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Garlic In Nose For Sinus

Is Using Garlic Cloves In The Nose Safe

Can Garlic Cloves Clear Out Your Sinuses? Fact or CAP! #shorts

In a word: No!

Dr. Lizz Kinyua, MD and consultant for Oh So Spotless, warns that inserting anything into the nose can potentially be deadly.

“Putting objects in your nose can lead to upper airway obstruction, and you may need a surgical procedure to get them removed. Other complications may be choking and gasping if the garlic lodges and obstructs the lower airway, which can be fatal,” she said. “If the piece of garlic is small, it may fall and settle in the lung, where it can cause inflammation, infection, and eventually lung fibrosis.”

This TikToker got garlic stuck in her nose and noted that it really stung.

“The garlic in the nostril can also irritate the mucosa, leading to worsening congestion, trauma, and, worse, bleeding.”

When To See A Doctor

If symptoms persist longer than 10 days, Dr. Mehdizadeh says you may require a trip to the doctor. Also, if symptoms worsen or you experience a high fever, shortness of breath, or a severe headache, dont wait until the 10 days to see your doctor or another healthcare provider. You may be dealing with a more serious illness that requires medical treatment.

One final note: TikTok videos are certainly entertaining and a great way to pass the time. And while some of the information shared through social media is based on science, many recommendations leave people with more questions than answers.

Plus, if taken out of context or not backed by medical experts, the advice can be dangerous. If youre curious about the latest health trend or tip you view online, make an appointment with your doctor or another healthcare provider. They can separate fact from fiction.

Best Ways On How To Use Garlic For Sinus Infection Treatment

1. Garlic For Sinus Infection With Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar possesses many vitamins like B1, B2, A, and E as well as minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium, all of which help clear sinus cavities and decrease allergy symptoms. When taken orally, apple cider vinegar comes with high pH levels breaking up mucus and clearing airways, thereby ridding sinus infection. Besides, apple cider vinegar consists of natural antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal agents and is also an immune system booster, which quickly clears sinuses. Moreover, thanks to its antiseptic properties, apple cider vinegar clears mucus and combats against sinus infection. Last but not least, it balances the acidic and alkaline levels in your body and alleviates sinus pain. Heres the recipe that shows you the way to use apple cider vinegar and garlic for sinus infection:

Ingredients:

  • 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar

Directions:

  • Take a large bowl at first and add 2 cups of water. Then, boil it and remove the flame.
  • Now, crush four garlic cloves and add it to that water. After that, add 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar.
  • Finally, inhale this vapor and steam.

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Why Are People Putting Garlic Up Their Noses

The “garlic nose hack” has taken off over the last few weeks, with people attempting to unclog their sinuses. TikTok users are peeling cloves of garlic and placing them inside each nostril for between 15-30 minutes. Once the time is up, the cloves are removed and snot/mucus is meant to stream out of your nose.

TikToker @rozalinekatherine went viral with 4.4 million views, and a caption reading: Saw on TikTok, if you put garlic in your nose it unclogs your sinuses.” Another video from @hwannah5 has been viewed almost 30 million times.

The trend appears to work for some, but not others. Some TikTokers have noted how much the cloves hurt their noses and gave them a burning sensation. There’s also a lot of videos where people’s noses are streaming after removing the garlic.

Does Putting Garlic In Your Nose Get Rid Of Nasal Congestion

Doctors Warn People Not to Stuff Raw Garlic up Their Noses to Clear ...

So should you try this garlic clove in your nose solution? It’s definitely not accomplishing what you might think.

“When you’re congested, you do have a lot of mucus,” Katie Phillips, MD, assistant professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, tells Health. People feel like they’re not getting enough air through their nose, or they’re having a lot of drip down the back of their throat or the front of their nose, “and garlic itself is not going to exactly help with that nasal congestion,” she says. Instead of clearing your sinuses you’re obstructing them, Dr. Phillips explains.

“If you’re blocking the ability of the sinuses to drain, you’re going to get a backup of mucus,” she says. Once the obstruction is removedin this instance, a pair of garlic cloves”that goo is going to come out.”

Garlic isn’t active topically, so placing it in your nostrils won’t break down congestion, says Dr. Phillips. But it might cause some irritation of the mucous membranes in the nose.

Plus, inserting garlic in your nostrils poses several safety hazards. “You’re putting something in your nose that has the potential to get stuck there,” which could do damage to the nasal cavity, she explains. It could pose a choking hazard if it travels down the back of your throat or a breathing problem if the garlic travels to your trachea and you accidentally inhale it.

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How To Relieve A Stuffy Nose:

For those dreading the return of colds and stuffy noses, there is a remedy that might ease the discomfort of congestion. Doctors recommend either saline nasal sprays or salt water irrigation, using something like a neti pot. While it might not cure the congestion, it will provide relief to swollen, achy sinus cavities.

Just a gentle saline solution, using a neti pot, probably has some of the best results, Durkin said. It cleans, helps soothe the irritated lining of the nose and because its what we can an isotonic solution, it doesnt lead to trauma to the mucosa.

Garlic Olive Oil And Sea Salt

If you want to prevent the infection from spreading and reduce the postnasal drip then you can follow this process.

  • Peel and crush 2 garlic cloves into a paste.
  • Add few drops of olive oil and a pinch of sea salt into it.
  • Mix well and consume it to get relief from sinus infection.
  • Repeat the remedy regularly to speed up the healing process of sinus infection.

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What Does Help A Stuffy Nose

If you’re struggling with congestion and blocked sinuses, either from hay fever or a summer cold, the best first port of call is to try a nasal steroid spray, or , nasal irrigation with saline solution – essentially sterile salt water.

You can buy saline nasal irrigation products or you can do it yourself at home as per this NHS guide, with a solution of salt, bicarb soda, and boiled then cooled water.

Generic painkillers can help with headaches and pain associated with blocked sinuses.

If you’re looking for hay fever symptom relief, you can also check out our guide to natural hay fever remedies to find out which ones to consider and which are a waste of money.

If you’re at all unsure, it’s best to discuss options with your local pharmacist or your GP, who can advise you on the right treatment for you.

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Garlic to relief clogged nose

And, the injured lining of the nose might also cause a snotty reaction.

Trauma to the mucosa or irritation to the mucosa actually increases a runny nose, Dr. Emily Durkin, a pediatric surgeon at Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital, told TODAY.

The experts suspect that people turn to garlic because they believe it works like other strong smells, such as eucalyptus.

What theyre trying to do is use the odorants from the garlic itself to cause a vasoconstrictive effect, which causes the nasal mucosa to decongest and which may open up the nasal passages, Dr. Anthony Del Signore, director of rhinology and endoscopic skull bases surgery at Mount Sinai Union Square in New York, told TODAY. The vasoconstriction allows for greater airflow.

But garlic in nostrils doesnt quite work like that. Thanks to its caustic nature, its likely that garlic might cause irritation, burning and possibly even bleeding.

Garlic is a pretty strong substance, Dr. Dana Crosby, chair of the department of otolaryngology at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, told TODAY. Its almost causing a kind of dermatitis type reaction where the mucosa gets really irritated.

Crosby said she doesnt think this irritation will lead to long-term problems unless people do it repeatedly, such as every time theyre congested.

It actually could cause some permanent damage and some scarring of the mucosa, she said.

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The Video Has Since Then Received More Than 5 Lakh Likes And 35 Thousand Shares Viewers However Were Divided On The Hack And Were Also Slightly Repulsed By The Visuals

While TikTok is a goldmine of life hacks, not all of them look or feel appealing. Take for instance Rozaline Katherine, a 29-year-old from Arizona, US. She went viral after stuffing her nose with garlic cloves in a bid to clear her sinuses.

And where did she stumble upon this hack??Yes, it was on TikTok.

I didnt think it was actually going to work which is why I filmed it more as a joke, Katherine told The Mirror. It didnt burn or hurt and I just kept touching it to keep it in place and waited. After 10-15 minutes I could tell my nose was starting to run so I took the garlic out. I was expecting it to be a little runny but then tons of boogers just started coming out and I was totally shocked. I didnt smell any garlic afterwards either I think my sinuses were flushed out.

Take a look at the video here:

Garlic Can Provide Effective Relief From Sinus Try It Now

Written by Bhakti Paun Sharma | Published : July 27, 2015 1:57 PM IST

Is your sinusitis giving you a tough time? Using medication to treat it every time isn t a very good idea. Garlic is one of the wonder foods and has been used since time immemorial to treat not just cough and cold, but also to keep other infections at bay. Read about 15 other health benefits of garlic.

How does garlic help?

Compounds like Allicin present in garlic exhibit antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Other compounds like alliin and ajoene present in garlic have a healing effect on your circulatory and immunological systems.

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So What Exactly Happens When You Put Garlic Up Your Nose Because Clearly Snot Does Come Out Dr Farmer Said That The Garlic Is Actually Blocking The Sinus Passage Not Clearing It And Your Body Will Produce More Snot As A Reaction To The Garlic Oils From The Garlic Are An Irritant And Worsen Congestion And Drainage Inserting Garlic Into The Nostrils Causes The Nose And Sinuses To Be Temporarily Blocked The Nose And Sinuses React Naturally To Blockage And Irritants By Producing More Mucus As A Protective Reaction She Explained

original sound – Tonia L Farmer, MD

She added, “Garlic can be crushed and added to food as a seasoning. It can be placed in olive oil and eaten or used as a spread. Garlic can be boiled and inhaled as a sinus steam or sipped as tea. Garlic supplements can also be taken daily with other vitamins, but check with your physician to make sure adding garlic supplements is safe for you. But _too much garlic can _increase your risk of bleeding, especially if you are taking blood thinner medication, and it can worsen gastroesophageal reflux.”

Raw Garlic For Sinus Infection

How to Clear a Stuffy Nose Instantly

Garlic is regarded as one of the most important and potent medicinal herbs and superfoods. It is used commonly for multiple ailments including sinus infection. To use garlic for sinus infection, what you need to do:

Ingredient:

  • Firstly, you take these garlic cloves and peel off the skin.
  • Then, you place them into your mouth and chew them.
  • Finally, you swallow them completely.
  • You should continue eating these garlic cloves as often as possible in order to cure stuffiness and the discomfort that are caused by it.
  • Ensure that you do not try this way with your empty stomach.
  • Or, you may simply eat soups, pizzas, and garlic bread, or use it in curries, salads, etc. to cure sinusitis.
  • Daily consumption of these garlic cloves in any form will definitely help you in curing sinus infection.

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Is It Safe To Put Garlic In Your Nose

Garlic has many health benefits but sticking a raw clove up your nose to get rid of a cold is not among them.

There are some complications that could arise from it, Dr. Sindwani, and in the end, its also just not going to help you. And why stick garlic up your nose if its not going to work?

But in case the thought of extra mucus isnt enough to turn you off to this trend, here are the other potential risks.

What Are Safer More Effective Methods Of Treating Colds

As for methods to treat colds, Dr. Kinyua recommends honey, hot water, and lemon as a natural immune booster to help clear mucus, as well as multivitamins to help boost your immunity. Antihistamines are also safe, but she notes that they are best when used if your allergies are “superimposed on the cold.”

Dr. Glass also recommends drinking hot liquids with honey to ease cold and sinus symptoms and says that vaporizers, humidifiers, hot showers, and good old-fashioned rest can also provide relief. Swimmers, take heed: She also recommends avoiding chlorinated pools while you’re feeling unwell.

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Of course, treating symptoms is limiting, as Dr. Timothy Wong, MD points out: For lasting relief and to just get better , it’s important to treat the underlying problem causing your symptoms. Seeing your family doctor or an otolaryngologist can help you determine a diagnosis and treatment plan to recover fully and breathe easily again.

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Garlic With Tomato Juice

This process not only helps to get relief from the sinus infection but also repairs the damaged mucus membranes in the sinus cavity.

  • Into a saucepan, add 1 cup of tomato juice and bring it to boil for few minutes.
  • Now, add 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce and a pinch of celery salt.
  • Stir well and let it simmer for few minutes.
  • Turn off the heat and pour the solution into a glass.
  • Drink this juice while it is in lukewarm temperature.
  • Repeat this remedy 2 times in a day to clear the sinus infection quickly.

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How to Do a Garlic Nasal Rinse? Dr.Berg

Shoving garlic cloves up your nose is snot a good idea.

One of the new years most hazardous trends isnt just odious it reeks of pseudoscience, experts said.

The harebrained hack has unofficial healers corking up their nostrils with raw garlic cloves for approximately 10 to 15 minutes in attempt to unclog a stuffy snout.

After the user removes the garlic, a flash flood of mucus gushes from their noses, prompting the semblance and sensation of actual decongestion. But whats really happening is far from therapeutic, Erich Voigt, associate professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at NYU Langone Health, told The Post.

Its terrible, the ear, nose and throat expert said.

The body wants to immediately expel the garlic and its chemicals, so its creating an overflow of mucus to flush out that irritant, he continued, noting that the new crop of mucus is adding to the collection of clotted phlegm that originally caused the nasal congestion.

And because the nose is plugged up, the mucus cant circulate like it would if you were breathing in and out, its just accumulating, he said.

In other words, that deluge of snot TikTokers observed is merely a product of their own doing. Its not the mucus that was trapped in there due to the disease or virus, its the production of mucus meant to get the garlic out, Voigt said.

Besides, the ear, nose and throat doc added, Its not advisable to put any food item up your nose.

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What To Do For Congestion Instead

Skip the garlic and stick to some of the old-fashioned, medically proven methods of getting rid of a cold. Colds are usually self-limited viral infections, Dr. Sindwani explains. Its best to treat them holistically with rest, hydration and nasal sprays or irrigations with saline.

If your cold persists, see your doctor, who may prescribe a nasal steroid spray or other medication and definitely not a clove of garlic.

Why Garlic Cloves In The Nose

Some TikTok users have shared videos of themselves with a clove of garlic in their nostril, a trick they say can relieve the nasal congestion associated with sinuses, colds and allergies. When the clove is removed, snot comes pouring out seemingly evidence that the trick works.

But Dr. Sindwani says blocking your nostril with a pungent piece of garlic can actually cause more mucus to build, which is what rushes out upon removal of the clove.

What youre doing is putting this irritant up your nose one with a very strong and noxious smell, he says. That irritates the lining of the nose, causing it to produce increased mucus while also trapping the mucus you already had.

In other words, youre kind of making the problem worse, not better.

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