Expert: Ronda Snow, Ph.D. - 1/4/2006

Question
Hello.  Sometimes I get these headaches on the right side of my face beneath my right eye.  When this happens, my nose seems congested.  One doctor gave me a prescription for Claratin and the other suggested aspirin.  Claratin works great once it reduces the pressure.  However, I'm thinking because this happens on the same side of my face every time, there might be another problem which needs to be addressed, perhaps by alternative medicine?  Any suggestions?  

Thank you for your assistance.  

Answer
Hi Liz

Of course you know that nobody can tell you what is wrong or what to do for it over the internet. But holistic health has a great track record when it comes to helping people with allergies and sinus congestion problems.

Naturopathy believes that the production of nasal mucous is one of the many ways that the body rids itself of toxins and irritants when the other eliminative systems (colon and kidneys) are either not working well or overwhelmed. So the reasoning here is that a diet rich in wholesome foods, veggies, fruits (in other words antioxidants and fiber) keeps the colon working well, reduces the amount of toxins etc that need eliminating and lifts the burden from the sinuses...voila, less sinus congestion. Drinking plenty of water also helps by assiting kidney function and thinning the secretions in the nose, letting them drain more naturally and easily.

The fact that you pain is one-sided brings homeopathy to mind. Homeopathy works on the principle of "like cures like". A homeopath would ask you many questions to get to know you and your problem in detail...one of those questions is if the pain is on one side more than the other. Then they give an herb or other natural substance (like sea salt) in very dilute, minute quantities. They choose a substance that, in large quantities, would produce the same symptoms that you are having...here is why.Homeopaths believe that the symptoms you are having are the symptoms of the body's healing efforts, NOT the symptoms of the disease (as in mainstream medicine). So by giving a similar substance, they enhance the body's own healing ability and thus gets rid of the ROOT CAUSE of the problem, rather than just suppressing the symptoms.

So instead of stopping mucous production with claritan, homeopathy would give you something to help your body heal whatever was triggering the excess mucous and pressure in the first place.

Ayerveda works with balancing three functional classifications with the body that they call kapha, pitta and vatta. An Ayervedic technique that many people with sinus problems swear by is "jal neti" or using a neti pot. With that, a warm salt water solution (similar to the concentration of salt in the body, not a very strong amount of salt)is poured through the nasal passages to remove pollen and pollution so your body doesn't react to it. They are available at many health food stores and usually come with instructions how to use them.

Of course, if you have pain that persists or fever, seeing a doctor is the best idea. I believe that alternative medicine can and should be complimentary to mainstream medicine...take and use the best of both sounds good to me.

I hope this gives you some ideas of where to start looking for a strategy to help you. Check your local phone listings, online, "new age" magazines and book stores...usually that is a good way to find a practitioner for a face to face evaluation that can help your specific concerns.

Best wishes to you!

Baihu

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