Each year, over 30 million adults and children get sinusitis. While the majority of people choose to treat this condition with medications like nasal decongestants, antibiotics, and steroids, Chinese medicine has been shown to be helpful in treating sinusitis.

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. The inflammation may be acute, subacute, chronic, allergic, or hyperplastic. The sinuses are air-filled spaces in the skull (behind the forehead, cheeks, and eyes) that are lined with mucous membranes. Healthy sinuses do not contain bacteria or other organisms and they are open, allowing mucus to drain and air to circulate. The sinuses become blocked with mucus and can become infected when inflamed. Sinusitis can be acute (lasting anywhere from 2 - 8 weeks) or chronic, with symptoms continuing much longer.

Anything that interferes with air flow into the sinuses and the drainage of mucous out of the sinuses may cause sinusitis. Sinuses may be obstructed by tumors or other growths, as well as by colds, allergies, and tissue irritants. Other factors that may disrupt the drainage of mucous out of the sinuses include thickening of the mucous secretions, by decrease in hydration such as occurs with the disease cystic fibrosis, antihistamines, which is a drying medication, and lack of humidity in the air. 

Other predisposing factors include chronic nasal edema, deviated septum, nasal intubation, debilitation due to chemotherapy, malnutrition, diabetes, human immunodeficiency virus or other immunodeficiency disorders, swimming in contaminated water, gastroesophageal reflux disease, air pollution or smoke, dental work, or chronic use of steroids.

Subacute and chronic sinusitis usually are the result of incomplete treatment of an acute sinusitis.

The primary sign of acute sinusitis is nasal congestion, followed by a buildup of pressure in the affected sinus. Additional symptoms may include malaise, sore throat, headache, and low-grade fever.

Symptoms of chronic sinusitis are the same as acute sinusitis, but tend to be milder and last longer than 8 weeks.

Sinusitis is often diagnosed based on a history and examination by a doctor. Clinical findings include redness and swelling of the nasal passages, purulent drainage from the nasal passages, tenderness to tapping over the sinus area, and swelling around the eyes and cheeks.

If more in-depth tests are needed, they may include viewing the sinuses through a fiberoptic scope, X-ray of the sinuses, and cultures of the material from the nose. An additional test that can be done is transillumination, which involves shining a light against the sinus. If dark, this indicates possible inflammation. These tests, however, are often considered unnecessary.

Initial treatment to reduce congestion in the sinuses can include using a humidifier, using a saline nasal spray, inhaling steam, drinking plenty of fluids, and applying a warm, moist wash cloth on the face. Nasal decongestants may alleviate symptoms initially, but if used longer than three to five days, they may actually worsen nasal congestion.

Nasal corticosteroid sprays may be used to decrease swelling, especially if swollen structures (such as nasal polyps) or allergies are present. These include fluticasone (Flonase), mometasone (Nasonex), and triamcinolone (Nasacort AQ).

Antibiotics are used to cure the particular infection causing sinus inflammation. Common antibiotics include ampicillin, amoxacillin, trimethoprim with sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim), Augmentin, cefuroxime, and cefprozil. Other antibiotics may be used depending on the type of organism present. Acute sinusitis should be treated for 10 - 14 days, while chronic sinusitis should be treated for 3 - 4 weeks.

For recurrent sinusitis, surgery may be required to clean and drain the sinuses. Surgery may also be necessary to repair a deviated septum or nasal polyps to prevent a reoccurrence of sinusitis.

Complications of sinusitis are not common, but can include infection that spreads to the bones in the face, (osteomyelitis), infection that spreads to the brain, (meningitis), infection that spreads to the area surrounding the eye, (orbital cellulitis), abscess, blood clot, and developing a resistance to antibiotics used to treat the infections.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs have been shown to be beneficial in treating sinusitis, providing an alternative to the conventional treatment options.

A 2005 study that was published in “Complementary Therapies in Medicine” compared using acupuncture to medications, (antibiotics, corticosteroids, and decongestants), for patients with symptoms of sinusitis for more than 3 months. No significant difference in treatment results was found between 2 groups at the end of 12 weeks of treatment.

“Ear, Nose, and Throat Journal” published a study in 1988 that looked at the effect of acupuncture on the clinical perception of pain in patients with sinusitis. The study concluded that acupuncture may be effective for reducing the pain felt by patients suffering from sinusitis.

In 1986, “Journal of Chinese Medicine” published a study that looked at the use of Chinese herbs to treat chronic sinusitis. Only 6 % of the people in the study had no results at all from the use of Chinese herbs, but 71% of the study participants had good results from using Chinese herbs to treat their sinusitis.

Chinese medicine provides an alternative to the use of antibiotics, steroids, and nasal decongestants routinely used to treat sinusitis.

Copyright 2009 by Jeri Petz, MSOM, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac., ADS
Jade Acupuncture Clinic Ltd.