Irritated,
painful, and dehydrated sinuses are fairly common in dry climates.
If you suffer from dry sinuses, you know that symptoms are
most pronounced in dry environments: on airplanes, in air-conditioned
rooms, and during the winter months. Saline solution nasal
spray has traditionally been used to treat dry sinuses, yet
pure sesame oil spray has been offered as an alternative form
of treatment. So which is better?
To compare the effectiveness of saline spray to sesame oil
spray in the treatment of dry nasal passages, the authors
of a recent study in the Archives of Otolaryngology - Head
and Neck Surgery examined approximately 80 people who
had suffered from the condition for an average of 13 years.
The study was conducted in the winter in Sweden, during low
outside relative humidity. The subjects were divided into
two groups: One group used saline spray for two weeks, followed
by sesame oil spray for two weeks, while the other group used
the sprays in opposite order. Patients rated their symptoms
(dryness, stuffiness, crusting) each evening.
Sesame oil won the contest. Eight of 10 using sesame oil
reported improved symptoms after two weeks, while only three
of 10 using saline reported improvement. Pure sesame oil spray
was significantly more effective than saline for treating
nasal dryness, and was somewhat better at relieving stuffiness
and crusting. Although negative side effects occurred in both
groups, including possible upper respiratory tract infection
or nosebleeds, the authors write that these infections were
consistent with infections that commonly occur in the population
during winter in Sweden.
If you suffer from dry sinuses, consider using sesame oil
spray as treatment. It offers a natural, drug-free option
for eliminating this irritating condition. Check out https://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/herbs.html
for information on other herb and botanical remedies.
Reference:
Johnsen J, Bratt BM, Michel-Barron O, et al. Pure sesame
oil vs. isotonic sodium chloride solution as treatment for
dry nasal mucosa. Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and
Neck Surgery 2001:127(11), pp. 1353-1356.
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