Tamil Siddha Medicine For Sinusitis.

Sinusitis is a common disease in India where more than 120 million suffer from it, at least one episode in each year. Unlike diabetes or coronary problems which are widespread in India, sinusitis does not kill. But it gives chronic pain and discomfort and disturbs the quality of life.

In siddha Medicine system, Sinusitis is called as பீனிசம் (Peenisam), பீனசம் (Peenasam), நீர் பீனிசம் (Neer Peenisam), நீர் கோர்வை (Neer Korvai Noi), மூக்கடைப்பு நோய் (Mookaidaippu Noi). It is classified under kaba diseases கப நோய்கள் .

What is sinusitis?

Sinusitis is simply an inflammation of the lining of the sinus cavities. There are four pairs of sinuses, which are spaces normally filled with air in the front of the skull: over the eyes in the brow area; inside each cheekbone; just behind the bridge of the nose and between the eyes; and in the upper region of the nose and behind the eyes. The membranes that line the sinus cavities are moistened by thin mucus.

Sinus inflammation has many causes, including infection by viruses, bacteria or fungi; an allergic reaction to a food or environmental substance; or the response to an inhaled irritant like tobacco smoke or outdoor or indoor air pollution.

In Siddha Medicine, sinusitis one among the kabam diseases கப நோய்கள் of head. When the kabam humor goes out of balance, arises opportunity for pathogens to attack the body, where body fights it by secreting high mucus to counteract, which gives rise to range of kaba diseases like peenisam [பீனிசம்], Neerpaaychal நீர்ப் பாய்ச்சல்  , kabal varatchi [கபால வறட்சி], kabal soolai [கபால சூலை ] etc.

Symptoms of Sinusitis:

Siddhar Yugi muni in his ancient medical literature has defined 9 types of peenisam. Namely Bleeding type, infection type, polyps type etc. Also he has described the clinical features of sinusitis in the ancient siddha medical literature “VAITHIYA CINTAMANI” as follows,

தலையும் வலித்துகனத்து மிக
சளி தான் நாசியிற் திரண்டு விழும்
துளையும் சொன்னோம் பீனிசமும்
கொள்ளும் கபால வரட்சியுமே.

வலையும் நாலேழு சென்றால்
வறண்டு இறுகி திரண்டு விழும்
உலையு மிகவும் நாற்றமதாய்
உண்ட தண்ணீர் விழுந்திருக்கும்
பிழையும் செய்து நாசி
அடைக்கும் பீனிசத்தின் குணமிதுவே.

The self explanatory symptoms from the above verse are

• A headache (Thalai Vali – தலைவலி) upon awakening.
• Severe pain in the forehead (Thalai baaram – தலைப்பாரம்) due to nasal congestion .
• Post-nasal drips.
• Unexplained chronic fatigue or pain.
• Thick, yellow, foul-smelling discharge from your nose.
• Blockage in nose.

Additionally, sufferers could incur fever, bad breath, fatigue, dental pain, and cough (in adults).

Types of sinusitis in Siddha Medicine System and their symptoms:

1)வாத பீனசம் Vatha(wind humour) peenasam.
Dryness of the nose, smell less mucous oozes out from nose.

நாசி வறண்டு நீர் வடிந்து சளி நாற்றமில்லாது வரல்.

2) பித்த பீனசம் Piththa(bile humour) peenasam.

Yellow mucous with bad smell comes from the nose.

மஞ்சள் சளி வடிந்து புலால் நாற்றம் வீசுதல்.

3) சிலேற்பன சிலேட்டும பீனசம் Silesma peenasam (Phelgm humour)
Each nostril is blocked alternately while clean fluid flows from the other and occasionally a bit of mucous may come out, pricking pain is present.

நாசி மாறி மாறியடைத்து முத்து போல் நீர் வடிந்து நாறும், துணுக்குச் சளி விழும்,மூக்கில் குத்தல் உண்டாம்.

4) நீர்ப்பீனசம் Neer peenasam(Water).

Fluid runs down the nose during rainy season, sneezing and pain in the nape. நாசி நீர் வடிந்து மழை காலத்தில் தும்மல், கழுத்து வலி, பிடாரியும் முகமும் ஊரல்.

5) சீழ்பீனசம் Seezh peenasam(pus).

Pus comes from the nose and causes headache due to inflammation. அதிக சூட்டில் கால் முதல் நாசி வரை புண்ணாகி சீழ் வடிந்து தலை வலி காணல்.

6) இரத்த பீனசம் Raktha peenasam(blood).

Blood oozes from the nose, headache is felt. கபாலத்தில் வட்ட வட்டமாய் புண்ணாகி நாசி வழியாக உதிரம் வரும், தலை வலிக்கும்.

7) சிராய்ப்  பீனசம்  Sirai peenasam.

In this type of sinusitis, it is characterized by constant headache, loss of smell and some solid substance of the size of garlic frequently falls from the nose.

நாசியில் ஈருள்ளி கூடுபோல் சீழ் திரண்டு மனம் தெரியாது, விடாது தலை வலிக்கும்.

Siddha Treatment For Sinusitis:

Many a times sinusitis are treated without need for surgery in Siddha Medicine, except for sinusitis that arises out of any physical damage or deviated septum.

In Siddha Medicine, both internal and external Siddha treatments are approached.

External therapies for sinusitis in Siddha Medicine.

Topical applications.

1. களிம்பு Kalimbu-Ointment eg. Neerkovai Mathirai (நீர்க்கோவை மாத்திரை).
2. தைலம் Thailam eg. Peenisa thailam (பீனிச தைலம்).
   

Nasal applications.

1. Nasiyam (நசியம்) – Nasal drops.
2. Naasigaabaranam (நாசிகாபரணம்) – Insuffulation.
3. Oodhal (ஊதல்) – Blowing.

Heat therapy.

1. Vedhu (வேது பிடித்தல்) – Steam therapy.
2. Pottanam (பொட்டணம்) – Medicated pouch.
3. Pugai (புகை) -Fumigation.

Opthalmic applications.

1. Mai (மை) – Collyrium.
2. kalikkam (கலிக்கம்) – Eye drops.

Internal medicines of high order potency medicines like chendoorams and parpams are administered to cure the illness.

Both Herbs and metallic medicines, single drug or compound drug are employed in preparing the medicines to treat sinusitis. Depending upon the type and severity of the sinusitis, the appropriated therapies and medicines are administered to cure sinusitis without any surgical correction and side effects.
Preventive measures like lifestyle changes, food to avoid etc are advised for patients to prevent recurrence, as the suffers of sinusitis are more prone to the next one.

Tips to Prevent Sinusitis:

Mind the air.

Yes, In the last decade, the cases of sinusitis has gone up due to air pollution. So abstain from dust and toxic chemicals, which can trigger auto immune attack. Also severe air pollution ruptures mucus membranes to give rise to sinusitis.
Outbreak of allergic Sinusitis is more in particular season, so take care in preparing for allergic pollens in spring and flu and cold in winter seasons.

Air conditioner.

As one infected person inside an air conditioned room is potential infective source for others. So always clean filters and ducts of air conditioners regularly. Maintain room temperature at 22-23 C .

Smoking and personal hygiene.

Avoid smoking, as exposure to irritants like cigarette smoking or cigar smoke increases the chance of nasal allergy. Also maintain personal hygiene to avoid any infections. Brushing twice a day keeps pathogen build up at bay. Avoid contact with people who have upper respiratory infections like cold, flu etc.

Care on Anti biotic use.

As anti-biotic’s are over prescribed in India, do not over-do antibiotics, as antibiotics can only help in case of bacterial infection, but they won’t do anything for viral infections. Also taking too much antibiotics will build up resistance to the medication and will have a toll on the good gut bacteria.

Nutrition and rest.

when coming to sugar based foods, take it moderately do not over eat sweets. Add cruciferous organic vegetables like onion, cabbage and cauli flower. Also taking ginger and garlic in daily food minimizes the viral and bacterial infections. Get proper rest mentally and physically. Always elevate your head slightly to the spine axis.

Breathing Exercise.

According to siddha medicine system, irregularity in breathing patterns are also a causative factor for growth of polyps and deformation inside the nasal cavities. So practicing simple breathing exercises like pranayama from learned or qualified persons is a good preventive measure.