There are several airborne substances that we inhale through our mouth and nose. Many of these irritate the sinuses and can lead to allergies. For example, Pollen, which is nothing but a small particle released by flowering plant, enters our body while breathing. The mucus that is present in sinuses ambushes that dirt as a defense mechanism to prevent it from entering our lungs.

However, the mucus cannot cope with the relentless onslaught. Over time, these pollen allergens prevent the mucus from draining properly, which then accumulates and becomes the perfect breeding ground for viruses and bacteria. This leads to nasal blocks and infections.

Over time, ragweed and pollen lead to allergies. Hay Fever, which is a serious problem, starts with ragweed and pollen allergy but is often ignored because the symptoms are very similar - itchy and flowing nose etc. If not cured on time, it can lead to major disorders.

Other allergens that can cause sinus inflammation are dirt, pollution, animal hair, food particles cloth fibers, mold, dead insects remains and wastes, and other remains.

While everything in our environment can create allergic problems round the year, most sinus allergies occur mostly in spring, late summer and early fall seasons. During this time, the air is dry and moisture free and it's the right time for airborne particles like pollen and ragweed to flow in the air. Therefore, this time is very critical for diseases concerned with allergies. These allergies usually end by the starting of winter because of frost etc.

Some of the symptoms of these allergies are very common but should not be ignored - a runny nose, excessive sneezing (it can be 8 to 10 times in a row), itching nose (feel like scratching), sore throat, bad breath, watery eyes, postnasal drips which can be very irritating, loss of taste and smell and excess coughing, specially in the night. Any one or more of these symptoms are enough to make a person weak and fatigued all the time.

Caution: If the behavioral changes, mind disturbances, headache, eyesight problems, or seizures are long lasting and are not cured, infection may spread and lead to other allergic problems.

Usually symptoms of sinus allergies can be mitigated at the first instance through a completely natural irrigation process.

This process, called 'neti' (in yoga) or simply saline nasal irrigation is so effective, that thousands of people suffering for years - some even as many as 50 years - have experienced miraculous relief.
 

 
Before you dismiss this as some "new-age" fad, you may like to know that this treatment has existed for centuries but only in the 'esoteric' yoga traditions. Only recently, has it caught the fancy of the Western world�. And in what a way!! (read - Testimonials).

The best part is that, unlike medications that invariably have harmful side effects, Neti only has Positive Effects. In the yoga tradition, Neti is beneficial for mental health and for developing higher states of awareness. In fact, sinus health is only an incidental benefit!! Read Articles on Neti.

Moreover, medication CANNOT be taken until the allergy or infection actually occurs and by then it is too late. By contrast, Neti is an excellent preventive and promotes all round health - a powerful feature of holistic treatments.

Read more on Treating Sinus infections through Neti.

The right tool that makes Neti an easy success is called the Neti Pot. Read more on the Neti Pot.