The Autonomic Nervous System: calming Parasympathetic, and reactive Sympathetic, supports the delicate balance of stress management and digestion. And, the digestive process is of paramount importance in the health and well being of a properly functioning immune system. Digestion is best served in a parasympathetic mode: a soothing, calm, peaceful environment whether one is a vegetarian, vegan, or meat eater. Depending upon one's personal belief system these quantities vary, but across the table foods eaten should be an unadulterated blend of healthy fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds and meats. Foods need to well chewed to allow for maximal association with the mechanical mastication process and exposure to digestive enzymes.
Quite simply, the gut works in parasympathetic mode. The production of acid, enzymes, and gut motility depend upon it. However, with many people stress is nearly always present. This short circuits the digestive process and results in undigested materials being introduced throughout the gut, depending upon the availability of enzymes. As a result, foods ferment, putrefy and rancidify, thus irritating the intestinal lining and allowing many large molecules of foods to enter the GI tract as an oversized foreign substance rather than a minute usable food source. The immune system is activated. Histamine, from degranulating MAST cells located throughout all of the mucous membranes, including the sinuses, is released and the immune cascade begins.
Over time the body becomes sensitized to these various materials. If the gut is constantly inundated with foreign substances then the overall immune system becomes irritated, inflamed, and overly sensitive to large molecules, whether eaten or inhaled. Accumulated debris from inefficient breakdown and elimination of foods and metabolic materials gets stored within the body. The sinuses and respiratory system, also responsible for the elimination of wastes, becomes reactive to the histamines and congestion from substances that ordinarily would not cause a reaction. The body must rid itself of the offending stored material and one pathway is via the sinuses through a reactive, eliminatory immune cascade.
One can see that the relationship to foods, stress, and health is of paramount importance. This is true not only to obtain the nutritional benefit of foods, but also for the health of our immune system.
As this sinus reaction process becomes present, the person may have associated symptoms of headache, pain and/or pressure over the cheeks, inner eye, or forehead. The throat may become irritated as a result of posterior nasal drainage. The voice tone may shift due to the change in density from air to mucous in the sinus cavities. Sneezing, and the blowing of the nose in an attempt to relieve the pressure, is a common pastime of the "nasally challenged" individual.
Medical treatment for such a condition is varied and at times perplexing. Standard medicinal routes of treatment utilizing over the counter, or prescription antihistamines and decongestants generally only palliate symptoms. One may get relief, but it is usually short-term with recurrent symptoms returning in a matter of days or weeks. Some individuals seem to just continue to use these medications not unlike a general daily vitamin regimen. As a society we have even gone so far as to advertise the approaching "allergy season", associated with sinusitis, sneezing, etc.
The sinus elimination process starts with the digestion. By treating it at this point one may eliminate the very cause of the chronic sinusitis. Consume foods that are healthy. During the illness eat no, or very lightly of proteins, carbohydrates and sugars, i.e. meats, grains and fruits. Steamed vegetables, broths, vegetable juices are always recommended. Basically, allow the body to eliminate by reducing the metabolic load. Depending upon the state of the sinusitis, some physicians even recommend a fast of certain duration, but this author recommends that a fast only be undertaken with medical supervision. Although the missing of several meals during an illness, as long as there are adequate fluids consumed, is usually of no consequence.
Drink copious amounts of fluid, approximately one-half one's weight in ounces is a good general guideline; more if exercising or a dehydrating environment is present. Monitor one's pH through urinary assessment with simple pH paper. Consume foods that will shift the pH toward 6.8 to 7.2; if too alkaline eat acid foods, and vice versa. Rest as much as possible, particularly being in bed prior to 10:00p.m. It is said, that every hour of sleep one gets before midnight is equal to two after midnight.
Additional therapies may be of particular interest as they act directly on the affected area. An old, time-tested process is the use of the Neti Pot to physically flush the sinuses. This is a small ceramic pot with a narrow outlet. One merely fills the pot with clean, warm water, often with a pinch of sea salt, and by tilting the head back and to the side, administers the solution via one nostril. The water should exit the other nostril. When infections are present, one may add small quantities of antibacterial herbs to the solution, or make a tea ahead of time that may be used in the pot. (Be sure to allow for cooling...)
Other therapies include: sinus packs of warm towels; inhalations steams with a drop of an essential oil, such as Peppermint--to assist with decongestion; Thyme or Rosemary--as an antimicrobial; Cervical manipulation has been helpful. Orthomolecular support in the use of Vitamin C, Zinc, A, and other supplements contributes to the immune function and general metabolism. Diathermy, homeopathy and acupuncture have also all been found to be of benefit.
However, there are alternative treatment options for those interested in working on the issue a little deeper. From one standpoint, the sinusitis condition is really an altered localized problem with a possible systemic milieu origin. The sinus environment and the entire body may be in such a condition of inefficient elimination at the cellular level that microbes now have found a suitable home. This is the present association with a viral, bacterial, or fungal sinusitis. So, the goal is to eliminate the external effects as much as possible and to promote elimination. This therapy, along with the other supportive therapies mentioned, supports the person as s/he cleanses and heals oneself. The goal is toward shifting the milieu and restoring a healthy functioning environment, which does not support these pathogens.
These deeper acting therapies include the use of remedies produced by SANUM and HEEL.
The overall milieu problem associated with the diet and/or external toxins must be altered. As one changes the diet however, there may be a milieu present that has been affected by any invading pathogens. Many microorganisms create their own milieu to support the environment in which they live. Oftentimes one needs assistance in supporting the shift in the milieu. As one monitors the pH, additional remedies are available to support the return of a normal, healthy pH. Within the line of SANUM products there are four pH modulators. These include Pleo Alkala, and Potency Chords of Pleo Citro, Pleo Form and Pleo Sanuvis. (A Potency Chord is a combination of several different homeopathic dilutions of the same substance in one remedy.)
The pH Modulators, taken orally, facilitates the shift of the pH. This is critical in setting a new foundation to eliminate the debris that is associated with the sinusitis. Pleo Alkala used daily assists in alkalinizing the fluids of the body. If the patient has an acid urinary pH, then Pleo Alkala taken in warm water between meals will greatly assist the shift of the pH. Pleo Citro (Citric acid) can be very beneficial at the cellular level in supporting the citric acid cycle. Stimulating cellular activity assists with the removal of wastes via improved cellular function. Citric acid is also a supportive pH modulator when treating the Aspergillus niger (Pleo Nig) conditions of the body. These include any tubercular, or paratubercular illness.
Pleo Sanuvis is a potency chord of L+ lactic acid. As the body becomes more congested, cellular function is inhibited. As such, metabolic debris accumulates disturbing the general well being of the entire organism. Pleo Sanuvis assists in removing this toxin by stimulating the elimination of lactic acid. Pleo Sanuvis also supports the general circulation. If there is congestion, then there is most likely a circulatory impairment associated with Mucor racemosus (Pleo Muc). This tends to perpetuate itself toward the build-up of lactic acid and further reduced cellular function.
Pleo Form is Formic acid. Formic acid has its indications for asthma and bronchitis, among others. It is associated with the Penicillium conditions of the body, i.e., viral, bacterial, and fungal. Pleo Form supports the use of Pleo Not, (Penicillium chrysogenum), Pleo Quent (Penicillium glabrum), and Pleo Fort (Penicillium roquefortii). Pleo Fort is the beneficial remedy in restoring gut microbial foundation. As the gut lymphoid tissue is a key component to the immune system, there is also a glandular remedy that is available to support this tissue. This remedy is Pleo Reb. Pleo Reb consists of Peyer Patches extract. The Peyer patches are the glandular support gut lymphoid tissue.
