An effective sinus infection treatment always comes in handy in alleviating the symptoms of sinusitis. It can either cause symptoms to improve for a significant period or to subside completely. However, while all treatments are directed towards symptom reduction, the efficacy of each treatment is largely influenced by the nature of its properties. This is where treatments differ and this also explains why treatments have varying effects. In general, a sinus infection treatment falls under either of the two broad categories of treatment – conventional medicine and alternative therapies.

Conventional Sinus Infection Treatment Options

Amoxicillin, prednisone, nasal sprays, inhaled antibiotics, you name it. Conventional medicine has it all. This is the catch-all for all treatments and therapies usually recommended by physicians or are available in pharmacies. A sinus infection treatment of this type is often determined after the diagnosis of sinus infection. This type calls for a treatment that is systematic. It also follows a pattern that is hinged on the severity of the patient's condition, the body's response to previous treatments used, and the effects of the treatment.

Improving your sinusitis symptoms the conventional way involves using any of the following sinus infection treatment options: Decongestant (oral or nasal) that works to remove any obstruction in air passages; anti-inflammatory drug that relieves the inflammation and inhibits the causes of inflammation; antibiotic, which is used to alleviate symptoms caused by bacteria; and, expectorant, which effectively expels excessive mucus that clogs the linings of air passages. Some severe cases of chronic sinusitis, such as those that show signs of serious infection and possible complications, necessitate invasive therapies like surgery to prevent the spread of infection in neighboring healthy tissues.

Alternative Sinus Infection Treatment Options

The options presented by alternative medicine, although they may take some getting used to, are not necessarily less effective than their mainstream counterparts. In fact, if anecdotal evidence is in any way a parameter in measuring the efficacy of a sinus infection treatment that belongs to this category, it is a safe bet that alternative therapies offer very attractive treatment options against sinus infection. Whereas medications can dish out long term and continuous symptom relief, alternative therapies like the use of neti pots to promote nasal irrigation, herbs for nasal decongestion, or more holistic approaches like yoga and acupuncture allows minor symptoms to improve immediately. The only downside to using alternative methods is that there is no guarantee that relief will last long. Nevertheless, these make for a good support to over-the-counter drugs and prescription therapies that were designed with long-term treatment in mind.

Whether alternative treatments are more effective in improving the symptoms of sinusitis than over-the-counter drugs is still a subject of debate. However, one thing is clear – these can be combined to produce a very effective sinus infection treatment. After all, it boils down not on the differences in methods used, but in the results achieved by using the methods.