Yoga vs. Rhinitis

Here’s a poorly sourced health article from that bastion of poorly sourced health news – The Huffington Post – that might actually have some merit. Entitled “Yoga for Allergies,” the piece attempts to explain how yoga could help you achieve allergy relief.

What’s good about the article is that its general underpinnings are sound: One can indeed alleviate sinus pain by relaxing, stretching and straightening. The mechanics involved aren’t controversial – it’s well known, for instance, that reducing inflammation systemically can reduce sinus pain. Relaxation can also be a boon to breathing, and certain gentle ways of stretching abdominal muscles may provide some relief after nights of uninterrupted hacking.

Somewhat less sound is the suggestion that yoga alone can achieve these goals. Relaxation, bending and straightening, even breathing in a controlled way, may all bring about a similar cascade of healing responses in the body. That’s good news if you don’t have an hour or a rubber mat to spare.

But if you experience lasting, persistent pressure from nasal rhinitis or sinusitis, it may be time to try something more permanent. Call your ENT specialist or a sinus surgeon to discuss some more powerful interventions.

Tags: allergies, huffpo, rhinitis, sinus surgery, yoga