In September 1999, the Mayo Clinic published an article stating that 93% of all chronic sinusitis is caused by mold - not as an allergic reaction, but rather as an immune system response to fungus. It is widely known and accepted that sugar feeds fungus. I bring this up because I have been having nasal soreness lately. I first thought of ingrown hairs, but that was not the culprit. I next thought I was dealing with zits, and realized that one of my issues had been a zit as it subsided with some OTC zit medicine, but… The current soreness is neither an ingrown hair nor a zit. It is a somewhat crusty sore spot right on the upper inside part of my left nostril. I have been eating a lot of sweets with it being the holidays and have come to realize that I have a small localized spot of fungal growth on the inside of my nose caused by an increased sugar intake. I am not 100% sure that this is what it is, but suspect it is the culprit, as I dealt with the same thing prior to being a snuff taker. I am eliminating sweets, will treat it will an antifungal like oil of oregano, and will report back when it clears up. I have read a few posts about nasal sores, and wanted to piggyback off some of those with this post. I think it’s easy to look to snuff as the causing agent of nasal problems, but have found that other underlying factors to almost always be the cause; and not snuff. Happy snuffing.

Oil of Oregano is a good choice for starters. Might spend the rest of the day feeling like you’re trapped inside a pizza box, but I can think of worse things Nasal/sinus fungus (under which term I include the presence of yeast and mold as well) may be more common than people realize, and could be the cause of a lot of incidences of chronic rhinitis, infections and other unpleasantness. If anything, tobacco snuff is a pretty good palliative against the inflammation, though it may not in all cases be a cure. It is certainly unfair to blame such a problem on tobacco itself, but some sweeter snuffs may contain sugar additives, and a diet of sweets could greatly exacerbate the issues. I always wonder how crazy people must be to sniff the tobacco-free white snuffs that are in a sugar base. Seems like just asking for trouble. If a natural remedy such as oregano oil fails, that could indicate a more pervasive infection (ie. mycelia may have penetrated deeper into the tissues than the oil can reach), the next and possibly only way without going full-on antibiotics and antifungal drugs is to get powdered Nystatin (difficult without a prescription, but possible with some detective work) and snuff that daily for a few weeks. It can be snuffed, and it is important that the Nystatin come in direct contact with the fungus in order to work. An advantage of it over oregano oil is that it is a very fine powder and can reach way up into the sinus cavities easier than an oil. The disadvantage is that it has an awful taste. If the oil is your only option, mixing it with some water and putting it into a nasal spray bottle will allow it to be atomized better, to get a mist that’s easier to sniff deeply. Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, but I have researched the issue and found this approach to be recommended in books written by physicians who specialize in yeast and fungal problems. In my household the treatment has been used successfully. I’m not prescribing this, but sharing my findings to show that it’s an option that is available.