A sinus infection  or sinusitis is an inflammation of the air filled pockets in the bones of the face, of which we all have four pairs (sinuses in the face). Sinuses are a series of hollow cavities in the bone of the forehead, cheeks, and nose that produce mucus for the nasal passages and throat. The function of sinuses is three fold: 1) decrease the weight of the skull 2) warm the air we breathe 3) act as a mucus factory to filter the air. The mucus traps dirt and debris brought in by the air. Any dirty mucus is transferred out of the sinus via a drain hole called the ostia. Hence when sinuses are healthy and open they have a mucus lining that ensure warm, moist air, free from pollutants reaching the lungs.   However when infected, the sinus linings become swollen, inflamed and the body creates an excess of mucus.

Sinusitis is triggered when the lining of the sinuses becomes inflamed and swells. This can be a result of inhaling irritants such as chemicals or particles causing allergies. The ostia which is a drain hole may become plugged with the excess mucus and swollen tissues. This creates a negative optimal environment for viruses or bacteria to flourish. As the sinuses become filled and the lining more irritated, pressure builds up often causing headaches and that common stuffed up feeling. This is how the lining of the sinuses become compromised and damaged and the person becomes more vulnerable to further infections.  

Chronic sinus infections can be painful and include headaches, coughing and sore throat, clogged ears, watery eyes, and runny nose. The most common remedy usually involves antibiotics and, in some cases, steroids, which the body can build up resistance to over time. 

A better, more natural way to not only clear up sinus infections but help the body build up immunity against future infections can be through Chiropractic care. Chiropractic indirectly treats sinus infections and many patients have positive results with chiropractic adjustments. A chiropractic adjustment works to free up any nerve interference in the central nervous system (spine) to promote proper function. The function of the central nervous system is imperative for how the body functions overall. The better our nerves can transfer messages from the brain to the body’s systems and vice versa, the more in sync and healthy the body will be. Spinal misalignments cause nerve interference that can lead to all sorts of chaos within the body. Spinal misalignments can be the root cause of sinus inflammation and pain. Removing spinal misalignments not only reduces inflammation, but it also increases immune system function.  Sinus issues are prevented and fighting off colds and infections is easy for the body when the immune system is in optimal health. Thus, adjusting the cervical vertebrae (neck area) stimulates the nerves that control the function of the sinuses which naturally decrease pressure and increase drainage. Often patients experiencing sinus infection have a misalignment of the neck and back vertebrae causing the associated muscles to become swollen or spastic, cutting off proper lymphatic fluid drainage. Chiropractic adjustments reinvigorate the central nervous system’s optimal functioning, thus allowing for excess fluid to drain from the sinuses.

The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics held a study with 14 patients with sinus infections. Patients received manual chiropractic therapy on the second, third, and fifth week of a seven-week session all significantly improved after each chiropractic session reporting less pain and improvement of symptoms. The Study concluded chiropractic treatment may be a viable alternative to standard care for chronic sinus infections.

About Dr. Kaminsky & Craniosacral Therapy

Having a Chiropractic background since the year 2000, Dr. Kaminsky offers many methods of treatment with an emphasis on Craniosacral Therapy in NYC.

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a method focusing on the link between the cranium (head) and sacrum (the second to last bone at the base of your spine), scientifically proven to work in unison to pump fluid throughout the body, an unknown disruption of which can cause many health issues.  The craniosacral mechanism pumps vital fluid called cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) through the body and in a sense energetically lubricates the joints, tissues, organs; basically all cells of the body. It is the driving force of all your body’s systems of function; including maintaining the tone of your muscles.

The Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord) are surrounded with CSF generating energetic rhythmic impulses of fluid delicately pumping throughout your body’s parts “breathing” the movement of life. This measurable rhythm of moving fluid, like the heart rhythm, pulse rhythm, breathing rhythm is the foundational “blueprint” and primary principle of our real-time state of our health. 

Compromises of our rhythmic movements of fluid flow correlates to the impulse restrictions in the system which the body is unable to overcome or self-correct. This is the reason why we have “dis-ease”, symptoms, conditions, basically all ailments.  This is where the skill of an experienced craniosacral therapist becomes valuable.  By placing his or her hands on your body the practitioner can feel, detect, evaluate, and facilitate correction of these restrictive arrhythmic impulses.

The craniosacral therapist helps your rhythm restore and renew in compromised areas allowing for healing to take place of sensory, motor, musculoskeletal, neurological disorders, symptoms, conditions and pain.  To learn more, visit the other pages on this website. Call to schedule your healing treatment with Dr. Kaminsky.