Health and beauty

Is winter getting up your nose?


30/11/2004

Asalamu alaykum readers. I hope each and every one of you had a wonderful Eid.
As we head for cold days, there may be many of you who suffer from flu, sinus problems, viruses and other ailments connected with winter.
So what causes problems and why are some people more affected to this than others? And what are the remedies?
Let's take a closer look at sinuses.
They are air pockets inside the skull, around the eyes and nose. They help to lessen the weight of the skull and are resonance chambers for the voice.
Inflammation of the sinus can be triggered by anything from the common cold to allergies, but essentially it is when the sinus drainage is blocked and mucus builds up causing pressure on the walls.
This is when we begin to feel that we have a sinus problem.
Sufferers often complain about feeling full in the face or bruised around the eyes.
Also they may loose some sense of smell.
If you suffer from painful sinuses after the initial cold symptoms have worn off, it is advisable to see your GP. Long-term affects of this problem can lead to asthma and migraine - so early diagnosis is recommended.
There are over the counter remedies readily available, but you can try home made-remedies too.
They are safe to use and there are no side effects.
For example, a few drops of ginger and eucalyptus inhaled over steam can bring relief to the sinus.
Also try dabbing a few drops onto your fingers and starting from the nose, work your way along this sinus, pressing gently.
This should help move the mucus. Sinus often begins when we are allergic to something such as pollen, dust mites, etc.
Try to avoid mowing the lawn in summer. Dust mites can be tackled by buying allergenic bedding which is available from most retail outlets.
Another good remedy for the cold winter months is fresh ginger tea. It's simple to make. Peel and blend a small portion of fresh root ginger, boil a cup of water and mix the blended ginger into the hot water.
Cover and boil for three minutes to diffuse the essence of the ginger root into the water.
Strain this mixture into a fresh cup and add honey to taste.
Taken once every two-weeks will help keep the chill of winter away and cleans the blood stream so helping keep out infection.


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