Effective treatment for nasal odor

[friggy]

If you entered "nasal odor" into Google, you may have found yourself here.  You are in luck.  Here is what the people on this forum and a few of their medical providers have figured out so far.  The odor, in most cases, seems to be caused by anaerobic bacteria thriving in your sinuses.  The infection may or may not cause congestion. which is why your excellent doctor may not be able to detect it, so forgive him or her if they seem to indicate that you are crazy.

A neti pot or Neilmed Sinus Rinse probably won't be effective.  That's because they are only effective in the lower sinuses--the maxillary and ethmoid--due to gravity.  The nasal odor bacteria seem mostly to thrive in the upper sinuses, the frontal and sphenoid.  Unfortunately, at this time, the most effective way to wash out the bacteria, which will cure the problem, is a Flip-Turn Sinus Flush.  It is risky, because ideally it is done by bending over in a hot shower, but it can also be done outside on soft ground, in private of course.

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/2322

It sometimes takes many treatments to get rid of the odor, and you should continue for at least 3 days after the stink goes away to keep it from growing back.

Finally, there are some medical conditions not caused by infection that causes people to smell phantom smells.  I don't know much about those.


This discussion is related to Disturbing Nasal Odor.

[BerthaJ]

Hi friggy-- thanks for suggesting something.  Did your research say what kind of bacteria it is that get up in those upper sinuses?  Could it get there from the blood stream?  I try never to 'pick' my nose with my bare finger thereby introducing bacteria.  Could this bacteria be breathed in from contaminated air?  How is one to know if the shower head is free of bacteria?  Wouldn't a sanitary device with a quart of water be healthier to use. Could this be a fungal or mold type germ up in those sinuses as well?  Isn't the body suppose to destroy these germs, assuming one is in good health.... ?  Thanks for your help.

[friggy]

BerthaJ

Sorry I didn't see this sooner.  The fact is your sinuses are populated with various bacteria, but your mucus membranes and cilia get rid of them or keep them in check.  It's usually when you get a cold or other kind of acute infection is when everything gets clogged and the microbes take on a life of their own. The information about the anaerobic bacteria was provided by a poster, who got it from a research doctor who had the specific tests available, so I don't know particulars.

In most cases, once you wash out these microbes and the infected snot with a Sinus Flush, your body resumes to normal.  Like I've said, I had 5 years of the inability to breathe with my mouth closed, and I'm on my fourth straight year of turbo-clear sinuses, even with kids around.  I've had the same box of tissue for a year.