Chronic Sinusitis

Why it works: Mucolytic properties: NAC breaks the disulfide bonds in mucoproteins, reducing mucus viscosity and helping thinning and clearance from the sinus passages—beneficial for conditions...

Instructions: Nasal irrigation (post-surgery): A randomized controlled trial evaluated twice-daily sinus irrigations with NAC (for 1 month) versus saline in patients after endoscopic sinus surge...

Warnings: General safety profile: NAC is generally well tolerated. Typical maximum licensed oral dose is 600 m...

Studies: Postoperative irrigation RCT: The 2024 single-blind RCT comp...

Why it works: Antimicrobial activity (in vitro). The principal active compound in Usnea is usnic acid, which has consistent in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity (including activity vs....

Instructions: Important: the following are traditional/herbalist methods commonly used in folk/herbal practice and on herbalist websites — they are not standardized medical prescriptions and hav...

Warnings: Hepatotoxicity (real and documented). Usnic acid and some usnic-salt products have been linked to se...

Studies: No robust human clinical trials for chronic sinusitis. There...

Why it works: Proteolytic / mucolytic action — serrapeptase is a proteolytic enzyme that can reduce the viscosity and elasticity of mucus and help break down non-living proteinaceous debris in s...

Instructions: Formulation & timing. • Use enteric-coated serrapeptase formulations (tablets/capsules designed to survive stomach acid and release in the intestine). Enteric coating is important...

Warnings: Major cautions. • Bleeding risk / interactions with anticoagulants & antiplatelets — serrapeptase ha...

Studies: Randomized / controlled clinical trialsMazzone A. et al., 19...

Why it works: Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) extracts — specifically PA-free, standardized leaf extracts such as Ze339 or clinical products like Petadolex — have randomized-trial evidence for im...

Instructions: Extracts studied (examples):. • Ze339 (CO₂ leaf extract, standardized to petasins) — used in multiple allergic-rhinitis trials. One large randomized trial (Schapowal et al.) used Z...

Warnings: Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) — the big safety concern.. • Raw/unprocessed butterbur contains PAs, c...

Studies: Schapowal A., Petasites Study Group — Randomised controlled...

Why it works: Anti-inflammatory effects: Major ginger constituents (6-gingerol, 6-shogaol, zingerone) inhibit inflammatory signalling (NF-κB, COX-2, p38 MAPK) and reduce levels of inflammatory c...

Instructions: Clinical caveat: these are adjunctive, symptomatic measures. For chronic rhinosinusitis you should continue guideline treatments (saline irrigation, intranasal steroid sprays) and...

Warnings: Drug interactions — blood thinners & anticoagulants: Ginger can have antiplatelet/anticoagulant effe...

Studies: Key reviews and mechanistic/clinical evidenceDetailed immuno...

Why it works: Chronic rhinosinusitis is primarily an inflammatory disease of the sinonasal mucosa. Curcumin (the key bioactive in turmeric) has several biologic actions that address core disease...

Instructions: Formulation matters: pure curcumin has very low oral bioavailability. Most clinical trials and practical regimens use either high-dose extracts or bioavailability-enhanced formulat...

Warnings: Bleeding risk / interactions with anticoagulants or antiplatelets. Curcumin may inhibit platelet agg...

Studies: Key sources (open and peer-reviewed):Randomized double-blind...

Why it works: Peppermint oil contains menthol as its primary active ingredient, which provides anti-inflammatory and decongestant properties that help reduce inflammation in the sinuses and alle...

Instructions: Steam Inhalation (Most Effective Method). The most effective method is using peppermint essential oil as aromatherapy since inhaling the steam of peppermint essential oil allows th...

Warnings: Critical Safety Warnings for Children. Menthol, which is in peppermint oil, should not be inhaled by...

Studies: Small Clinical StudiesAn R.J. Buckle student, Machon (2001),...

Why it works: Manuka honey contains uniquely high levels of methylglyoxal (MGO), making it particularly effective against sinus infections. MGO has powerful anti-biofilm properties that are espe...

Instructions: Concentration and Frequency. Clinical studies used 10% (vol/vol) Manuka honey (specifically MEDIHONEY® brand) mixed with saline solution, administered twice daily for 30 days. PubM...

Warnings: Medical Contraindications:. Exclusion criteria in clinical studies included allergy to honey, termin...

Studies: University of Washington RCT (2017): A randomized controlled...

Why it works: Vitamin C suppresses the secretion of inflammatory mediators and plays an important role in maintaining the normal level of airway surface liquid, thus improving the effectiveness...

Instructions: Oral Supplementation: The dose of vitamin C healthcare professionals most commonly use for allergic rhinitis is 2,000 mg per day. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitami...

Warnings: Gastrointestinal Side Effects: For some people, vitamin C doses over 2,000 mg may cause nausea, vomi...

Studies: Key Clinical Study: A total of 315 patients who underwent na...

Why it works: Immune System Support and Anti-inflammatory Properties: Zinc is necessary for cells to develop and function properly by mediating nonspecific immunity, including neutrophils and na...

Instructions: Dosage and Formulation: The treatment group was treated with 220mg zinc sulfate capsules containing 55 mg elemental zinc, b.d. (twice daily) PubMed CentralNCBI for six weeks as par...

Warnings: Dosage Limits and Toxicity: The limit of zinc for adults is less than 40 mg a day unless their healt...

Studies: Primary Clinical Trial: The main study examining zinc for ch...

Why it works: Stinging nettle is thought to be beneficial due to its antihistamine effects (helping reduce histamine-mediated inflammation), combined with anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating...

Instructions: While there’s no standard clinical protocol specifically for chronic sinusitis, some practical approaches include:. • Dried leaf preparations (like tea or capsules): One source rec...

Warnings: Pregnancy: Nettle may act as an abortifacient and stimulate uterine contractions—thus should be avoi...

Studies: Though direct trials on chronic sinusitis are limited, relat...

Why it works: Quercetin is a plant flavonoid with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and mast-cell–stabilizing actions that make it biologically plausible as a supportive treatment for chronic rhino...

Instructions: Oral dosing (human trials):. • Large community RCTs of upper-respiratory infections used 500 mg or 1,000 mg per day (oral) for 12 weeks. Results were mixed overall; some subgroups...

Warnings: Major warnings & interactions. • Anticoagulants / blood thinners (e.g., warfarin): quercetin may int...

Studies: Human clinical trials (relevant but not definitive for CRS):...

Why it works: Eucalyptus oil’s chief active component—1,8-cineole (eucalyptol)—has multiple properties beneficial for sinusitis:. • Anti-inflammatory & decongestant: It can reduce swelling in na...

Instructions: Steam inhalation: Add a few drops (e.g., 3–7 drops) of eucalyptus oil to hot or boiling water, drape a towel over your head, and inhale steam for ~5–10 minutes.. “Place a few drops...

Warnings: Never ingest undiluted: Highly toxic—ingestion can lead to serious and even fatal outcomes.. “Never...

Studies: General respiratory support: The European Medicines Agency r...