Before we start with this article, I would like to ask you a simple question – do you know what’s sinusitis? We can answer that for you – sinusitis is the inflammation of the lining walls of the sinuses and it’s a common problem for many people around the world. So, this means that if you’re dealing with a chronic sinus infection, you may have tried all sorts of treatments, including a course of antibiotics. However, these drugs could actually aggravate the underlying problem. And these drugs and medications offer just a temporary solution.
And, now you probably ask yourself how is that possible? Well, you will be surprised when you find out that the answer is really quite simple: antibiotics kill both the bad and good bacteria in your nasal passages. Once the good bacteria are wiped out, there’s nothing in the nasal cavity to help protect against the buildup of bad bacteria.
So, now you know that the old-fashioned drugs and medications, for treating this health problem, don’t actually work. This is the main reason why we are going to show you the new sinus infections treatment, which you’ve probably never heard of. Here’s what you need to know – Dr. Mas Takashima, director of the Sinus Center at Baylor College of Medicine is developing new therapies to reduce symptoms and fight off sinus infections. And you’ll be surprised to learn that they include baby shampoo sinus irrigations and probiotic nasal rinses.
Dr. Mas Takashima, director of the Sinus Center at Baylor College of Medicine says:
“These new therapies are targeting the bacteria in ways that haven’t been utilized in the past. These techniques are helping those with chronic and acute sinusitis. Whenever I tell my patients about the new therapeutic protocols they’re very surprised, but they get the results they want and need.”
How do they work?
Well, Dr. Mas Takashima says that the concept behind baby shampoo irrigation is to cleanse the nasal cavity with a surfactant. This means the shampoo breaks down the oily layers that protect bad bacteria from being flushed away. He also says that the regular saline irrigation formulas can’t penetrate this barrier, but baby shampoo can. We usually tell our children to wash their hands with soap, not with plain water, in order to clean bacteria from their hands. The same concept is being used in the sinus infection treatment.
Note: if you want to get the best results out of this treatment, Dr. Mas Takashima says that the solution should contain a half teaspoon of shampoo in 8 ounces of saline.
How to make your own saline – you just have to mix 3 heaping teaspoons of salt with 1 rounded teaspoon of baking soda and store in a small Ziplock bag.
How to make your own sinus infection mixture – you just have to add 1 teaspoon of this mixture and a half teaspoon of baby shampoo to 8 ounces (1 cup) of lukewarm distilled or boiled water.
How to use it – you should use a rubber ear bulb syringe or infant nasal bulb to draw the liquid, then gently flush your nostrils with it.
In order to replenish the healthy bacteria and prevent reoccurrence, you should add a probiotic rinse. You can use the same instructions to create the saline solution. Then, instead of adding shampoo, break open a probiotic capsule and pour the contents into the solution.
Dr. Mas Takashima also mentioned:
“I often encounter previously healthy patients who tell me, ‘I haven’t been able to shake this sinus infection and multiple courses of antibiotics and steroids aren’t helping.’ This tells me that something must have occurred to cause a change in the patient’s natural ability to fight off sinus infections. Probiotics would be extremely helpful in this scenario because it can help replenish the good bacteria. This, in turn, prevents harmful bacteria from taking up residence in the sinuses.”
Note: Dr. Mas Takashima also says that you should consult your doctor for appropriate diagnosis before trying irrigation at home. This is because there are many different causes of sinus infection and you want to make sure you’re treating the right one.
Here is a list of recommended baby shampoos for relieving sinus infection:
Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Fragrance Free Shampoo & Wash
California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo & Body Wash – Fragrance Free
California Baby Shampoo & Body Wash – Tea Tree & Lavender
Exederm Non-Irritating Baby Shampoo
Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo with Natural Oat Extract