Sinusitis is an energy-depleting complaint that seriously interferes with sufferers breathing patterns. It usually leads to a dry mouth, bad breath and a general feeling of unwellness.

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Nowadays sinusitis is treated by painful surgery or with over-the-counter remedies like nasal sprays. The most popular of them contain xylometazoline hydrochloride, a substance that leads to rebound symptoms if taken over a period longer than two or three weeks.

It is also not recommended for people with heart or kidney problems or high blood pressure.

Here’s a simple and safe home remedy that removes mucus from the sinuses and reduces inflammation.

You will need a nasal spray bottle, which can be recycled from a proprietary nasal spray.

Take 1/2 cup or small wine glass of water (filtered or pre-boiled) and add 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Put in a pinch of bicarbonate of soda and mix to dissolve.

Pour the liquid into the sprayer bottle and shake.

To use, shake the bottle and spray once up each nostril. Repeat several times a day, especially before bedtime.

A new study has produced what seems to be conclusive evidence that a cup of green tea a day will help to keep your heart healthy.

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In tests, the beverage was discovered to widen the artery that runs from the shoulder to the elbow by 4pc within 30 minutes. Using ultrasound scanning to measure the performance of the brachial artery, this was taken as a good indicator of improved blood flow around the body.

The report, by Dr Nikolaos Alexopoulos and colleagues at the 1st Cardiology Department, Athens Medical School, and published in The European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, claims this is the first time green tea has been demonstrated to have a short-term beneficial effect on the large arteries.

The experiment involved a team of healthy volunteers who were given green tea, caffeine or hot water to drink on three separate occasions. Measurements of the brachial artery were taken at three stages after they drank their beverage.

While green tea had a marked effect, caffeine and hot water had none.

According to the team, dilation of the artery shows better functioning of the endothelium, the layer of cells lining blood arteries that stops clots forming.

Previous research had suggested black tea improves short and long-term endothelial performance, but this is the first time green tea has been shown to have a short-term beneficial effect on the large arteries.

Another study has already shown that green tea reverses endothelial dysfunction in smokers.

However, the fermentation process used to make black tea reduces the content of flavonoids — beneficial antioxidants — by up to 90 per cent, which is why green tea is believed to offer superior health benefits.

One of the researchers, Dr Charalambos Vlachopoulos said, “These findings have important clinical implications. Tea consumption has been associated with reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in several studies. Green tea is consumed less in the Western world than black tea, but it could be more beneficial because of the way it seems to improve endothelial function. Recent studies have also shown potent anticarcinogenic effects of green tea, attributed to its antioxidant properties.’

Yet more research shows drinking green tea lowers “bad” cholesterol and blood pressure, and reduces harmful liver enzymes.

Even more, drinking green tea could help ward off cancer, with a study showing that just four cups of green tea a day reverses cell damage in heavy smokers and hence the development of tumours. Japanese researchers also found that a green tea and exercise regime reduced the usual drop in strength and muscle performance associated with getting older.

To back all that up, Brazilian scientists showed that drinking three cups of green tea a day reduced damage caused by resistance training.

Green tea really is the bee’s knees — and probably the cat’s whiskers too.

You may shudder at the taste of vinegar — a surprising number of people, especially children, do — but it really is good for you.

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Cider vinegar taken with meals will reduce your blood pressure just as it’s likely to rise.

A shot of the liquid, twice a day, cuts out cravings and helps the body digest food.

Cider vinegar is deemed preferable to other forms, like malt, wine and balsamic, because it is said to have added health benefits, such as antioxidants, as well as tasting sweeter, rendering it more palatable.

It can be bought in good grocery stores, or unfiltered in health food shops.