SINUSITIS TEA

INTRODUCTION

Sinusitis is the inflammation of the sinuses and can be caused by a number of factors:

When sinusitis occurs, mucus production increases, ciliary action to remove debris decreases, the mucous membranes swell and block the openings of the sinuses into the nasal cavity. Pressure in the sinuses increase causing pain and headache.

INGREDIENTS

Euphrasia officinalis, Sambucus nigra (flowers), Achillea millefolium, Mentha piperita, Tilia europea and Zingiber officinale.

ACTION

Euphrasia officinalis tightens the mucous membranes, thereby, unblocking the openings and reducing sinus pressure. Tilia europea calms the mind and reduces sinus headache. Sambucus nigra and Zingiber officinale work together to fight the infectious agent. Mentha piperita reduces the viscosity of mucus and allows drainage.

Sambucus nigra contains compounds that are active against flu viruses. The sesquiterpenes in Zingiber officinale have specific effects against cold viruses.

RESEARCH

Menthol, one of the constituents of Mentha piperita was found to be a high potent inducer of P450IIB1 (Friedli, Georges-Louis, 1992). This liver enzyme when stimulated increases detoxication by the liver.

Extract of Sambucus nigra inhibited replication of human influenza viruses type A/Shangdong 9/93 (H3N2), A/Beijing 32/92 (H3N2), A/Texas 36/91 (H1N1), A/Singapore 6/86 (H1N1), type B/Panama 45/90, B/Yamagata 16/88 and B/Ann Arbor 1/86. A placebo-controlled, double blind study was carried out on a group of individuals living in an agricultural community (kibbutz) during an outbreak of influenza B/Panama in 1993. Fever, feeling of improvement, and complete cure were recorded during 6 days (Zakay-Rones, Z. et al.,1995).

Three new antitumor sesquiterpenoids, achimillic acids A, B and C, were isolated as methyl esters from Achillea millefolium were found to be active against mouse P-388 leukemia cells in vivo (Tozyo T, et al. (1994).

In a study, acetone extract of ginger at 100 mg/kg p.o. significantly inhibited serotonin (5-HT) induced hypothermia. The active responsible was found to be shogoal. Shogoal, [6]-dehydrogingerdione, [8]- and [10]-gingerol were also found to have an anticathartic action (Huang Q, et al. (1990).

REFERENCES

Friedli, Georges-Louis (1992). See MSc Thesis, University of Surrey, England. The thesis can also be found at

Zakay-Rones, Z. et al. (1995). Inhibition of several strains of influenza virus in vitro and reduction of symptoms by an elderberry extract (Sambucus nigra L.) during an outbreak of influenza B Panama. J Altern Complement Med. 1(4):361-9

Tozyo T, et al. (1994). Novel antitumor sesquiterpenoids in Achillea millefolium. Chem Pharm Bull(Tokyo)May;42(5):1096-100

Huang Q, et al. (1990). The effect of ginger on serotonin induced hypothermia and diarrhea. Yakugaku Zasshi Dec;110(12):936-42

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FRIEDLI ENTERPRISES
Georges-Louis Friedli, PgDip., MSc., PhD.
georges-louis@friedli.com