Using steam to loosen mucus for the relief of sinusitis problems is a remedy that's been around for years. And over those years, folks discovered that various herbs or essential oils added to the pot of steaming water makes steam more effective as a sinusitis solution.

Simply Use Steam Alone:

Precaution: these steam remedies for sinusitis problems work well, but of course always be sure you don't burn yourself. Proceed cautiously.

Bring a pot of water to a boil and then turn the heat off. Drape a towel over your head. Place your face over the steaming water with the towel draped over the sides of the pot. Make sure you get in the main stream of that moist warm air.

Or you might enjoy a nice, hot long shower more than the steam pot. Make sure you take time to breathe in the warm, moist air. The heat and moisture helps ease sinus pain by stimulating the drainage of mucus.

Now jazz up those sinusitis steam remedies:

Lemon thyme adds a bit of extra zip to the steam that helps clear the congestion and stuffy nose associated with sinus conditions even better than just plain old steam.

Simply put one-quarter cup of lemon thyme in four cups of water.

Bring this solution to a boil. Inhale the steam as recommended above utilizing the towel draped over your head to capture the aromatized steam. You may be surprised at how quickly thyme "flavored" steam relieves your congestion!

You can also do the same thing with the two herbs mullein and balm of Gilead. Add two tablespoons of mullein and one tablespoon of balm of Gilead to boiling water. Inhale the steam for clear sinus passages, but always guard against burning yourself with the hot steam.

Mix Eucalyptus oil in the steam pot for another sinusitis remedy that's highly acclaimed by natural health practitioners. Their patients, they say, find the nasal congestion breaks up readily with this therapy.

Shop for Eucalyptus oil, known as an essential oil, in health food stores and vitamin shops. Search for an Internet source if you cannot find it in a local store.

And remember, we're talking about eucalyptus oil, not camphor oil.

Heat a pot of water to boiling. Pour four to six cups of it into a large bowl.

Add two to three drops of the eucalyptus oil to the water. Cover your head with a towel. Bending over the water and essential oil mixture, close your eyes inhaling deeply. Stay under the towel for about 10 minutes.

Whenever you begin feeling too hot or uncomfortable, take the towel off of your head.

When you perform this particular therapy, be careful. First, you don't want to put any more than the suggested amount of oil in the mixture.

Second: You might feel some mild side effects from this sinusitis steam remedy. The side effect symptoms range from headache and dizziness to fatigue and nausea but usually last only a very brief time.

Completely avoid the eucalyptus steam remedy if you have a heart condition, problems with your central nervous system, or are pregnant.

There you have it. A lot of ways to enjoy the sinusitis steam solutions for your congested sinuses. Here's to breathing easier.