The Sinus Survival Program

1. Treating & Preventing Sinus Infections & Colds
   
2. Detoxifying Your Body
3. Treating Fungal Sinusitis/Yeast Overgrowth/Candida-Related Complex - Candida Questionnaire
4. Improving Indoor Air Quality
5. Practicing Effective Nasal Hygiene
6. Eating A Healthy, Anti-inflammatory, and Hypo-allergenic Diet + Vitamins and Supplements
   
7. Treating Allergies
   
8. Strengthening Your Immune System with Exercise & Quality Sleep
   
9. Healing The Issues In Your Tissues -- Mental/Emotional Factors
10. Soothing Your Soul & Opening Your Heart -- Spiritual/Social Factors

TREATING & PREVENTING SINUS INFECTIONS & COLDS:

• Natural "Antibiotics:"

1. Allimed or Allimax® (both are 100% pure allicin – the active ingredient in garlic) – this product is my first choice since studies have shown it to be highly effective as an anti-bacterial (kills MRSA), anti-viral (kills cold viruses), and anti-fungal. And in my practice it has been consistently effective in treating and preventing sinus infections and colds. However it needs to be taken in therapeutic dosages. Allimed (450mg/capsule) is available only through healthcare practitioners (and www.sinussurvival.com), and Allimax (180mg/capsule) can be found in some health food stores. Both are also available in a liquid form for children.

Dosage for treating a sinus infection: Allimed – 2 capsules 3x/day for 10 days. Allimax – 5 capsules 3x/day for 10 days.

Dosage for treating colds and preventing sinus infections: at the first sign of a cold: Allimed – 2 capsules (or Allimax – 5 capsules) 3x/day for 2 to 3 days, then if symptoms have subsided, 1 capsule (or Allimax – 2 capsules) 2x/day for 2 to 3 days.

2. EchinOsha with Elderberry – contains 2 anti-viral herbs, Echinacea and Elderberry (also effective with the influenza virus); and Osha root, which helps to strengthen the immune system. This product is available through www.sinussurvival.com.

Dosage for treating colds and flu – 1 to 2 teaspoons every 2 to 4 hours for as long as symptoms are present.

3. Grapefruit seed extract capsules or liquid –; excellent anti-fungal and possibly anti-viral. Available in health food stores.

Dosage: 250 mg 3x/day or 10 drops in water 3x/d (the liquid has an unpleasant taste).

• Nasal Sprays:

1. Sinus Survival Spray® -- saline nasal spray with aloe, calendula, and yarrow leaf (anti-inflammatory herbs), plus grapefruit seed extract.

Dosage: spray every 1 to 2 hours with infection; apply a dab of peppermint oil to outside of nostrils following each application. Use for both treatment and prevention on a daily basis.

2. Sinus Rescue Silver® - highly effective in killing bacteria, viruses, or fungi; contains ionic silver; but must be applied every 20 to 30 minutes for maximum effectiveness; apply a dab of peppermint oil to outside of nostrils following each application. Use only for treating infection. Available in health food stores.

• Nasal Hygiene:

1. Steam Inhaler – acts as a decongestant and mucus thinner. Add a highly medicinal eucalyptus oil (e.g. Sinus Survival Eucalyptus®), peppermint oil, and tea tree oil to the steam. There are several brands of steam inhalers available in most pharmacies. Use 3 to 4x/day if treating an infection; 1 or 2x/day preventively.

2. Irrigation – use 3 to 4x/day for treating a sinus infection, immediately following Steam Inhaler. A pulsatile irrigator is the most effective irrigating device and the only one that has been shown to remove the biofilm (thick coating of mucus on the mucous membrane). SinuPulse® is the state-of-the-art pulsatile irrigation device; one of the best methods for quickly eliminating (and preventing, 1 or 2x/day) sinus infections, as well as treating chronic and fungal sinusitis. Available through www.sinussurvival.com.

• Vitamins/Supplements/Antioxidants:

1. Vitamin C – 3,000 to 5,000mg 3x/day with meals for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect. Use this high dosage until symptoms subside, then reduce to 2,000mg 3x/day. It is most effective if taken in the form of Ester C or a mineral ascorbate (for better absorption and GI tolerance), rather than ascorbic acid. If you have diarrhea then reduce the dosage.

2. Vitamin D-3 – 150,000 units daily for the first 3 days of a sinus infection. D-3 is a potent immune strengthener. You can safely take 25,000 to 50,000 I.U. daily on an ongoing basis, but if you do, then avoid taking any calcium supplements. Recent studies are revealing that most illnesses are accompanied by a deficiency in vitamin D. You can find a high quality D-3 in 5000 unit capsules at www.sinussurvival.com.

3. Grape Seed Extract – 300mg in am and 50-100mg in mid-afternoon on an empty stomach. Grape seed is a powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-histamine. There are many varieties available at health food stores, but most are not high quality. I recommend GrapeGold®, available through www.sinusurvival.com.

4. Fish oil – EPA 1,000-3,000mg/DHA 500-900mg per day. An omega 3/omega-6 combination; fish oil is a potent natural anti-inflammatory. Many varieties – I recommend Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega®, 2 capsules 2x/day. Available at most health food stores.

5. Sinupret Plus® – 1 tablet 3x/day. This is an herbal combination that serves as a highly effective natural anti-inflammatory for the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract.

• Sleep:

– 9 to 10+ hours for treating sinus infections; 7 to 9 hours for prevention. Do not use an alarm clock (allow your body to tell you how much sleep it requires; if you awaken to an alarm clock you’re not getting enough sleep). Adequate sleep is perhaps the most effective, convenient, and least expensive way to strengthen your immune system.

• Diet:

1. Eat mostly organic vegetables & fruits, non-gluten grains (brown rice, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, amaranth), fiber, protein; avoid sugar, dairy, wheat, carbohydrates (especially gluten grains), caffeine, and alcohol. Sugar weakens immunity; wheat, dairy, and gluten grains are most common causes of food allergy (often a trigger of sinus infections).

2. Drink bottled or filtered water – at least ½ oz/lb of body weight (e.g. 160 lbs. = 80 oz/day.

• Treat the emotional causes:  most sinus infections are triggered by repressed anger or unshed tears. I recommend the safe release of anger (see pgs. ___); as well as reflecting on whether or not you’re feeling grief or some sense of loss. The feeling of grief or loss is typically not as obvious as the anger, but it’s probably there, just a bit deeper. Journaling is another excellent method for releasing either or both of these painful emotions.

As you can see, treating a sinus infection is typically not a quick fix, whether it’s done holistically or, as many millions of sinus sufferers have learned, taking an antibiotic. That’s because there are multiple factors that contribute to causing most sinus infections. Unless you address all of the causes, several of which may be chronic or ongoing problems, and continue treating them on a daily basis, you’re likely to suffer with sinus infection before long. The key to curing chronic and fungal sinusitis is to become a highly skilled practitioner in the art of preventive medicine. The Sinus Survival Program provides you with the training and the tools to effectively treat and prevent sinus infections, to cure chronic and fungal sinusitis, and to create a condition of optimal health – one that’s free of sinus suffering!