People often use antibiotics or antihistamines to clear sinus congestion, not knowing that they can be bad for our bodies in the long run. Antibiotics are effective bacteria-killing drugs. Prolonged use of them, however, can weaken the immune system by not letting it work and fight off the bacteria by itself as it is supposed to. Antihistamines help reduce allergic reactions and keep your nose in working order, but usually make your body feel weak and drowsy. By drying out and thickening the mucus in the nose, antihistamines ironically give the bacteria an even better environment to breed. They are, therefore, not good for people with acute sinusitis.

So instead of dumping those medications into our bodies and making the kidneys work harder, why not choose nondrug options that can help strengthen the immune system, clear sinus congestion and let the body fight off infection by itself?

Dr. Robert Ivker, the author of Sinus Survival and co-author of The Complete Self-Care Guide to Holistic Medicine, recommends that people with sinus congestion should take the following herbal supplements to boost the immune system and battle sinusitis:

• Garlic extract (or use a lot of garlic in your food)
• Goldenseal or Berberine
• Echinacea

Olive leaf extract is also known for its antibacterial quality and should be beneficial for sinusitis relief. To break up the thick mucus in your nasal passage, try taking papaya or pineapple enzyme tablets daily.

Rinsing your nose with a saline spray once or twice a day can be really helpful, as it will clean out pus, debris, allergens and histamine, decreasing your need for antibiotics and preventing those things from sparking congestion. Another popular option for nasal wash is to use a neti pot and saline water. (Watch the following video for a demonstration on how to use it.) This method can reach deeper and clean your nose more thoroughly than a saline spray.

• Boil water in a pot.
• Remove from heat. Add a few drops of aromatic and soothing essential oils such as lavender, thyme and rosemary, or fresh herbs such as oregano, thyme and sage.
• Lean over the pot for about 10 - 15 minutes. Make sure you stay far enough not to burn your nose, but close enough to inhale the steam. DO NOT inhale directly from a boiling pot.

This will help liquefy the mucus in your nose and make it less congested.

• No matter how much you love milk, don't drink it when you have sinus congestion. Dairy products are mucus thickeners!
• Avoid cigarette smoke, irritating fumes, and anything that can trigger your allergic reactions.
• Drink plenty of water; it will help liquefy the mucus.
• Don't blow your nose too hard. Such pressure may drive pus up into your middle ears.
• Chicken soup is not just a myth. The garlicky and peppery one is the best; it can really loosen your sinus congestion.