose either through neutral powders which as moss spores or in tobacco snuffs—the mysterious writing on Hedges Snuff tins is, actually, the original prescription number of the doctor who prescribed this formula of snuff to cure sinus problems!