Orange-red mucus...sign of a sinus infection, or something else?

Sinusitis is really very easy to deal with if you understand a couple of basic points. First, you don't want to kill only SOME of the bacteria. Different antibiotics kill different bacteria. When you take one, you kill only some and the others take over their space leaving a fauna that is more difficult to kill. Second, all sinuses have fungus. These guys insulate the bacteria from your immune system and keep them out of reach of the antibiotics. Antibiotics won't kill fungus. So, you need to kill the fungus. What you need is something to spray directly on the infected tissues, directly on the fungus and bacteria that kills all types of bacteria and the fungus as well. Doing this brings the entire sinus area into balance and returns the control to your immune system. I use Sinus Relief by Nature's Rite to do this and I will never use anything else. It is a blessing to have found.

I realise this message is probably too late for your friend, but for any others who come across this thread I'd like to say:

If your friend is considering using a neti pot for her sinusitis then she should be using one with hypertonic saline rather than with isotonic saline which is the norm. Hypertonic solutions are less comfortable than isotonic ones but have far greater health benefits espescially for those with conditions like sinusitis.

Okay, so.. Virgina. I have to point out that it is quite obvious that you copied/pasted from WebMD and then added/edited your post to better adhere to this persons question. There's no Denying that.

Regardless, though, I don't see what is wrong in doing so. You helped someone for the greater good, and I highly doubt THEY care where you got your information. You got the information to them and that's all that matters.

I'm sure that's all Dr. Rod Whoever ever wanted--for the "patient" to get the help they seek.

So you two "Anonymous's" can calm down. K? K.

Dear Anon, I have personally never heard of Dr Moser until today nor have I used WebMD for purpose of researching educational information on behalf of our EmpowHer readers. It would be inaccurate on my part to credit a source I do not access at all. If Dr. Moser thinks along the same lines as what I posted, then my posting seems to have greater validity as he is an expert in this field (I just learned that today).

I am a doctoral student in Natural Health and Wellness and I have access to multiple medical resources, text books, and related libraries. This, along with personal knowledge I have gained in this area serves as my basis for preparing responses to our readers.

With a husband with ALS and on a trache and using a vent to breath, I have spent hundreds of hours researching a way to reduce mucus formation that can result on aspiration or pneumonia (the main cause of death among ALS patients). As such, I am VERY familiar with all the different colors, textures, odors, etc of mucus produced and stored in the respiratory system. I am in constant alert to changes to my husband's mucus production! My personal quest for gaining more knowledge about this common problem among those diagnosed with ALS has taken me to research multiple sources of information for the past 3 years. This has educated me to more effectively managed my husband's 24/7 respiratory secretions. I am now an expert on my own right!

I appreciate Anon's comments, but I am afraid Dr Moser was not my primary reference for the posting above nor do I visit WEBMED at all. However, I do appreciate the feedback and learning more about Dr Moser's work.

Ditto on the WebMD comment. You should reference your sources if you are going to copy and paste Coach. Quotes would also be a nice addition.

So, is Coach Virginia Dr. Rod Moser from WebMD?

http://boards.webmd.com/webx?THD@@.89af7272!thdchild=.89af7272/1

Michelle, thank you for the kind words. Neti pots are really great. People who practice yoga use it on a regular basis. I bought one just to have it handy in case I ever need it.

I am glad your friend started her course of antibiotics, sinus infections can get pretty nasty and chronic. She may want to consider using the neti pot routinely as a preventative measure. Most health food stores sell them.

Thank you Coach Virginia, the knowledge you show in your comments never ceases to amaze me. I appreciate your time and wisdom so much. That makes sense that dark mucous would indicate it was sticking around in the body for awhile. I double checked with my friend, and the orange gunk was definitely coming from her nose and not her lungs.

She tried a lot of saline solution this morning and got a bunch of it out, but then it kept on coming and her face was really uncomfortable, so since the weekend is coming up she did decide to see her doctor for some antibiotics. She was, as she suspected, diagnosed with a sinus infection and given a prescription. The PA who saw her also suggested a Neti Pot, which she was already considering buying. But that could be a whole other post, I have heard so much about that product! I emailed her tonight and she's already feeling better after just one dose of the antibiotics and her face and teeth no longer hurt.

Michelle, I have heard and read about orange or dark mucus before. For the most part, darker mucous indicates "stagnation" due to time left in the body, but does not necessarily imply that this is an infection. Since the mucus is coming from her nose and not being coughed up from the lungs, it sounds like there is something going on in the sinus. The best thing to do in this case is try some saline nasal sprays and keep an eye on it. If the orange/darker mucous keeps up, your friend will need to see her doctor. Persistent, orange/dark mucous could indicate sinusitis.