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ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
A Never Ending Plague
Chronic Sinusitis
A flash light on alternative remedies
A widespread disease
About 15% of the population in
Western industrialized countries suffer
from a chronic inflammation of
the sinuses. The symptoms include a
headache, fever and a congested nose.
Acute rhinosinusitis is defined as an
inflammatory process within the nasal
sinuses which takes a maximum of 12
weeks to clear. The reason for the
illness is due to a nasal infection
which results in a concomitant blocking
of the sinus drain and disturbed
ventilation.
With “chronic sinusitis” the symptoms
last longer and can continue beyond
the 12 week period. The creeping
obstruction is due to an increased
tissue growth inside the sinuses and a
complete inflammation of the mucous
membranes.
Sinusitis should be seen in a systemic
context and not as an isolated
disease. 25 to 30 % of all allergic patients
have sinusitis. 43% of Asthma
patients suffer from sinusitis, 37% of
organ transplant patients are affected
and 54—68 % of all AIDS patients
suffer from the condition.
Antibiotics
For many years the therapy of
choice has been antibiotics, with the
assumption that bacteria was the main
cause of the infection. More recent
research has shown that the “wrong
criminals” may have been chased. The
main reason for the infection now
seems to be down to a virus and not
bacteria.
The first reaction of most doctors is to
offer an antibiotic therapy to tackle
sinusitis, without considering the fact
that many germs have multiple resistances
to this form of treatment. This
results in many patients having no
reaction to the first therapeutic approach.
The second choice is then a
combination of steroids: aminopenicillin
plus a beta-lactamase-inhibitor.
Decongestion
Naphazolin, xylometazolin and other
similar substances help to significantly
alleviate the ventilation of the nose.
The aim is to facilitate the decongestion
between the nasal area and the
throat. The secretion needs room to
flow and the overloaded pressure in the
sinuses needs to be released. Although
this method aids the recovery and
helps reduce the individual symptoms
there is no proof that the course of the
disease is actually shortened. It is important
to remember that benzalkonium
chloride should not be added as
a preserving agent, as this dries the
mucous membranes and can quickly
damage the sensitive ciliated epithelium.
This is an essential part of the
mucous membrane and acts as an active
draining system, so any damage
caused to this system can result in prolonged
problems.
Plants beat chemistry
Expectorants are an indispensable
element of any sinusitis therapy. The
therapeutic guidelines published in
Germany found that substances such as
ambroxole, bromhexin and acetyl cysteine
do not shorten the duration, yet
an efficacy is attributed to a botanical
remedy (5 different ingredients): Myrtol
is an effective expectorant.
Orthomolecular
infusion
therapy
A study of the Charité (Berlin University
clinic) revealed that an intravenous
high dose procaine therapy leads
to a significant fall in the inflammation
parameters of interleukin 6 and CRP.
In combination with high dose of vitamin
C, given intravenously, one can
see an augmentation of the results.
A strong duo
A combination of Horseradish and
pepper weed has been used for many
years as a supportive therapy for infections
of the urogenital and airways.
The active agents are mustard oils
(isothiocyanate), which are highly effective
against many kinds of bacteria.
Nasal douches
Nasal douches—to be applied two
times per day with salt added to the
rinse water — this helps to dissolve
dry mucus and leaves the membranes
with the necessary humidity. This
method is both cheap and effective,
especially when applied regularly. It
can also be used preventively.
MICHAELA SEEBACHER
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