Acupuncture is a wonderful way of boosting the immune system and relieving chronic sinusitis but when combined with a few easy life style changes, it can change your life forever! Over the years, I have discovered a few things that allergies and sinus sufferers have in common. Most people who have chronic nasal and sinus congestion are allergic or have adverse reactions to dairy products. Simply taking the step of completely eliminating dairy from the diet, can greatly reduce your congestion. For years my friends have teased me when I talk about mucus producing foods, but if you are congested and it disrupts your sleep, challenges your breathing and causes pain, the last thing you want to do is eat mucus producing foods! Of course dairy products are the worst offenders, but sugar is a close second. Unfortunately, that also means any food that quickly turns to sugar such as white bread, muffins, bagels or any other simple carbohydrate. It’s important to note here, just cutting back on dairy doesn’t do the trick. To really make a difference, you must eliminate dairy completely from your diet. Try it out for three months and see if you see any changes. Either way you will learn crucial information for maintaining your health.
Now that you know eliminating dairy and cutting down on sugar and simple carbohydrates can help, it’s time to tell you about the Neti Pot. They can be found at your local health food store or online and usually cost around $15.00. They are fantastic and should be kept in every home! For those of you who are chronic sufferers of nasal congestion, sinusitis or allergies, I highly recommend regular use of the Neti Pot. During acute stages or for chronic sufferers, use twice a day. I also recommend “steaming” first. That may be a term my mother invented but it applies none the less. Fill the sink with steaming hot water and add a few table spoons of salt. Drape a towel over your head and lean over the sink, breathing in the steam. This loosens congestion and helps wash allergens and mucus from the nasal cavities. After “steaming” for a few minutes go ahead and use the Neti Pot.
Directions for the Neti Pot:
Be sure to use body temperature water mixed with salt at a 1 cup of water to 1 tsp. salt ratio. This makes the water isotonic (having the same salt ratios as our bodily tissues). If you do not use the proper salt ratios, this process can actually be painful and irritate the nasal passages.
Lean over the sink so that you are looking directly down at the drain, then turn your head to the side so that your left ear is facing toward the drain. Pour the water from the Neti Pot into your right nostril and breath through your mouth. When all of the water has drained, stand up and gently blow your nose. Then repeat on the other side. (Here is a brief training video. Pardon the commercial at the beginning, but I like this video the best. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmRi4V4-ZUc)
As always, if you have any questions please call me at (617) 512-3193. I am never to busy to help you!
www.bellacupuncture.com 186 Alewife Brook Parkway, Suite 302 Cambridge, MA 02138
