INFOMEDICA’S BOTTOM LINE:

When your patients’ sinuses are inflamed and stuffy, they want relief fast. The problem is, many over-the-counter drugs can make people jittery, tired, or simply feel “off”. Fortunately, there are powerful, fast-acting plant oil ingredients—eucalyptus and myrtle—that clear sinuses and fight inflammation and bacteria. This combination will:

• Relieve sinus congestion from colds, flu or sinusitis
• Help patients breathe easier and feel clear headed
• Bolster the immune system
• Fight allergy stuffiness
• Provide relief without serious side effects

Your patients may suffer from an occasional stuffy nose, or deal with chronic breathing issues. Either condition can go beyond discomfort — it may lead to serious problems down the road.

How Sinuses Should Work
Healthy sinuses are lined with tiny, hair-like projections called cilia. The cilia wave back and forth, pushing mucus out of the sinus cavities into the throat where it is swallowed or into the nose where it can be blown out. But, when the process doesn’t work correctly, you can be in for some real problems.

Acute Sinusitis
If thick mucus plugs up the sinuses so they can’t drain, or bacteria or viruses harm the cilia so they don’t efficiently push the mucus out, the lining of the sinus cavity becomes inflamed. As the sinuses fill up, pressure builds, and the pain becomes intense. Worse still, the warm, moist, mucus-filled sinus cavity is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, leading to a sinus infection, or sinusitis.

Pain and pressure in the face is one of the most common symptoms of sinusitis. Which sinus cavity is involved determines where the pain is felt. Other common symptoms include headache, yellow or green mucus discharge from the nose, stuffy nose, bad breath, fever, cough that produces mucus, and a reduced sense of taste and smell.

Chronic Sinusitis
Acute sinusitis is a short-term event that resolves and goes away. However, when sinusitis lasts for weeks, or returns again and again, it is simply another form of chronic sinusitis. This occurs frequently occurs in people with asthma, and many people with chronic sinusitis have allergies. Experts believe there is a possibility that constant exposure to inhaled allergens that are present year round, such as house dust mites, pets, mold and cockroaches, can cause chronic inflammation in the nasal passages and sinuses.

While airborne allergens may have a significant role in causing sinusitis, food allergens can also act as triggers. With the elimination of certain foods, many instances of sinusitis may be greatly reduced. Eliminating these foods may not necessarily eradicate sinusitis completely, but they can help increase recovery time significantly.

You may suggest to your patients that they eliminate suspected foods for several weeks. They may be surprised at the change.

Along with these lifestyle considerations, eucalyptus and myrtle are two of the most effective botanicals for sinus relief and protection from bacteria.

Sinus Relief from Eucalyptus and Myrtle
Eucalyptus is one of the most well-known plant oils for clearing the sinuses. In this case, The essential oil of Eucalyptus radiata contains 1,8 cineole, alpha pinene, and limonene—compounds that have strong anti-inflammatory abilities.

This natural plant oil thins mucus so it can drain more easily, and also is a natural antibacterial and antiviral to treat sinus infections. Studies on eucalyptus oil and its key compounds show that it not only reduces inflammation and destroys pathogens, it also helps to strengthen the immune system so that it can respond more quickly to infections.

Myrtle (Myrtus communis cineole) oil is like eucalyptus in that it has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. And, like eucalyptus, myrtle also contains 1,8 cineole, the powerful plant compound. This compound stimulates tiny, fluttering projections in the sinus cavities called cilia to move mucus along more quickly, so your patients experience even more sinus clearing and comfort.

Oil from the zest of lemon (Citrus limon) peel also provides sinus-clearing compounds. The three together can have a dramatic effect.

Concentrated Oils
These concentrated plant oils are very different from those that massage and aroma therapists use (sometimes called “essential” oils) outside the body, as infusers, or topically, on the skin. They are meant to be taken internally. These oils have been examined and certified to be from the correct plant species, contain beneficial key compounds, be safe for internal use, and are extremely concentrated.

Your Patients Can Breathe Easily, Naturally
Chronic problems with sinus infection and congestion can get in the way of enjoying life to the fullest.

Under your direction, the powerful, concentrated plant oils from eucalyptus, myrtle and lemon, can relieve especially stubborn sinus problems, clearing congestion in the upper respiratory tract and sinuses.

For more serious sinus concerns, you may recommend taking eucalyptus (Eucalyptus radiata) leaf oil, myrtle (Myrtus communis cineole) leaf oil and lemon (Citrus limon) Zest Oil up to three times daily.