Home Remedies: Xylitol

Sinus Infections, or sinusitis, happen when mucus builds up in the air cavities of the skull and becomes infected with fungus, bacteria, or viruses. Sinus infection symptoms include facial pain, sinus pressure, headache, dizziness, jaw pain, neck pain, pain when inhaling through the nose, eye pressure, cough, and post nasal drip. Left untreated, a sinus infection can cause worsening headaches, ear infection, and even move down into the lungs and cause bronchitis or pneumonia.

From personal experience I have found that allergies, congestive foods such as dairy, excessive crying, and irritants like perfume, smoke, and pollution can all cause sinus infections.

Herbs to Treat Sinus Infections

See the Chicken Soup listing in Home Remedies For Flu
Astragalus root can boost the immune system. I take liquid capsules as directed.
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) - combine 2 tablespoons of ACV with 8 oz of water and honey or Xylitol to sweeten and drink 3 times a day before meals. This will also lower your blood pressure and help ease arthritis pain.
Thyme Tea -- see the listing for Thyme in Home Remedies for a Cough

Neti Pots

Usually if you go to a medical doctor they will prescribe antibiotics for sinus infections; however, I have found that they are not the most effective method of treatment for my infections. My favorite treatment for sinus infections is a neti pot because a neti pot actually washes the infected mucus out of your sinuses rather than just killing all of the bacteria in your body and leaving the mucus there to start the cycle all over again. If it's a very serious sinus infection, I use antibiotics in conjunction with the neti pot, but the neti pot is my first line of defense. The video below: NeilMed NasaFlo Neti Pot, shows the correct way to use a neti pot. Please watch it if you have never used one before. You should be able to breathe easily and even talk while you are using one; if you can't then you aren't using it correctly.

Neti Pot Safety

Over the past few years there have been growing fears over brain infections caused by neti pot use. The key is to make sure that you only use distilled water or water that has been boiled for at least 3 minutes (I boil mine 10 minutes for overkill).

Neti Pot Solution Recipe:

You can buy neti pot solution or you can make your own. Most people just use salt and water, or add baking soda to the salt water solution. I get a little more creative with infection-fighting ingredients.

My Favorite Neti Pot Solution Recipe

1 cup of distilled or previously boiled luke-warm water

1/2 tsp fine ground sea salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

3 droppers full of colloidal silver

10 drops liquid chlorophyll

Dissolve the salt and baking soda in the water, add the colloidal silver and chlorophyll, then follow the instructions for neti pot use. I have used this recipe many times over the years and found it to be very effective at fighting infections. If you have an active sinus infection, use it twice daily for 10 days. Also, if you'd rather just use the pre-mixed salt/baking soda packets, you can use this remedy along with it by just adding the colloidal silver and chlorophyll to the water.

Other ingredients that you can add to a neti pot are:

A few drops of baby shampoo
Xylitol (dissolved)

Acupressure for Sinus Infections

If you are uncomfortable with the thought of using a neti pot, this video demonstrates pressure points that can help relieve sinus pressure and pain. It is a simple and completely free method of treating your symptoms.

Links for Other Conditions:

HYPERTENSION is also known as high blood pressure, a chronic medical condition where the blood pressure (BP) in the arteries is high; requiring the heart to function harder than it should to keep blood circulating. There are two measurements for blood pressure, systolic (top reading), when the heart muscle is contracting, and diastolic (bottom reading), when it is relaxed between beats. The American Heart Association blood pressure chart lists a normal blood pressure reading as follows: Systolic less than 120/Diastolic less than 80.

Doctors normally do not get concerned over low blood pressure unless there are signs and symptoms, such as:

Dizziness or lightheadedness
Fainting
Dehydration and unusual thirst
Lack of concentration
Blurred vision
Nausea
Cold, clammy, pale skin
Rapid short breaths
Fatigue
Depression

High blood pressure symptoms for most people are non-existent unless their blood pressure is extremely high, and then there may be a severe headache, fatigue and/or confusion. Hypertension is often called ‘the silent killer.’

How to lower blood pressure:

Home Remedied for High Blood Pressure - Avocados

Avacados

Although there are numerous medications prescribed for this health problem there are also home remedies that may help you to combat high blood pressure (HBP), among them eating healthy foods. Limit your salt intake or try no salt or use other spices; foods in excess of 250mg of salt/per serving are considered ‘high salt foods. Eat lots of healthy foods including fruits and vegetables; limit your alcohol and caffeine intake. Regular physical exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight. If you smoke, the carbon monoxide replaces some of the oxygen in your blood forcing your BP higher—therefore making your heart increase its effort to maintain a supply of needed oxygen. Avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and Aleve (naproxen sodium). Such medications are self-defeating since you may retain sodium, putting your kidneys under strain and possibly raising your BP.

Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure:

There are various home remedies for high bloodpressure, including: a diet rich in fruit and vegetables combined with physical exercise

Drink water: Using the number of pounds you weigh as a guide, divide it by half – that is the number of ounces of water you should drink daily to help keep your system flushed and your blood pressure lower
Avocados – Eat them regularly. There are 2 essential fatty acids in avocados that help to maintain normal blood pressure
Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) – take 2 teaspoons of raw, organic, unpasteurized, unfiltered ACV in water or juice to help prevent hypertension. ACV is also a home remedy for hair loss, a home remedy for heartburn, one of many home remedies for arthritis, and a yeast infection home remedy
Astragalus Root – Easiest to buy a bottle of pills at the health food store. Follow instructions on the label. Astragalus Root is also one of the home remedies for flu.
Garlic – Eat raw cloves added to food or take capsules. Garlic is also an effective sore throat home remedy.
Celery – juiced or eat seeds - it naturally helps to lower blood pressure
Cinnamon – use of cinnamon can greatly reduce blood pressure
Cayenne – may be one of the quickest ways to keep blood pressure readings down. Stir one teaspoon of cayenne into 1/2 cup of lukewarm water and drink. Be cautious, as it is very spicy-hot. Cayenne is also one of the home remedies for back pain and can also be used as one of the home remedies for sinus infections.
Chamomile – Has calming properties and can help relieve stress, it is also a home remedy for migraines and a home remedy for bloating one of many home remedies for eczema. If you are allergic to ragweed, be cautious of chamomile
Fennel – Lowers blood pressure and is a home remedy for heartburn, home remedy for bloating, and listed among home remedies for a cough,
Hawthorn berries – lower blood pressure, protect heart and circulatory system, and a home remedy for insomnia
Parsley – According to Natural News:

"Parsley is also known as a powerful diuretic that reduces blood pressure and enhances kidney function. In particular, parsley increases sodium and water excretion through urine and increases potassium reabsorption into the kidneys."

Parsley is also one of the home remedies for allergies

Magnesium - will lower blood pressure readings. Take supplements as recommended by your doctor or the manufacturer.
Vitamin C – is critical to reducing blood pressure
Szechuan Buttons (AKA Toothache Plant) - This plant contains vasodilators that help lower blood pressure. It is also a great home remedy for toothache...I bet you'd never have guessed that! This video shows a person's reaction to tasting it:

WebMD offers an extended list of common natural remedies (and reviews) often used to treat the symptoms of high blood pressure; I have found potassium and magnesium to be effective.

Read Labels and Avoid:

salt (salt raises your blood pressure)
monosodium glutamate (MSG)
baking soda
most canned vegetables
commercially prepared meals/foods
diet soft drinks
mold inhibitors
meat tenderizers
most sugar substitutes (Xylitol is said to be a safe substitute and helps to build the immune system)
soft water
sauces such as soy sauce
Rosemary

Buy a Blood Pressure Monitor:

The best way to know what your blood pressure is, and whether your efforts to lower it are effective is to use a blood pressure monitor to track it. Blood pressure readings are often taken in both arms if the patient is at risk of cardiovascular disease. It is a good idea to log your daily blood pressure readings and take them with you to your doctor.