There are paranasal sinuses (air-filled spaces) located inside the cheekbones, forehead, behind the bridge of nose and between the eyes. These can get inflamed from infection or from allergies. As a result, they swell, become congested with mucus and cannot drain properly, resulting in pressure build-up and pain, which is referred to as sinus headache.
Pain and pressure can be felt in any of the sinus areas like the forehead, brow area, around/behind the eyes, bridge of the nose, cheeks, and top/back of the head. The affected sinus area can also be tender to touch and red. The pain tends to get worse when first getting up out of bed, from moving the head suddenly and from leaning forward. Its other symptoms include sinus infection-like stuffy nose, thick, green or yellow-colored mucus discharge from the nose, postnasal discharge (PND), swelling or puffiness of the face, fever, aching in the upper jaw and fatigue.
Homeopathic systems offer a very natural, safe, and effective treatment for sinus headache cases. Homeopathic medicines help to relieve sinus headaches by reducing sinus inflammation and infection. Along with relieving the headache, it also manages the attending nasal symptoms like nasal stuffiness, nasal discharge, sneezing, and postnasal discharge quite effectively. In mainstream medicine for treating sinus headache, painkillers, nasal decongestants, antibiotics or anti-allergic medicines and steroids are recommended. They provide relief immediately but offer short-term help. Additionally, these may have some side effects too. However, homeopathic treatment provides long-term help in cases of sinus headache with zero side effects.
Homeopathic medicines help to relieve sinus congestion and sinus headache by treating the root cause. Their target is to treat the cause, like infections and nasal allergies linked with sinus inflammation leading to sinus headache. As the root cause is addressed properly, the condition gets eradicated from its origin.
Homeopathy is effective in both acute and chronic cases of sinus headache. Initially, homeopathic medicines aim to provide relief from acute headache. Once the acute episode is overcome, it focuses on gradually reducing the intensity and frequency of the headache until it gets resolved entirely. For complete recovery, one has to follow a complete treatment course as guided by a homeopathic doctor.
Homeopathic medicines for treating sinus headache are selected as per the peculiar symptom presentation in each and every case. The type of headache, the location of pain, the side of pain, the worsening and relieving factors and other associated nasal symptoms are all noted down, followed by its detailed evaluation to finalize homeopathic prescription. This well-prescribed medication brings complete recovery in most of the cases. However, results vary from case to case as per the intensity and chronicity of the complaint.
The advantage of using homeopathy for sinus headache is that it is natural and entirely safe to use. Homeopathic medicines never cause any adverse effects, as these medicines are all prepared from natural substances that are chemical-free.
Top 6 Homeopathic Remedies For Sinus Headache
The top ranking homeopathic medicines for sinus headache are Belladonna, Kali Bichrome, Hepar Sulph, Pulsatilla, Silicea and Merc Sol.
1.Belladonna – Top Grade Medicine
Belladonna is a very effective medicine for sinus headache. It is marked by a frontal headache. A pressive sensation or pressure is felt in the forehead where it is required. This worsens on movement and stooping. It also worsens from going in the open air. The next symptom that indicates its use is swelling of the cheek with burning pain. The face may become red with warmth. Tearing pain in the jaw may also be present. It works effectively in cases of frontal and maxillary sinusitis.
When to use Belladonna?
Belladonna is the best medicine to manage sinus headache accompanied by marked pain and pressure in the forehead that gets worse from movement, stooping, and in open air.
How to use Belladonna?
Both low and high potencies of this medicine work well; however, it is advised to begin with its 30C potency that can be taken one or two times a day.
2. Kali Bichrome – For Frontal Headache with Nasal Discharge, Post Nasal Discharge
Kali Bichrome is another well-indicated medicine for these cases. Persons needing it complain of headaches in the forehead, especially over one of the eyes. They usually feel shooting pain over the eyebrow. Next, they can complain of pain in the forehead in the morning on waking up. They feel distress, fullness, and severe pain in their frontal sinuses. Besides, thick, yellow/green, sticky, stringy, ropy discharge flows from the nose. There are symptoms of post discharge (PND). Pain, tightness, fullness, or pressure sensation is also felt at the root of the nose. There is a constant feeling of nose blockage.
When to use Kali Bichrome?
Kali Bichrome is extremely helpful to manage frontal headache and pain at the root of the nose with thick, yellow/green, sticky, ropy nasal discharge and prominent postnasal discharge (PND) in cases of sinus headache.
How to use Kali Bichrome?
The use of this medicine is recommended in both low and high potencies. Initially one may use its 30C potency once or twice a day. For using high potencies, prior consultation with a homeopathic physician is a must.
3.Hepar Sulph – For Pain at Root of The Nose
This medicine is particularly beneficial when there is pain at the root of the nose. This pain is felt the most in the morning. An attending symptom is blockade of the nose in the morning. Thick, offensive-smelling discharge from the nose can accompany it. This discharge may sometimes be blood-tinged. A heated sensation and burning are felt in the nostrils. The nose is painful and sensitive to touch.
When to use Hepar Sulph?
Its use should be considered to manage sinus headache when pain is felt at the root of the nose along with nasal blockage, especially worse in the morning.
How to use Hepar Sulph?
It is advised to take this medicine one to two times a day in 30C power.
4. Pulsatilla – For Sinus Headache With Thick Yellow Green Nasal Discharge
Pulsatilla is indicated when there is a sinus headache along with nasal discharge that is thick and yellow-green. There is a dull, heavy sensation over the frontal area of the head or pain in the maxillary sinus (located in the cheeks). The pain in the maxillary sinus is tearing in nature and may extend to the ear. One may complain of nasal blockade.
When to use Pulsatilla?
This medicine should be used to deal with sinus headache in the forehead and cheek area along with thick yellow-green discharge from the nose.
How to use Pulsatilla?
One may use this medicine once a day in 30C potency.
5. Silicea – For throbbing Pain in Forehead
Silicea is of great use when a throbbing type of pain is felt in the forehead in cases of sinus headache. The pain may worsen from cold air exposure. Wrapping up your head warmly gives relief. Along with a headache, the head also feels very heavy. A major attending symptom is thick, green-yellow, foul-smelling discharge from the nose after getting up. The nose may feel blocked in the morning.
When to use Silicea?
Silicea is well-indicated for sinus headache to manage pain in the forehead, which is throbbing type, worse from cold air exposure, along with nasal blockade and foul-smelling nasal discharge, especially in the morning.
How to use Silicea?
Silicea gives wonderful results in 6X potency that can be taken two to three times a day.
6. Natrum Mur – For Heaviness / Pain in Forehead with Sneezing, Nasal Discharge
It is a very important medicine for sinus headache when there is heaviness/pain in the forehead with sneezing and fluent watery nasal discharge. A pressing sensation or a sensation of weight may also be felt in the forehead. This worsens from bending the head down. Sneezing is violent and gets worse early in the morning. Sometimes there is alternation between nasal discharge and nasal dryness. It’s a top-listed medicine for nasal allergies.
When to use Natrum Mur?
Its use is suggested to manage pain and heaviness in the forehead along with sneezing and watery nasal discharge in cases of sinus headache.
How to use Natrum Mur?
Its use is also preferred in 6X power that can be used twice or thrice a day.
Causes
They most commonly occur in cases of inflamed paranasal sinuses (sinusitis). These sinuses can get inflamed from infections or from allergies (hay fever). Sinus infections can lead to sinus headaches. The infections cause mucus build-up in the sinuses and cause congestion and headache. The infections can occur from the common cold; seasonal allergies, nasal polyps, and a deviated nasal septum that blocks drainage of mucus from the sinus and favors the growth of germs that inflame the sinus.