Sinusitis Causes, Treatment and Relief
Most people consider respiratory problems like the common cold and sinusitis as normal because people usually encounter any of these diseases at some point in their lives. While symptoms of the common cold may subside on their own without taking any medication, sinusitis may require treatment either to obtain relief from its symptoms and to prevent it from developing into serious conditions like cysts and cancer.
Sinusitis is characterized by a clogged nose, sneezing, runny nose, nasal discharge, pain in the nasal passages and frontal headache. Hay fever, certain types of allergy, viral infection, dental abscess and a poor immune system may aggravate your sinusitis by causing the mucous membranes to swell. Blocked sinuses make it easy for bacteria to grow and cause sinus infection.
- Sinusitis Pain
Traditional Chinese Medicine (or TCM) maintains that sinusitis is caused by wind heat. Wind interferes with normal lung function and prevents mucous discharge from flowing freely and out of the sinuses. When mucous is trapped, body heat may cause it to thicken into a yellowish or greenish discharge, a clear sign that bacterial infection has already set in.
Edema (Fluid Retention)
Fluid retention affects both men and women, and can be an indicator of more serious illnesses, particularly later in life.
You may have edema, or fluid retention, if your face is puffy, while your hands, fingers, ankles, feet and stomach appear bloated.
Fluid retention is usually associated with hormonal imbalance, emotional stress and excessive physical activity. It may also be an indication of poor spleen and kidney function, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Spleen and Kidney Function
The role of your spleen and kidney is to transform, transport and excrete water for your body. Oftentimes, factors such as hormonal imbalance, a diet high in sodium or low fluid intake may affect proper kidney function, causing fluid to remain and accumulate in the spaces between the skin and muscles. The affected areas may appear swollen and sometimes painful to the touch.
You may also experience backache, headache, fatigue, loose bowel movement, heavy menstrual flow, sudden weight gain or a feeling of coldness. Women who are overweight, who have recently given birth or who have undergone an operation run a high risk of fluid retention.
If your health professional suspects that you have this type of edema, you will be asked to take a series of tests so that he may see how your internal organs are functioning. In addition, an examination of your medical history and lifestyle will be made to determine whether you have nutritional deficiencies that could aggravate fluid retention.
It is important for your health professional to know your complete health profile for him to design an appropriate treatment plan for you.
Emotional Stress
Fluid retention may also be caused by negative feelings such as anger, frustration, resentment and depression. Chinese medicine believes that emotional stress not only affects your mood but also your liver. When you are feeling down, your liver may also become sluggish and unable to transform fluids that are found all over your body. If you have this kind of edema, you may experience breast tenderness and your fingers, feet and belly may look swollen.
Unlike in the edema relating to the kidney, your skin may spring right back when it is pressed using your thumb. TCM recommends acupuncture and herbal treatment to restore liver energy.
