Cayenne for Sinus Infection - The Spicy Solution

Up until earlier tonight I'd been feeling miserable from a sinus infection since last weekend, so a couple of nights ago I started researching home remedies. I decided to try an unconventional method that I was pretty skeptical of to (hopefully) cure my sinus infection. Snorting cayenne pepper. Sounded completly backward and awful to me! I avoid the doctor like the plague though... And I was getting tempted to quit toughing it out and just go to the clinic.. So I needed to do something drastic. I spent so much time researching just because.. Well.. My Mother taught me not to put things up my nose.

Well, I was a little too wussy to actually snort it so I put a dash in my neti-pot. Much to my amazement- it's working wonders! I took a four hour long nap and a bunch of mucus has drained out of my face. It did sting a bit but wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as not being able to breathe through my nose, just a relief to feel some shift in the pressure in my head. Anyway... Yay! If you've been feeling like you have a sinus infection, and you don't want to take antibiotics, what do you have to lose? (I'm super prone to these so I usually I can feel them coming on and know when I have one before I get diagnosed. ) Anyhow, I wish I hadn't been so skeptical, I could have been out of my misery much sooner.

I'm trying to nip a wannabe sinus infection in the bud before it goes from bad to worse, and I just tried this about a half hour ago to help open my sinuses. I only did one side because if it went nuclear I figured half pain was better than all pain. So I took the tiniest bit of powdered cayenne on the end of a teaspoon -- just the amount that would fit under my pinky nail as others have described, but on a spoon -- and sniffed.

Oh. Words do not describe. Whoever said this is not for the faint of heart was being extraordinarily gentle. It's like TNT for the nose. But the thing is, it worked, and it really wasn't that bad. When I first sniffed it up, it didn't go all that far up, so I kept sniffing to keep it moving up and back, which is when it went down the back of my throat, and also when I started to feel The Burn. That was less than pleasant, but the sneezing and nose blowing that ensued soon took it down a few notches. The burn was pretty intense, and tapered off over a few minutes, but was strangely good. I had a little bit of rebound congestion because the cayenne is an irritant (duh! ) but that was more than offset by the sinuses opening up, and it's almost entirely gone now.

Since I only did it on one side, I can tell the difference very clearly, and the cayenne side feels great! I had forgotten that cayenne has painkilling properties, but sure enough that nostril and the sinus passages on that side are numb, which is very welcome.

I wasn't nearly as badly stuffed up as some of the folks here have been describing, so I did not get 30 second relief, but I can totally see how you would get instant results if you were just completely closed up: the effect is nothing short of explosive. Seriously. Like C4 for your nose.

So basically, as soon as I recover my courage, I'm going to do the other side. :)

Thank you for the information ~ I have been battling severve sinus pain. I tried the cayenne pepper on the end of a wet qtip. Yes it burned but I finally got relief. I am alternating it with saline spray. I am finally without pain at the moment ~ this really works ~ thank you so much

Long term sinusitis is often 1 or 3 things (or a combination)

1.) Food Allergies. You can get a food allergy BLOOD test (ask a holistic doctor - the skin pin prick tests that ENTs/conventional doctors suggest are not as accurate.

2.) Heavy Metal Toxicity (Mercury/other heavy metals). Once the heavy metals are removed from your system (through EDTA/DMPS chelations - some patients have to get their fillings removed first) Heavy metals can hold onto yeast/molds/fungus and make it much harder to get of. My long term sinusitis completely cleared up after doing EDTA chelations. If you choose to do this, make sure you do it with a holistic doctor you trust.

3.) Yeast/Fungus - high potent Oregano oil works wonders for this type of sinus problem!

After being sick with a cold, left ear infection, sinus infection, and upper respiratory infection for 3 weeks, which then turned into borinchitis, I decided to try something more drastic, lol.

First, I made a mixture of 2 tbsp of ACV mixed with 8oz of cranberry juice, and it did not taste so bad- I dran it through a straw to reduce enamel damage. And my sinus pressure became relieved. THEN, I decided to also snort Cayenne Pepper- 3/4th of an inch in each nostril. I believe I did more than what was advised- 1/8th.. lol.

I did each nostril back to back, and let me tell you: the burning was immense, but it helped with doing a breathing exercise- inhale through your nose SHARPLY and exhale through your mouth SHARPLY. This helped with the exhaling because the urning sensation is BAD. lol.

After 5 minutes the burning started to dissipate and well, my sinuses started draining alot and its been 30 minutes, and my sinuses are not clogged. Bottom line: only snort cayenne if you are desperate, lol. BUT IT DOES HELP.

Tried this, it hurts at first for a few minutes. Sneezing, Tears but after that my sinus pain is reduced somewhat!

No need to snort. This works well -- 20 drops in about 4 oz water. Couple times per week, then do in moderation or when needed. Good Luck!

This is a ***WARNING*** about cayenne pepper snorting. I did this a handful of times to cure a cold and the last time I did so, I did it with particularly hot cayenne (according to the rating). There may be nothing more that I regret doing in my life. I really, really wish I'd never seen this website and gotten this idea into my head because after this time, my nose started running all the time. I thought I was just getting cold after cold, or that my hayfever was persisting into the winter months, but that didn't make any sense to me so I started eliminating foods to see if it was intolerance issues. Finally I found the most simplistic of elimination diets, one that got rid of practically every type of potential allergen including odd foods that contain salicylates, glutamates, histamine-containing foods, etc. It was an incredibly bland diet and I thought it was a good starting place to add foods back in and see what I react to.

Turns out I react to almost everything now, because cayenne contains lots of salicylates or phenols and these are substances in everything you eat to varying degrees. I find that I can now only eat things that are very low in salicylates and phenols - these are very, very bland foods. Otherwise, my nose runs, my eyes get puffy and red, I get this brain dead feeling, and basically can't function. Never used to be this way. I can't enjoy almost any of my favorite foods anymore, like spices, coffee, dairy, most fruits and vegetables, nuts, fermented foods like alcohol and vinegar, etc. Pretty much all plant foods are out if I want to be 100% well because I'm convinced the cayenne pepper activated something that made me sensitive to plant chemicals.

Anyway, this will sound dramatic but as someone who's found food to be a source of joy and creativity on various levels - nutritionally, gustatorily, socially, etc. - this has been the biggest blow to my wellbeing in many, many years. Sometimes I've found myself profoundly depressed about it, and there's not a day that goes by that I don't regret have done something so apparently dangerous. If anyone has an "earth cure" about how to get rid of "allergies to everything" caused by cayenne pepper, I'd be unbelievably happy. Sigh.

In short: please don't snort cayenne pepper, ever.

I think that you might find this study an interesting read...Capsaicin is the "hot" factor of chilli/cayenne peppers.

http://fedup.com.au/factsheets/support-factsheets/capsaicin-for-management-of-salicylate-intolerance-an-open-trial

I already take Apple Cider Vinegar 2 Tbs in in my water bottle all day long. I also have taken Cayenne pepper also, but I was wondering if any one has put a little cayenne pepper in their netti pot with the saline solution for sinus infection. I am tempted I might do before you get back to me, but please respond.

Thank You

I use cayenne in a neti pot. I use the point of of a knife to measure the pepper, add warm water and use half a pot on each side. I use a very small amount, none the less it can produce rapid results that last the day.

Dear EC, I too have used organic Cayenne pepper in my neti pot. My kind is actually the kind you squeeze not tilt your head and pour. My sinuses have been acting up like always. Along with my sinus cleanse saline solution (sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride (the little packets you can buy)) I added approximately 1/32 of a TEASPOON NOT TABLESPOON (1/8 of a 1/4 teaspoon). It was actually 1 dash of cayenne. But the holes on my container are a little bigger than typical so I did a light dash. I experienced great results! It cleared me up right away. It is intense for the first time so beginners may want to use EVEN LESS for their first try.

These ingredients were mixed with 8oz or 1 CUP of room temperature water. I have done it twice now in the past 18 hours and I am hacking out green stuff so I know it's working. I would advise not doing it more than 2 or 3 times in 24 hours and not more than a few days a week in time of need. But that is just my opinion.

I am curious if turmeric would be helpful in this application also has anyone tried it?

Thank you, and love you FOREVER EC!!!!!!