by Laurie Boris

Created on: April 25, 2009

Your sinuses are as congested as rush hour traffic. Your head feel like someone's pounding it with a hammer. Just grab a pill, right? That's what all the commercials say - probably your doctor, too. But for most headaches and sinus problems, the medicine cabinet doesn't have to be your first line of defense. Especially when studies show that sometimes these over-the-counter remedies do more harm than good. Frequent use of pain relievers like Tylenol that contain acetaminophen can be bad for your liver. OTC antihistamines like Claritin could cause rapid heartbeat and dehydration, and combine poorly with some prescription medications. And few of these drugs have been proven safe for children. But you can get effective sinus and headache relief using natural and alternative remedies.

Sinus Congestion

It's allergy season, and boy, are you a mess. Or you've got a nasty cold. Or summer's humidity makes your head feel like it's going to explode. No matter what causes your sinuses to swell, congest and drip, the standard pills for sinus problems do a couple of basic things: bring down swelling, and dry up the congestion. Here are a few things you can try before popping open that bottle or snorting that nasal spray:

1. Ice is your friend. Repeat that to yourself. Write it on a sticky note, and plaster it to your medicine cabinet. Ice applied to your cheeks, around your eyes, your temples and at the base of your skull (remember, sinuses are all over your head) can help bring down swelling. A flexible ice pack is the best kind. But you can even use a bag of frozen peas.

2. Open up those sinus passages with peppermint. Dab a bit of peppermint essential oil (you can buy it at your local natural foods store) underneath each nostril and at your temples. Peppermint is a vasodilator - or, a substance that dilates your blood vessels. It also opens up nasal passages. If you have sensitive skin, dilute the peppermint oil with a bit of witch hazel or a skin-friendly oil such as grapeseed, jojoba or sweet almond (you can also find these items in most natural foods stores.) As a diluting agent, even olive oil will work in a pinch. If you can get a willing victim to massage this mixture into your temples and the base of your skull, so much the better. (Note: while this is a good remedy to try for children, use it only with adult supervision. Kids may be tempted by the peppermint scent to taste the oil. Peppermint essential oil is not to be taken internally.)

3. Get and use a neti pot.

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