If you are experiencing a sinus infection, one treatment to help break up the mucus is contrast hydrotherapy. Contrast hydrotherapy helps to stimulate the immune system and increase circulation. When heat is applied to the area surrounding the sinuses, the blood vessels dilate. When cold is applied, they constrict. This alternation of dilation and constriction creates a pumping action that helps increase circulation in the sinus area, an area which is otherwise hard to access. It also brings the body’s awareness to the area, supporting its ability to heal.

Equipment Needed:

  • Three (3) washcloths
  • Bowl of cold water
  • Bowl of hot water

Procedure:

  1. Fill one bowl with hot water and another bowl with cold water.  The water temperature in each bowl should not exceed your tolerance level when applied to the face.  You may put ice cubes in the cold water for a cooler effect.  The greater the difference in water temperature the greater the reaction and benefit you will attain.
  2. Put two clean washcloths in the warm bowl of water and 1 clean washcloth in the cold water.  
  3. Wring out a warm cloth and place it on your cheeks and forehead where your maxillary and frontal sinuses are respectively.
  4. Leave the warm washcloth on for 2 minutes.  
  5. Then wring out the second warm cloth and place it on top of the cloth already on your sinuses.  Then flip the cloths so the most recently placed cloth is now directly on your sinuses and place the old cloth back into the hot water.
  6. Wring out the cold cloth, place it on top of the warm cloth on your sinuses and flip the washcloths so the cold cloth is on your sinuses.  Leave the cold cloth on for 30 seconds.  
  7. Wring out a warm cloth and place it on the cold washcloth then flip them so the warm cloth is directly on your sinuses.  Then place the cold cloth back into the cold water.
  8. Repeat steps 4 through 7, 3-5 times.  On the last round, you should end with the cold cloth on your face.  You do not need to put the warm cloth back on.  Note: You may need to occasionally add more hot water to the hot water bowl in order to keep it warm.  The overall response will be warming and energizing.
  9. Consider following the contrast therapy with a neti pot treatment that has body temperature water as the solution.