Sinusitis: What
You Really Need to Know & Do to Prevent and Eliminate It
It is cold season, and that can mean sinus pain and pressure. Sinuses are
four sets of hollow, moist air spaces in your cheekbones, your forehead, behind
your nasal passages and deep in your brain. When the mucous membranes of our
sinuses become infected or irritated the infection is called "sinusitis."
Sinuses infections are common after a bout with a cold and when a person
has allergies. It may not sound all that bad, but most people who've
experienced sinusitis will tell you that a sinusitis infection is no fun!
A daytime cough that is "dry" and does not improve after 7 days,
fever, dental and/or ear pain, tenderness in the face and even nausea, headaches
and pain behind the eye can make you feel pretty miserable.
(NOTE: Sinus cavities do not develop in our forehead until we are about 6
or 7 years old. Therefore headaches in early childhood are not usually due
to sinus infections.)
You might be taking antibiotics for your sinus infection, but did you
know that nearly ALL cases of sinusitis are caused by fungal infection?
Body Ecology works when your antibiotics won't!
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Common treatments for sinusitis include antibiotics to kill bacteria, decongestants
that reduce the swelling of the inflamed mucus membrane, and pain relievers
like aspirin and ibuprofen.
Unfortunately, many people experience sinusitis symptoms on a regular basis,
even after taking antibiotics and over-the-counter medicines. In fact, 31
million adults have been diagnosed with chronic sinusitis1
that doesn't even respond to conventional treatment!
Chronic Sinusitis and Fungal Infection
Many doctors turn to antibiotics to heal chronic sinusitis, but new studies
show that antibiotics are ineffective because a large number of chronic
sinus infections are actually caused by fungal infections!2
This became evident as early as 1999 when the Mayo Clinic published a study
suggesting that fungal sinusitis was more common than previously thought.
In fact, in the nasal washings from the sinuses of patients with chronic
sinusitis, 96% of those studied had a fungal overgrowth
in their sinus cavities.
The disease is now known as EFRS (eosinophilic fungal rhinosinusitis) or
EMRS (eosinophilic mucinous rhinosinusitis).
Interestingly, those control subjects who did not have sinusitis
also had an overgrowth of fungus. However, the miserable patients suffering
with sinusitis symptoms had a type of white blood cell called an "eosinophile"
that was active. The eosinophiles released a product called MBP (Major Basic
Protein) into the mucus lining which attacks and kills the fungus but is also
extremely irritating to the lining of the sinuses. MBP injures the lining
of the sinuses and allows bacteria to proliferate.
The injury to the lining of the sinuses by the fungus led to the now popular
belief that treatment of chronic sinusitis should be directed at the
fungus rather than the bacteria.
The misuse of antibiotics, a high sugar diet, stress, birth control pills,
cortisol and other drugs (including recreational drugs and alcohol) all cause
an overgrowth of fungi. Exposure to mold and fungi in the environment, both
due to water leaks from roofs and plumbing as well as more efficient homes
with less air exchange, are also culprits.
Fungal infections do not respond to antibiotics at all, and antibiotics
can actually make fungal infections worse.
Since antibiotics do not work and common treatments only temporarily alleviate
symptoms, you need to address the underlying cause of your sinusitis...the
fungal infection with the active white blood cells that make the irritating
MBP.
Preventing and Treating Fungal Sinusitis
Body Ecology is a system of health and healing that emphasizes the positive
side of healing by introducing beneficial bacteria into your body versus killing
bacteria with antibiotics.
While at times we know that antibiotics may be essential for conquering a
virulent bacterial infection, we believe in focusing first and
foremost on prevention and on building a strong, vital immune system.
We do this by establishing a healthy inner ecosystem (made up of the friendly
microflora) in your intestines. These help keep you healthy and strong so
that you have a much better chance of resisting an infection of any kind.
Body Ecology uses fermented foods and beverages, food
combining and other principles to establish and maintain a healthy environment
inside your body that fights illness and disease.
Learn more about the 7
Key Principles of the Body Ecology program.
In Short: The Body Ecology program is effective for preventing bacterial,
fungal and viral infections and can be your best defense against sinusitis.
Diet is key when your sinus infection is fungal based. It must be an antifungal
diet and Body Ecology is the most effective antifungal diet yet. If you haven't
already, be sure to read the bestselling book, "The
Body Ecology Diet."
To treat and prevent sinusitis, use Body Ecology as your foundation for wellness.
Also consider these alternatives to conventional treatment:
- Antibiotics wipe out good AND bad bacteria so when you must use one also
be sure you are on an antifungal diet. Also replenish the beneficial
bacteria in your gut with fermented foods and beverages. Our new Coco-Biotic
and our Dong
Quai probiotic liquid are delicious and convenient ways to take
this essential step every day!
- There are alternatives to antibiotics that are often useful especially
if your immune system is alive and well from eating a probiotic diet. Colloidal
silver, oil of oregano, and olive leaf extract are just three of many natural
remedies that you might try first.
- Steam your face twice a day and put essential oils that are antifungal
in the water. The moist heat relieves symptoms and provides needed moisture
for your nasal passages. The oils are anti-fungal and antibacterial.
Replenish the beneficial bacteria in your gut the convenient, economical
and DELICIOUS way with the new Dong Quai liquid. Read
More about Dong Quai Now!
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Whether or not you have sinusitis, the Body Ecology program is a way to build
immunity, gain energy, lose weight and prevent illness and disease. You'll
have a much better chance of escaping the cold and flu season without the
usual bouts of illness and establish a foundation for long term health.
Sources
1Chronic Sinusitis, National Center For Health Statistics, 2004.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/sinuses.htm
2Tichenor, M.D., W.S., "Fungal Sinusitis." http://www.sinuses.com/fungal.htm
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