Does Ayurveda help sinusitis?

In the modern world peoples suffer lot of physical and mental issues. Some start as physical issues, then it comes out as mental illness. Some of coming opposite way.
Sinusitis is a major medical issue that people suffer from mentally and physically.
A Sinus is a hollow space in the skull, especially with bone part of body. Our skull has different types of sinus.
• Frontal sinus
• Ethmoidal sinus
• Maxillary sinus
• Sphenoidal sinus.

These are the paranasal sinus, targeted by sinusitis. sinusitis is a type of inflammation or swelling of the tissue, lining the sinuses.

Causes for sinus blockage conditions –
• the common cold
• Allergic rhinitis – swelling of the lining of Nose.
• Nasal polyps
• Deviated nasal septum
• Allergies
• Immune system deficiency
• Smokey environment
• Kids live in day care / kinder garden

Types of sinusitis –
1. Acute sinusitis – sudden onset, 2-4 week take care.
2. Sub-acute sinusitis- 4-12 weeks.
3. Chronic sinusitis – 12 weeks or longer
4. Recurrent sinusitis – several times per year

Acute sinusitis symptoms –
• Facial pain or pressure
• Runny nose
• Loss of smell
• Nasal discharge – thick, green or yellow nasal discharge
• Reduced sense of smell
• Congestion
• Cough-often worse at night.

Related symptoms and signs –
• Fever
• Headaches
• Poor sense of smell
• Sore throat
• Difficulty in breath
• Fatigue
• Dental pain(Upper jaw)

Diagnosis methods –
• Physical examination
• Visually examination – otoscope
• X rays
• CT scan

Treatments –
• Painkillers / analgesics
• Anti-biotic
• Surgery

Ayurvedic view of sinusitis –
In Ayurvedic texts not describe disease as sinusitis. But various Ayurveda masters explain some of disease, similarity as sinusitis.
“Peenas Roga” “Apeenasa Roga” and “Dushta Pratishyaya” explain similar condition as sinusitis. In Sushrutha Samhita describe “Pratishyaya Pratishedh” or “Pratishaya” is similar condition as chronic stages of sinusitis and also described as a complication of different type of “pratishyaya”.

Apeenas Roga caused by vitiated vata and kapha dosha. patient complain
1. Block of nasal cavity or nostril
2. Very dry nostril
3. Doesn’t feel any smell

Pratishyaya caused by Vata, pitta or kapha dosha relating with or without nasal discharge.
Peenas is stage, result from Pratishyaya.
“Dushta Pratishyaya” is chronic stage of sinusitis symptoms and sings also it is described as a complication of different type of Pratishyaya.
“Pratishayaya” caused by patient’s improper dietary and behavioural habits and if not properly managed it leads to several complication conditions.
Complication of Pratishyaya-
1. Badhirya – deafness
2. Andhata – blindness
3. Ghrananasa – anosmia

Causes [Nidana] Accoding to Ayurveda
1. Nari prasanga – Excessive sexual activity.
2. Shirashabhitapam – Exposure head to excessive heat
3. Dhum – smoke
4. Rajah – Dust, Pollen, Environment pollution
5. Shitamatipratap –Exposure to excessive cold
6. Mutrapurishasandharanam – Forceful retention of urge of urination and defecation

Similar symptoms as sinusitis explain Kaphaja Shiro roga, Krimija Shiro roga, Sannipata Shiro roga, Ardhavabhedaka and Suryavartha.

Ardhavabhedaka
Headache is compared to migraine. But symptoms related with sinusitis.Headache start on one side initially and later spread to become bilateral or generalized.
Aggravated Vata or combine with morbid kapha causes of Ardhavabhedaka.
Symptoms of Ardhavabhedaka
• Ardha bhaga shuk – Pain in half portion of the head
• Ativedana- Sever pain in Manya [neck side], Bhru [eye brow], Shanka [temple area], Karna [ear], Akshi [eye], Lalata [forehead]
• Nayana Vinasha – Destruction of eye sight
• Shrotra vinasha- Destruction of hearing ability

Suryavartha-
Headache explained in Ayurveda with clinical feature of sinusitis or sub-acute sinusitis.
Symptoms of Suryavartha
• Headache follow with sun
• Sunrise – mild pain head, eyes and eye brows
Mid noon – pain too increase and gradually
Sun set- pain typically come down
• Pain relief with hot touch –not always

Ayurvedic Treatment of Sinusitis. –
• Removing or avoiding the Causative factors.
• Controlling or eliminating the source of inflammation.
• Relieving the symptom’s.
• Drainage the Nasal passage.
• Improve general and local nasal immunity.

My practical experience –

I treat lot of sinusitis patient very successfully. I would like to share my practical experience with you.
More than 50 % of my patients suffer different type of sinusitis more than 2-4 years. I give my patients to internal treatment and external treatment.
Regarding their history, signs and symptoms, prakurthi I change my internal medicine regime.
My internal treatment protocol

1. Traditional herbal decoctions-
• Shrsheta nimbha Kashaya.
[ Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellirica ,Phyllantus embelica, Azadirachta indica, Curcuma longa, Becopa monnieri, Cassia senna, Tinospora cordifolia]
• Prathyakasha dhatree Kashaya.
[Terminalia chebula, Pyhllantus embelica, Munronia pinnata, Acorus calamus,Azadirachata indica, Tinospora cordifolia]
• Dharu parpata Kashaya
[Terminalia chebula, Cedrus deodara, Hedytis deodara, Premna herbacea,Cyperus rotundus,Acorus colamus, Coriandrum sativam, Zingiber officinale, Munronia pinnata]

2. Ayurvedic Herbal powder
• Avipaththikara choorna
• Hinguwashta choorna
• Tripala choorna
• Dathree choorna

3. Ayurvedic herbal pills.
• Seetharama vati
• Chandra praba vati

1.Shirodhara treatment
• Nirgundee oil – 20 min to 45 min, gravel onset, 3 days to 7 days

2. Inhalation treatment
• Vitex negundo, Aegle marmelos, leaves boil water.

3.Face massage- Nirgundiee oil

4. Face formantation – herbal leaves pad
[Allium cepa, Vitex negundo, Desmodium triflorum]
5. Nasya treatment
• Nirgundee oil / Anu oil- 3days to 14 days.
I write commonly used medicine and oil for my treatment. All Patient follow guide lines regarding their food and behaviours. Because food and behaviours play important role in this treatment schedules.
I recommend to continue medicine and food throughout 3-4 weeks at home as well.

After Treatment procedure, most of the patients [ 70% more than] totally stop their painkillers and continue with normal lifestyle.
I can highly recommend sinusitis have very successful treatment in Ayurveda.