Sinus Infection Question
Hi Ted, I have a severe sinus infection from either a cold or other allergy. It has moved from my head to my chest. I coughed so much yesterday my ribs now hurt. I am taking the following Presription & OTC Remedies; Thyrolar 2grain (for severe hypothyroidism); Excedrin (1 Tablet 1 or 2 times daily as aspirin with caffiene); Percogesic (2 tablets 1 or 2 times day for pain in ribs); Mucinex 400mg (2 Tablets every 8 hours) to keep congestion broken up. I am also taking the following homeopathic remedies; Lime Juice, Baking Soda, Asorbic Acid, along with 4 drops Deionized Iodine (for Thyroid) 1 time daily (in the morning on an empty stomach); ACV w/honey (2 times daily); Turmeric 720mg (2 tablets 1 time daily); Zinc 25mg (2 tablets 1 time daily); Potassium 100mg (1 time daily); Magnesium Orate 500mg (2 tablets 1 time daily with Potassium & Zinc); Selenium 100mcg (1 tablet 1 time daily for Thyroid); also taking 1 capsule Organic Bovine Adrenal for Adrenal's support due to Hypothyroidism. I am still suffering from the congestion and coughing, so last night I decided to try the Inhaling Hydrogen Peroxide. I emptied a Saline Spray Bottle and filled it with 3% Peroxide (no additives) and used it. The first spray caused my nose to burn, my eyes to water and I started sneezing. I blew my nose and clear mucous came out. I continued to inhale 3 or 4 more times, each time it burned severly. About 7 hours later I tried it again, still severe burning in nose. I awoke this morning with the right side of my nostril bleeding (it has since stopped). I have not tried to use the Peroxide again. Do I need to dilute the 3% Peroxide to stop the burning, or what other treatments would you recommend I try? Thank you, Lori
Dear Lori:
The single most common mistakes of people using Hydrogen peroxide to deal with sinus infection is to use a 3% solution which is A SERIOUS MISTAKE THAT could result in nose bleeding. The concentration is way too high and must be diluted with water.
Also some small amount of salt is also needed to be added, where the taste should equal to normal salinity of the mucus so a rough estimate is about between 1%-3% at , which happens is close to sea water concentration also.
There are two ways of use, the use as a nose drop or the use as an inhalant. Inhalant is breathed through the mouth but as a nose drop the general requirements are different. Even if used as a humidifier or whatever, the preferred concentration should stand at 1% while as a nose drop it should never exceed 0.5%.
As to the H2O2 concentration, even when I used a dog mange I make sure the solution is NEVER exceeds 1% solution. In case of a sinus infection where the peroxide solution is used the concentration is always 0.5% never 3%!!! It is six times my maximum dose!
To prepare a 0.5% solution, where the bottle 3% H2O2 is about 30 cc, the math is to know how much water is added is :
Where C1 is Beginning Concentration 3% H2O2 or .03 Where Amt1 is Beginning cc (milliliter) 30 cc Where C2 is the desired concentration 0.5% or .005
We plug into the equation:
'((C1*Amt1)/C2) - Amt1 = Amount of Water to add
((.03*30)/.005) - 30 = 150 cc
To check wether this formula is correct or not:
A 150 cc water plus original solution of H2O2 had 29.1 cc of water ((100%-3%) of 30 cc = 29.1 of water) So the amount of water is 150 29.1 = 179.1 cc Pure H2O2 has about .03*30 = 0.9 cc of 100% H2O2.
Therefore the ending concentration expressed as % is 0.9 cc/(179.1 cc) x 100 = .50%, which is close enough!
Some have refuted me on the above formulas, that it is incorrect, but it checks out anyway.
I would therefore assume that the small bottle are 30 cc's or milliliter, but in case there are other measurements the formula mentioned here still applies. That 150 cc of water is needed to be added to the 3% H2O2 30 cc concentration to get the final 180 cc of 0.5% H2O2 concentration.
1.5% H2O2 will lead to skin inflammation the dividing zone although I suspect skin inflammation starts whenever H2O2 concentration exceeds 1.4% to be even more precise. However a rough estimates of using H2O2 is 1.5% and above is where H2O2 concentration is too high, would generally be sufficient for most purposes.
Therefore the maximum concentration for external use is calculated to be 1%, while a maximum concentration for internal use is 0.5% limit. At this concentration the problem should not exist from such use. Hospitals used 3% for external application and not for internal one, so their use is somewhat too strong in my opinion since I used half that for external purposes at 1.5% concentration.
As to general sinus problems, a vitamin C of 1000 to 1500 mg x 3 times a day taken for a month, plus twice a week vitamin A, and D should reduce the sinus problem within a month. Zinc and magnesium were also found to be supportive.
However, if the sinus condition is severe, I have found BHT supplements to be useful and that required anywhere between only one single dose or three dose (or 3 days at one dose per day) needed to stop the sinus problem, where common dose is estimated to be between 250 to 500 mg. per dose per day.
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