Sinusitis Books

This is undoubtly one of the most important issues facing the medical community today. The impact of this book is already far reaching and I am confident we will soon see a real turn-around in the ENT community in regards to these issue.
Point of fact: I just spoke to an Australian ENT, returned from training with the ex-president of the US Facial and Cosmetic Surgery Association who now agrees with the basic principals behind this book and "would not perform a partial inferior turbinate resection on a member of my family." And I was about to let my regular ENT perfom an 80% resection!... until I saw this book.
Get that. There's no denying this. It's real, and I pray for all the poor souls who will be inadvertantly butchered between now and when the new standard finally filters down into the offices of ENTs the world over.
Good luck Chris, and keep up the good work. Don't worry, by 2030 you'll probably have a bionic nose that can shoot lasers so you can go around zapping irresponsible ENTs.
They will call you: The Turbinator.
Bard
B )

If you are considering any sort of nasal/sinus surgery, you owe it to yourself to read this book first. I don't think there is much general awareness on turbinates and the important functions they provide, which is why many (including myself) get talked into over-aggressive turbinate reductions.

In this book, Chris does an excellent job of covering what your turbinates do, the problems he has experienced, ways to cope, surgical techniques to consider, home remedies and more. I think it should be required reading for all ENT's and Plastic Surgeons that perform turbinectomies.

Aside from the medical information, the book is also well written, and Chris's story is inspirational. Again, I would highly recommend reading this book before considering any nasal surgeries.

Dear Chris and Family,
Thank you for this most telling account of your journey through the maze of ENS; your efforts in providing comprehensive information about ENS and your personal account of the roads that have lead to finding hope is inspiring. It has been a companion when I have felt alone and has been the platform through which I find the strength to advocate strongly for informed consent and knowledge of ENS for any person who is entering into nasal surgery.
Warmest wishes to you.
Jackie G.
Patient of Reconstructive Nasal Surgery

This is a must read for anyone that has had or is considering sinus surgery!
If it has been suggested to you that sinus surgery can correct your problems you absolutely need to read this book and do your research! Complications to sinus surgery can be life-altering and the damage permanent. As a victim of aggressive sinus surgery I can attest that these symptoms are very much real and can alter your reality in ways that I never imagined. I believe a great many ENT's do not fully understand the extreme importance the nose and sinuses play in the quality of life. With good intentions they can often remove too much tissue and bone in effect leaving the nose with the inability to function normally with regards to nasal cycles,moisture control,airflow and the health of the lungs. Chris does a wonderful job in explaining the importance of a healthy nose and sinus and the roles each structure plays in nasal health. If you do not know what a Turbinate is or what it does READ THIS BOOK!

Chris has put alot of time and effort in detailing everything a sinus suffer should consider before having surgery. Thankfully the ENT field is slowly beginning to understand that a very conservative approach should be applied when doing surgery. Chris explains each option a patient should discuss with the doctor performing the surgery. Each method is reviewed and rated for the possible outcomes and the conservation of important nasal tissue and structures.

If you have had sinus surgery done and are having problems Chris has outlined things you can do to help relieve some of the symptoms. For those having ENS type symptoms there are things you can do to help improve your sinus health. Chris describes things that he has personally tried that work and what others have used to find relief. Those that suffer from ENS type symptoms can find some comfort in the new methods Chris discusses in his book, to help rebuild important turbinate structures that have been removed in previous surgeries. Chris has first hand knowledge of how Alloderm implants may help improve the quality of life of ENS patients. With research into stem cell therapy and tissue regeneration the future is brighter. The important point that Chris makes is that ENS can be prevented if a conservative approach is used. Once removed, turbinates do not grow back. Conservation of nasal tissue is essential!

I can't recommend this book enough. I think it should be required reading for all those practicing ENT's that perform sinus surgery. Anyone suffering from sinus problems can find solutions that may make surgery unnecessary. Those that have had surgery and find their problems even worse than before surgery can also benefit from therapies and techniques Chris has outlined in the book. If you are considering having sinus surgery and have spoken to others around you that have had surgery it's important that you ask what was actually performed. Chances are they can't go any further than to say hey had a deviated septum corrected. It's of utmost importance that you go into surgery knowing EXACTLY what will be preformed and by what method. I went in for deviated septum and came out with an EMPTY NOSE!

Bravo to Christopher Martin for bringing the devastating problem upfront for discussion and sharing his personal story so that we can learn and hopefully prevent this devastating problem.

Tom

I truly wish that this book had been available prior to my nasal surgeries. I did research, but nothing that would have prepared and informed me like Chris Martin's book. It is very detailed and heartfelt. For those who have already rolled the dice and lost with a nasal surgery, this book offers hope, support and many helpful suggestions. ENS is real! Even with a "conservative" surgery, it is still possible to experience a myriad of debilitating symptoms. Doctors are often dismissive and unhelpful. Hopefully this book will begin to turn that tide.

This is a life altering read about one of the most common and baffling problems. Dr. Josephson's approach to sinus relief is both new and innovative and gives the reader both hope and relief. The answers are so simple when put into use everyday.

After following Dr. Josephson's program and suggestions, my sinus problems improved significantly and I enjoy a new found breath of fresh air! Highly recommended it to my family and friends.

This book is very informative, but a lot of the book deals with how the sinuses work, and how they are subject to irritation. While this is not bad information, it is dealt with too often. I basically wanted this book for relief of my problems, and in that respect, it is quite thorough. However, just skim through the first few chapters to get ideas about correcting your sinus problems.

This book is approachable by a layperson and which covers most of what a sinus sufferer should know before seeking treatment. It provides a good overview of the anatomy, a brief description of surgical evaluation and intervention, and detailed descriptions of medications and recommended lifestyle adjustments

I'm a patient of Dr. Josephson and he strongly encourages patients to read this book so I read it. Before reading my review, I recommend you first read the best review I could find, written by Walt Ballenberger who is founder of PostNasalDrip, "a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers like himself". You can find the review at the following links: [..] Ballenberger's review identified a number of questions which were unanswered in his book. By talking with Josephson in person, I was able to get answers for some of them.

LASER
The book doesn't explain the tradeoffs of laser vs. traditional cutting instruments. Before Josephson, I saw an ENT who recommended laser to lightly cauterize the turbinates in order to reduce their tendency to swell when inflamed (the scarification reduces the membrane's elasticity). Dr Josephson is not a proponent of laser except in certain cases. Although a laser is self-cauterizing and therefore reduces bleeding, it causes heat damage to surrounding tissue (more than the damage caused by a cutting instrument) and instrument setup adds time/cost to the procedure. Only where the decrease in bleeding outweighs these costs is use of a laser justified (e.g. when the patient has many small polyps). I didn't ask him but I'd imagine that the thermal heat injury would likely cause more damage to mucus-producing goblet cells and mucus-transporting cilia cells than cutting tools.

SINUPLASTY
This book doesn't explain the tradeoffs of sinuplasty® vs. traditional cutting instruments. Sinuplasty® is a proprietary tool made by Acclarent which uses a thin balloon similar to an angioplasty balloon to open the sinus passages. As in heart vessels, the balloon is placed into position and inflated, then deflated and removed. According to Acclarent's description, this results in permanent widening of the critical areas leading into the sinuses while leaving the nose lining unharmed rather than destructing this lining as occurs in typical sinus surgery. I would have to imagine that if the pressure applied expands bone than it certainly will crush the membranes and must do some damage to them and the cilia which are so necessary to remove the infection and mucus (mucociliary clearance) which is the whole basis by which the sinuses protect you. When I asked Dr. Josephson about what the pressure does to the membranes he said that he knew of no studies that showed what the effect of the balloons on the membranes and cilia were. It turns out that Dr. Josephson is trained in sinuplasty but relies almost exclusively on FESS (endoscopic cutting instruments, as described in his book). He pointed out that unlike angioplasty, which operates on only soft tissue and requires a stent to hold open the expanded tissue, sinuplasty expands a passageway or sinus by dilating bony openings and pathways--widening one passageway by crushing an adjacent sinus cavity. He speculates that such pressure fractured cells could result in a problem later such as mucocele formation--the procedure was too recently developed and long term studies were not available. In addition, while sinuplasty can open up a closed frontal, maxillary, or sphenoid sinus, it cannot open up the labyrinth of the ethmoid sinus. If the ethmoids are closed, functional FESS may be required in conjunction.

FUNCTIONAL ENDOSCOPIC SINUS SURGERY (FESS)
Josephson doesn't much describe his surgical techniques in this book, which makes it difficult to compare FESS with alternative approaches. Dr Josephson says Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) uses microcutting instruments to remove bony partitions and to widen openings into the frontal, maxillary and sphenoid sinus when necessary. I asked how he expands the passages to closed sinus cavities. He explained that, in my case, he would remove the wall between the passage to a frontal sinus and an adjacent ethmoid sinus cell (rather than crushing the ethmoid cell as in sinuplasty). This would be more controlled than expanding a balloon (as in sinuplasty) and avoid creating a new closed cell which could become a cyst. While FESS changes the connectivity of the cavities, it avoids potentially closing off the adjacent cells. He claims that research shows that mucus transport from the now-opened frontal sinus to the ostiomeatal complex is preserved with this method. This book should include and expand on these descriptions. I also asked in what cases the membranes grow back which seems important when polyps are removed from sinus cells, leaving bare bone walls. He replied that they quickly grow back. This book should include pointers to research validating this claim.

SINUS ANATOMY
This book describes the sinuses as cavities which clean and humidify inhaled air. However, the diagrams show the sinuses as dead-end spaces off the primary airway connected only by tiny passages. Why does air travel through them except a small amt via turbulence? Although I suspect they do indeed clean and humidify inhaled air, it would be helpful to me if the book resolved this seeming contradiction.

CAT SCANS
The book includes a series of diagrams showing an idealized representation of the sinuses and other organs. I found it very difficult to relate my CT scans to these idealized diagrams even though I'm quite good at 3D visualization. It would be helpful if this book included a link to an online series of example CAT scans with annotation explaining what's what, how the structures relate to disease symptoms, and (assuming some patents get post-operative CT scans) what the structures look like after surgery. Josephson told me that he had a CT review in a draft of the book and Penguin Publishers needed to make the book shorter and insisted that he cut it out. Eventually he plans to put it on line.

Overall, an excellent book and highly recommended.

Sinus Relief mow is the most comprehensive book i have read on the subject. It is the first book that links Sinus Problems,Allergies,ASTHMA,SLeep Apnea,and Gerd (gastroesophageal reflux) i suffer from most of these problems and have been treated for years by many different physicians. And no one has made these connections which Dr Jordan S Josephson makes. He is brilliant and i am living what he describes. I am using his book asc a feference and have been following his five step program. I am already seeing a difference. I like the fact that DR Josephson combines the best from traditional and alternative medicine to bring relief for these problems If you suffer from any of these problems this book would be the best investment that you can make. It has many tips that woll help you with your problems. I am going to actually make an appointment to see DR Josephson. I like the wat he thinks. It makes sense.

In the interests of full disclosure, I should reveal that I am a patient of Dr. Josephson's. In fact, he recently performed a FESS procedure on my sinuses.
It needs to be noted that Dr. Josephson practices what he preaches. Before we arrived at the decision to perform the surgery, I followed each of his recommendations, including a long use of antibiotics, smoking cessation, the use of an air purifier and a humidifier, etc., etc. Only after these actions failed to result in a "cure" for my sinus problems did he recommend surgery. True to his word in the book, post-surgery did not require packing and I hope that the procedure will result in long-term improvement. In the meantime, I constantly refer to Dr. Josephson's clear and coherent book to guide my treatment.

This book has given me hope for a better quality of life. I am not able to try all the herbs because I am nursing but the yeast diet has changed my overall health. I don't recommend doing everything he says in the diet or you won't eat much but just cutting out sugar and bad carbohydrates I have been healthy and my last cold didn't turn into the usual nightmare sinus infection I always get! Now my brother is reading my book and I recommend to friends suffering with sinus problems. Exercising is possible for me now and is keeping me healthier. The fatigue is getting better now too. I think if you can do the herbs you will have even better results than me. This book has really helped me!

My son was plagued by chronic sinusitis from 2yrs through the age of 7. After constantly being prescribed antibiotics, inhalers and even steroids, I came across Sinus Survival and the link to nutrition and food sensitivities discussed in the book. The difference was immediate and significant. The culprit: chocolate and cocoa discovered through the strategies suggested in the book. I highly recommend the book for chronic sinus sufferers as well as parents of children who have frequent ear infections. They may not need those ear tubes!

I had sinus problems so bad I was on disability. My family dr sent me to a specialist. He said shoot this up your nose. Ridiculous, I'm in severe pain and disabled, not working!! I tried it for three miserable weeks. I proceeded to the library and said "Ladies I have a sinus problem what do I do?" They did not even hesitate--This book had just come out. I read the ridiculous things I had to do!! But figured if it was in its third edition I'll take it seriously. It didn't even take a week before I was getting relief. It quickly gave me a complete recovery!! Yes, I love having no pain. As to my family Dr. he said great try it, it shouldn't hurt.

This book should have been called "Sinus Survival, among other essential information about general health and wellbeing" because although the first half of the book is about sinuses, the second half of the book covers things like candida, and mental, emotional and spiritual health - which can all affect your sinuses and your health in general - and a guide to alternative medicine. This book is loaded with useful information (342 pages of it).

This book has given me hope for a better quality of life. I am not able to try all the herbs because I am nursing but the yeast diet has changed my overall health. I don't recommend doing everything he says in the diet or you won't eat much but just cutting out sugar and bad carbohydrates I have been healthy and my last cold didn't turn into the usual nightmare sinus infection I always get! Now my brother is reading my book and I recommend to friends suffering with sinus problems. Exercising is possible for me now and is keeping me healthier. The fatigue is getting better now too. I think if you can do the herbs you will have even better results than me. This book has really helped me!

For a number of years, I frantically searched for any information I thought I could find on sinuses. I was, unfortunately the kind of patient who had undergone numerous surgeries and evaluations to no avail. I was a more serious case and felt that I would eventually die if help were not found soon. I was racked with fever, pain, and pressure. I had exhausted myself visiting every Ear Nose and Throat doctor within a two hundred mile radius of my home. Despite my insistance that these problems had become serious, most doctors disregarded my problems as being insignificant. The Sinusitis Help Book gave me every piece of important information I needed to validate my condition for myself, and to continue forward in my pursuit of a doctor who would listen. Next this book gave me the proper questions to ask that would eventually save my life. My condition as it turned out was a rather serious infected cyst. Doctor M. Lee Williams answered questions that no doctor had been able to answer. I was amazed at his passion in his feild. Most doctors had given me few answers or options. This man made me realize that there are many, many conditions of the sinuses, many symptoms to suggest this, and many treatment options. I am not embellishing one bit when I say that I would be dead had I not read this book. My condition was crescendoeing just as I was to find the proper questions to ask. Doctor Williams is a genius, noting in his book certain symptoms that most doctors have never heard of. It was a tremendous help to me . I am now nearly well and I have doctor Williams to thank for that. I really believe that every Otolaryngologist in this country who is learning or practicing should consider reading this significant and comprehensive bible of sinusitis. Thanks Doctor Williams for saving my life with this masterpeice of medicine,sincerely, Lana Olivia Gentry, Richmond,Virginia

Everyone hates to have surgery with little information. This book answered the many questions that a person with polyps, way up his sinus cavities, had been concerned about. Now, he can go to his physician/surgeon with a better understanding and fewer concerns.
Well written book.

The temptation to tell people what's really wrong with them is almost irrisistable once you've read this book. You recognize all the symptoms; are pretty sure you know some of the treatments. Of course, an illness is only fascinating to those who suffer from it, but sinus infections hit so many children that unaffected parents also should be interested.Written specifically for the layman, Dr. Williams reflects the image of a kindly country doctor with sage advice. Don't swim in pools during the winter-- they are fraught with germs. Don't sleep near a drafty door or vent; you will start to cough.Wash your hands, take simple medicines, drinks lots of fluids. Sound familiar? Well, much of it is, but the many situations that lead to infections may be completely new to chronic sufferers. They owe it to themselves and their frequently infected families to learn more about this common, expensive and debilitating condition.The small cost of the book could have a big payback with information that should last a lifetime

If you have allergies or are just a neti pot user, this book will give you a lot of information.

GREAT insights on some of the other things that you can put into your neti pot besides salt and water in order to minimize your symptoms.

I have known and used the neti cup for many years now but this book has taught me alot of wonderful new ways to use it and for several conditions. Anything written by Dr. Frawley and Dr. Lad I would highly recommend. Wonderful book!!!!

You too, may have suffer from Chronic Sinusitis. This book does an excellent job of explaining what are the common problems assoiated with chronic sinusitis. I had suffered with Chronic Sinusitis for years. This book is helpful in telling you what you problems that you have, and their solutions.

This book is well written, and is written with accurate information. Kennedy does a fabulous job of describing the solutions that are used through drug therapy, the benefits of using saline irrigation, saline sprays, and finally surgery if needed.

If you are about to undergo sinus surgery this book gives an accurate view of what you can expect in your recovery. I would highly recommend this book if you suffer from chronic sinusitis, as you will learn the options that you have for treatment and what you can do to get relief.

This book is a godsend to anyone suffering from a sinus infections. I learned so much about the anatomy of sinuses, the causes of sinus infections, and treatments for sinus infections. She describes in detail all the possible allergens and/or bacterias that could be contributing to the infection. I've seen numerous doctors and Muriel MacFarlane has many more treatments than they had to offer. She lists many treatments that are inexpessive and easy to do in her folk remedies section. The whole book is holistic in it's approach. Overall health of the body is emphasized.

The only criticism I have for the book is that at times it is redundant. But this shouldn't deter anyone from ordering this book which has a wealth of information on the subject of sinus infections.

I bought this book out of complete desperation. I have suffered more than 20 years with chronic infections. I have done it all 2 sinus surgeries, allergy meds, allergy shots and home remedies. This book did provide some great education on diet tips, sinus irrigation, allergies and asthma. I think it is a great book if you are lost and are unaware of contributing factors. However, all these remedies have helped a little, but I still suffer terribly. So where to go from here??

I have suffered from sinus infections all my life, 6 or more per year. Since I started following the information in this book, I have dropped to one or so per year. I highly recommend the sinus irrigation detailed in the book. I use a WaterPik and the nasal attachment for it. I wish I had known about this as a kid because I would not have wasted so much time being sick.

Honestly, I bought this book at a health food store, and not from Amazon. Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me tell you that I would STRONGLY recommend this book. It had a good amount of information all in one place about allergies, asthma, and sinusitis. The nasal irrigation that is reccomended (one whole chapter) works very well, and has given me remarkable results that I did NOT get from just using salt water and a neti pot. There was some very helpful information here that I thought was well-reasoned and backed by evidence. Nothing crazy, just stuff that works. The most important thing, I have been suffering, and I feel so much better!! thanks!

I am thrilled to have read this book and know that there are a whole spectrum of choices out there to try for sinus problems other than antibiotics! I have been a sinus sufferer for over 2 yrs. now with allergies causing sinus headaches, pressure and dizziness. Multiple courses of antibiotics have not completely helped and I decided to read and research what I can do to help myself and try solutions that the doctors I've seen have not been thorough about. This book has given me so much hope and I have tried several of the solutions - warm, moist compress, hot tea, drinking lots of water, papaya enzymes and Neti Pot. So far, so good, but I'm sure it'll take a few weeks to get into a routine. I have been so disappointed with some of the other reviews of this book accusing the writers of heavily promoting Grossan's Hydropulse irrigation system. In fact, the system only features in a small section of the book, and the book is SO much more than promotion, it gives a whole wide spectrum of suggestions and choices that one can try to help themselves. I would highly recommend this book to give yourself some hope and also the Harvard Medical School Guide to Healing Your Sinuses.

A good review of sinus disease and management written to allow the non-physician to gain from reading it.

"Sinus Survival: A Self-help Guide" by Robert Ivker (isbn: 1585420581) This `survival' book is amazing. (In contrast to "The Sinus Cure" by Debra Fulghum Bruce, which in my opinion, okay, I'll say it: "sucks"). I've owned both books for five+ years now. In short, the `survival' book gives me plenty of `knowledge meat' to work with, while the `cure' book didn't tell me anything that I didn't already know. The `survival' book, on the other hand, I refer to every year, and learn (or relearn) more than I did before. Dr Ivker, is a sinusitis sufferer himself, went the extra hoops beyond MD to become DO and has many self-help options in here. He includes a thorough exploration of what EMT-physicians consider, and/or exams to possibly do, or surgeries, etc and why. True to his word, I've followed his steps and have become someone who regularly had two or more sinus infections every year, to someone who has been infection-free for five and counting. And for those earlier unfortunate times while suffering from one, I still gained immediate relief (beyond the antibiotics) from some specific steps he recommends. Can you tell I really like this book! Lol's

If you have sinus problems, read this book instead of going to the doctor's office. If you are doctor with a conscience, recommend this book to your patients.

If you suffer from sinus woes, look no further, for this is the book. I'm not biased, an idiot, or short-sighted. I'm not buddies with the author. I've just been all over the map looking for sinus cures (like you?), and happen to know that this is it.

This book is, hands down, the best way to get over even the WORST sinusitis. OK, granted, its purchase is just the beginning of a journey. It is not a magic pill that you wad up and swallow. You'll have to read it and probably change your lifestyle (I'm talking dramatically), but this book holds all the information you need to get you on your feet again. I carry it around with me all the time, consulting it like a monk doth his bible. It is the best compendium of sinusitis information on the market.

I know you think your case is unique. That you've already tried everything. That you are worse off than everyone else, and that NOBODY could possible BEGIN to understand what you go through every day with your nose. Believe me, I was there. But, I promise you're not alone, and that there's a way to get better. This book and Dr. Ivker can help.

If you're suffering, do yourself a favor and just stop. Get this book, right now and start getting better.

I followed the principles in this book. Fantastic. I suffered my whole life with progressively worse and worse sinus infections. If you suffer like I did, don't hesitate, get this book. You'll be doing yourself a favor.

Having read a number of sinus self-help books in recent years, I must say I am very impressed with this one.

Dr. Ivker was the past present of the American Holistic Medical Association and it shows! That said, what I appreciate about Dr. Ivker's Sinus Survival book is the holistic treatment focus in it and the extensiveness with which he explores the treatments. Using the Sinus Survival Treatment Program as a basis, Dr. Ivker goes into great depth regarding a number of different holistic treatments, be it nasal irrigation, candida or fungi treatments, treatments for anxiety and stress, a proper diet, cleaning up the environment, vitamins and herbs. Similar to my own experiences, I believe the very best approach to remediate sinusitis and allergies is to utilize a holistic approach. You cannot treat your sinuses any other way - or you miss an interdependent piece of the puzzle.

Antibiotic treatment cannot and should not be the sole focus for treating a sinus infection; you need to treat the whole body. I can tell you affirmatively that as an empty nose syndrome (ENS) sufferer - who also suffers from sinusitis and allergies - my nose is far worse if I do not exercise during the day. My nose and sinuses feel worse if my diet is off, if my sleep is poor, or if I do not irrigate my nose with pulsatile saline irrigation. I am grateful Dr. Ivker recommends nasal irrigation for healthy sinuses in preventative fashion, as I find that to be beneficial in my own situation. If I do not irrigate, I find myself much more susceptible to sinus infections. Pulsatile irrigation is literally like my lifeline for sleeping better and breathing somewhat better, too.

Like Dr. Ivker, my brother-in-law is a GP, and I will share this book with him. It is wonderful to see a GP promote a program that can treat the sinuses very effectively and offer so many helpful tips. Kudos, Dr. Ivker, for this tremendous book!

Chris Martin, author of Having Nasal Surgery? Don't You Become An Empty Nose Victim!

The information is coherent and well organized. Yes, it is possible one can glean much of the information from other sites on the Internet. However, doing so would take twice as long as reading the book and one can never tell when they are receiving advice from a real doctor or a quack. Everything in this book is backed by a Clinical Professor at Harvard. Not only does that offer peace of mind, it also gives you an upper hand when trying to get the correct medication from your doctor. "I read in this book by Ralph B Metson from Harvard..." goes a lot farther than "I read on an Internet site somewhere..." I wish I could have read this book years ago.

Of note:
The recommended salt usage for nasal wash is a bit high. Some prefer it that high, I recommend doing Internet research and trying less salt at first, ESPECIALLY if you notice a stinging sensation. Never, ever try to force water through a clogged nose!!

The explanation of Zicam in the book is not quite correct. Zicam is *marketed* as homeopathy, but it is not really homeopathic; it actually contains Zinc. Homeopathy is just water.

Also, I was told Atrovent (in that form) was taken off the market.

This is a good book if you know nothing at all about your sinus condition. However, I had already gathered much of this information from good websites. There were a couple of interesting things that I wasn't aware of, but the bottom line is, how is this going to help me? Is it going to give me new ideas so I can get better? Unfortunately, it didn't. If you've already tried nasal irrigations, decongestants, steroid sprays, antihistamines, possible allergy shots and antibiotics, then you know all you can know about treating sinusitis without surgery. If you are facing surgery, then maybe the chapters on what to expect will be useful.

This isn't the worst book on sinus infections I've ever encountered. However, it does not hold a candle to Sinus Survival (Ivker), and in fact, when compared, seems wholly inadequate. Don't waste your health here.

The Harvard Guide to Healing Your Sinuses is a valuable resource, which is written in easy-to-understand language that details various sinus conditions, including ones that might seem like sinusitis but are not, and numerous strategies for treating them. In addition, discussions of treatments include helpful thoughts on various methods of sinus surgery, how to prepare for surgery if needed, and what to expect.

I appreciate how, on pages 162-163, Dr. Metson and Mr. Mardon cite empty nose syndrome (ENS) as a "troubling phenomenon," which results from an overly aggressive surgery of the turbinates (inner nasal mucus-producing tissue that performs many critical functions). The description of ENS is accurate, and I am grateful it is noted as a complication of surgery, as not all sinus self-help books acknowledge ENS.

When discussing treatments, The Harvard Guide to Healing Your Sinuses mentions zicam, which is the oral spray form of zinc. The authors note while zinc has been shown to reduce the duration of a cold, particularly when used at the onset of symptoms, it must be sprayed into the nose every four hours for one to two weeks to be effective. A word of caution, though, which also should be highlighted, is that spraying high concentrations of zicam in the nose can lead to burning and destruction of olfactory epithelium, the nerve cells responsible for smell. Consequently, some users of zicam have permanently lost their sense of smell.

This book definitely has much useful information on sinusitis from a highly reputable source. It is a great reference book for sinus sufferers.

Chris Martin, author of Having Nasal Surgery? Don't You Become An Empty Nose Victim!

This book is well organized and describes sinus problems from minor to major. Several tables summarize treatment, medications, symtoms, etc. Although fairly technical (that's a good thing) the authors didn't 'talk down' to the layman. I found it very helpful and insightful. The book describes many self-treatments in a very orderly fashion.