As a physician, very day I hear the horror stories of the bad effects of taking antibiotics for sinus disease. Some persons end up with a vaginal infection, others with a bad taste throat inflammation. This is because the antibiotic has killed off the good bacteria, and this allows fungus to grow. Normally your good bacteria keeps the fungus in check.

Actually it is quite common to culture someones nose after a course of antibiotic and find a growth of fungus. Now, after treating for a sinus bacterial infection, the doctor has to treat for the nasal fungus infection in addition to the vaginal one.

The stomach distress from the antibiotic can remain for quite some time with nausea, bloating and even diarrhea. Taking yogurt and probiotics after a course of antibiotic is helpful, but it may take three months for return of the normal good bacteria of the intestinal tract. Part of this delay may be due to the chlorine in the public drinking water. If you are taking probiotics to restore your good bacteria, consider using bottled water free of chlorine to speed the probiotic effect. You want to speed that recovery because a healthy intestinal tract helps your immune system.

Because of the overuse of antibiotics, in 2010 we have bacteria that have become resistant to various antibiotic compounds. This makes it necessary to increase the dose of drugs given to the patient, and continue use of the antibiotic for a much longer duration. Two weeks of antibiotic used to be a standard dose. Now its often six weeks of treatment. Of course, this raises the number of bad events caused by the drug.

In treating any sinus infection the goal is to reduce the number of bacteria sufficiently so that the body can heal itself. Therefore, pulsatile nasal/sinus irrigation is a first choice because the pulse action is more effective than irrigation with pots or squeeze bottles at getting the bacteria out of the nose and sinuses. With pulsatile irrigation you dont have the backflow problem with contamination that plagues pot and bottle users.

In resistant chronic sinusitis, often there is a growth of biofilm. This is a sticky gelatinous mass that hides and protects the bacteria. Biofilm protects the bacteria from ordinary good white cells and antibiotics. Pulsatile irrigation is best for their removal.

Pulsatile irrigation is used for nasal/sinus irrigation at a pulse rate that is harmonius to the normal pulse rate of nasal cilia. These are the tiny cilia or oars that pulse at a fast rate to move bacteria out of the nose and sinuses. By activating these nasal cilia, they can get rid of the bacteria on their own and heal the sinus infection. When the body heals itself this way, it is better prepared for any future bacterial invasion.

If the chronic sinus disease is secondary to a fungus in the nose, generally the symptoms come from the bodys protective mechanism the eosinophiles that produce a product called Major Basic Protein. This protective product is made to kill fungus growth. However, it is highly irritating to the nasal membranes and gives symptoms like a sinus infection. The doctors at Mayo clinic showed that, even though the fungus which is extremely prevelant may not be the problem, the Major Basic Protein is causing symptoms and should be removed. By removing this product, pulsatile irrigation can give quick relief.

Because of biofilm, the pulse action of nasal/sinus irrigation may not be sufficient to get rid of all the invading bacteria. Therefore, the saline used for irrigation is supplemented by adding Baby Shampoo to the saline solution. First you add one teaspoon of salt or enhanced salt to 500 ml of warm water. The basin of the pulsatile irrigator is plainly marked at 500 ml. for this purpose. Then add one teaspoonful of the baby shampoo to make a one percent solution. This is the correct mixture for nasal/sinus use.

Note that the shampoo is primarily for the biofilm. If the material exiting from your nose is no longer colored you can stop the addition of the shampoo.

For example when pulsatile irrigation is used for allergy to remove pollen and IgE from the nose for allergy relief, there is no advantage to adding the shampoo. When pulsatile irrigation is used for cold prevention, here too the shampoo is not indicated.

It is troubling to realize that no new antibiotics have been produced in the past few years. Actually, there doesnt seem to be any in process of being developed. Yet, the number of resistant organisms is increasing steadily. This is due to the improper use of antibiotics. Some doctors simply increase the daily dose and the number of days to take the drugs. Because of bacterial drug resistance, simply upping the dose of the antibiotic may not work.

Why are drug resistant bacteria increasing? Some patients simply stop the antibiotic when they feel better. Another might deliberately reduce the dose they are taking and give a few pills to any family member that gets sick. Or the patient may take one half the prescription and save the other half in case it is needed in the future. Or the insurance coverage only allows a week of antibiotic, whereas two weeks are needed. All these events allows the bacteria to develop resistance to the drug.

Therefore, using a non-antibiotic treatment is best so that you avoid growing resistant bacteria. To clear a sinus infection without taking an antibiotc:

A Lower the bacterial count by pulsatile irrigation.
B. Get rid of biofilm by adding baby shampoo to the saline nasal/sinus pulsatile irrigation
C. Use pulsatle irrigation to restore good cilia movement so that the cilia get rid of the bacteria.
D. Restore normal intestinal flora to aid immune factors.
E. Take adequate fluids.
F. Get good sleep.
G. Proper. rest

There are so many advantages to clearing a sinus condition without antibiotics that all patients should be encouraged to use this method. Remember, the patient has to help too with adequate rest and proper diet and sleep habits