Sinusitis is a condition that is usually treated with antibiotics. Incorrect use of them contributes to the growth and escalation of the problem of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Homeopathy is a low cost alternative in the treatment of many common infections. The evidence from clinical studies suggests that homeopathy is an effective treatment for both acute and chronic sinusitis offering positive and long-term results.
HOMEOPATHY FOR ACUTE AND CHRONIC SINUSITIS
The paranasal sinuses are air cavities in the facial bones of the skull. They are connected to the nasal cavity by holes in the wall. Humans have four pairs of sinuses: the maxillary, frontal, ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses. Sinusitis is an inflammation of the lining of the sinuses. Sinusitis is one of the most common diseases of the upper respiratory tract, with a tendency to recurrent episodes, especially in winter. Healthy sinuses do not accumulate mucus and remain sterile. When the sinuses become blocked or when the self-cleaning mechanism of the sinuses is impaired, mucus can accumulate and become infected, leading to the development of sinusitis.
Viral infections are almost always the cause of acute sinusitis. A certain percentage of patients may develop a secondary bacterial infection. Factors that prevent proper cleansing of the sinuses increase the risk of developing sinusitis. These include: nasal polyps, hyperplasia of the nasal turbinates, allergic rhinitis and conditions that affect immunity, such as diabetes. The most common symptoms of sinusitis are blocked nose, purulent rhinitis, nasal congestion, headache, pain and sensitivity to touch or pressure on the face, and malaise [1].
Upper respiratory tract infections, antibiotic resistance and homeopathy.
Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and their complications are the most common reason for prescribing antibiotics. Research suggests that in many cases the use of antibiotics to treat URTI was not justified. Misuse of antibiotics contributes to the growth and escalation of the problem of microbial resistance to antibiotics. This problem is growing in many parts of the world as infections caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens become more difficult to treat. The results of clinical research investigating the effectiveness of homeopathy in the treatment of URTI and its complications such as: pharyngitis, tonsillitis, otitis media, sinusitis, etc. suggest that homeopathic treatment is at least as effective as conventional therapy.
Homeopathic treatment is also effective in preventing the recurrence of URTI, which has a significant impact on reducing the frequency of antibiotic use. Homeopathy is an inexpensive and effective alternative in the treatment of many common infections, which is particularly important given the growing problem of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Homeopathic treatment often produces faster results, is better tolerated than conventional treatment, and is associated with fewer adverse events[2].
Homeopathy for acute and chronic sinusitis.
The results of a study conducted on 113 patients to demonstrate the efficacy of homeopathy in the treatment of acute maxillary sinusitis showed that after 21 days of therapy, almost 70% of patients receiving the homeopathic preparation had complete resolution of symptoms, compared with 8.9% of patients in the control group. There was no recurrence of sinusitis symptoms within eight weeks after treatment [3].
Similar results were obtained in a study of the efficacy of homeopathic treatment of rhinosinusitis in one hundred and forty-four patients. After three weeks of homeopathic therapy, 90.3% of patients showed complete resolution of symptoms and a further 8.3% noted a marked improvement in the severity of rhinosinusitis symptoms. In comparison, 88.9% of patients in the placebo group reported a worsening of symptoms or no improvement. Summarising the results of the study, the authors concluded that the homeopathic medicine was well tolerated by patients and provided effective treatment of rhinosinusitis [4].
Homeopathy treatment of chronic sinusitis.
Chronic sinusitis is a condition that affects women more often than men. It most commonly affects the maxillary sinuses and a pair of maxillary and frontal sinuses at the same time. In a study conducted to evaluate the therapeutic benefits of homeopathic remedies in the treatment of chronic sinusitis, 95.1% of patients had positive results. Complete resolution of sinusitis symptoms without recurrence for 1 year was reported in 36.8% of patients. Positive treatment results were confirmed by radiological examination [5]. Based on the results of another study, the authors suggested that the most effective remedies for the treatment of chronic sinusitis were Silicea, Kali bichromicum, Pulsatilla, Natrum muriaticum, Belladonna, Rhus toxicodendron, Natrum sulphuricum and Lachesis. The researchers also observed the affinity of individual homeopathic remedies for a particular type of inflammatory sinus.
Kali bichromicum has been used most commonly for frontal sinusitis with pain and pressure in the supraorbital area and a sensation of fullness at the root of the nose. Nasal secretions are usually thick, sticky, yellow or greenish. Patients with sinusitis may experience a loss of sense of smell combined with an inability to breathe through the nose. Pulsatilla showed a special affinity for maxillary and frontal sinusitis and their combinations. Pulsatilla has been found to be a useful remedy when the symptoms of sinusitis are accompanied by a lack of thirst. Nasal congestion is much worse when the patient is lying down or in a warm, stuffy and closed room. The patient felt better in the open air. In the summary, the authors state that the results of the study indicate that homeopathy is effective in the treatment of chronic sinusitis [6].
Long-term effects of homeopathic treatment of chronic sinusitis.
The effectiveness of homeopathy in the treatment of chronic sinusitis has been confirmed not only by radiological examination [5], but also by the results of a long-term observational study conducted over a period of eight years. The study involved 134 people with chronic sinusitis, the vast majority of whom (97.0%) had previously received conventional treatment. The results of this study showed a significant and long-lasting improvement in the quality of life of patients receiving homeopathic treatment for chronic sinusitis [7].
Homeopathy in the treatment of chronic ailments.
The effectiveness of homeopathy in the treatment of chronic diseases has also been demonstrated by the results of another study. All the patients who took part in the study had been suffering from various chronic illnesses for a number of years. The researchers asked the patients to give an overall assessment of the improvement or deterioration of their health compared with the situation before the first visit. More than 70% of the six and a half thousand people studied over six years rated the changes in their health as positive. Half of the respondents considered their health to be better or much better than before they started homeopathic treatment. Conclusions based on the results of the study suggest that homeopathic treatment has brought about positive changes in the health of a large group of patients with a wide range of chronic diseases [8].
Summary.
Homeopathy has been shown to be no less effective than conventional methods in treating upper respiratory tract infections. As an alternative treatment, homeopathy can reduce the frequency of antibiotics used to treat upper respiratory tract infections. Homeopathic treatment of URTI also helps to reduce the frequency of recurrent infections. Studies investigating the use of homeopathic complex remedies and individually selected remedies according to the principles of classical homeopathy have shown that homeopathy is an effective method of treating both acute and chronic sinusitis. The effectiveness of homeopathy in the treatment of chronic sinusitis has been confirmed by radiological studies and long-term observational studies conducted over a period of more than eight years. Homeopathy has also been shown to be effective in the treatment of many other chronic conditions.
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