Nasal irrigation

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Nasal irrigation is an ancient personal hygiene practice, originating from the Yoga practice of Jala Neti (literally: "water cleansing"), which involves regularly flooding the nasal cavity with warm salty water. Nasal irrigation is commonly practiced in Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, and less so in Western Europe and North America.

The saline solution irrigation and nasal flush promotes good nasal health, and patients with chronic sinusitis including symptoms of facial pain, headache, halitosis, cough, anterior rhinorrhea (watery discharge) and nasal congestion found nasal irrigation to be “just as effective at treating these symptoms as the drug therapies.”^[1] In other studies, “daily hypertonic saline nasal irrigation improves sinus-related quality of life, decreases symptoms, and decreases medication use in patients with frequent sinusitis^[2],” and irrigation is recommended as an “effective adjunctive treatment of chronic sinonasal symptoms.” ^[3]^[4]

Nasal irrigation is reputed to help prevent colds and otherwise promote good nasal health by cleaning out the nasal passages and helps alleviate stuffiness, dryness, nosebleeds and allergies^{[citation needed]}.

1 Benefits and Uses
2 Tools
3 Saline Solution Prep
4 Nasal Irrigation
5 Sinus Irrigation
6 See also
7 External Links
8 References

[edit] Benefits and Uses

For those who suffer from chronic sinusitis, nasal irrigation is a quick and inexpensive way to promote ciliary function and mucus turnover, decrease edema, and improve drainage through the sinus ostia. Saline nasal irrigation and flushing may help do the following:

Clear out sticky, persistent mucus and help reduce nasal congestion
Cleanse and rid the sinus cavities of allergens, irritants, and contaminants
Treat chronic sinusitis
Treat allergic rhinitis
Prevent common colds and flu
Relieve nasal dryness
Improve breathing
Temporarily reduce symptoms of post nasal drainage
Reduce cough caused by post-nasal drip
Treat acute bacterial rhinosinusitis^[2]

[edit] Tools

Traditionally, and most commonly, nasal irrigation is done very simply using a small vessel called a neti pot. Other types of irrigators are available, including ear wash bulbs, hand squeezed nasal irrigators, electrical pump nasal irrigators, and nasal attachments for water picks.^[5]

[edit] Saline Solution Prep

For a comfortable saline solution mix 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon of non-iodized salt into one cup of warm water. Note that the mucus membranes are sensitive, and the ideal solution is close to one's own blood by temperature, salinity, and pH. When measuring by volume using a measuring spoon, the correct amount of salt is influenced by the coarseness of the salt. The proper amount of very fine salt is 1/4 teaspooon per cup water; while a very coarse salt (kosher or sea) may require 1/2 teaspoon per cup. Special salts are available for use in nasal irrigation that come with directions for proper measurement. A study also found better results using salt from the Dead Sea over simple saline solution for treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis.^[6]

[edit] Nasal Irrigation

Nasal irrigation is safe and effective and can be performed daily. In nasal irrigation, the saline solution rinses the nasal passages, clearing dried mucus and allowing the sinuses to drain freely. Nasal irrigation is also called jala neti. To practice nasal irrigation, fill a neti pot with a saline solution prepared according to the directions above. Stand over a sink and tilt the head to the side and slightly forward. Insert the spout of the neti pot into the upper nostril, allowing the saline solution to flow into the upper nostril, through the nasal passages, and out the lower nostril. Gently blow the nose, keeping both nostrils open. Then reverse the position and repeat on the other side. Use half a pot of saline solution on each side, or use the whole pot on one side and refill the pot to rinse the other side. Gently blow the nose again to release any remaining saline solution along with the pollen, dirt, dried mucus, and other debris that has been washed away. Some prefer to bend from the waist and let the head hang, allowing any remaining saline solution to drain out through the nostrils.

[edit] Sinus Irrigation

Traditionally, sinus cavity irrigation involves flooding the nasal passages with the prepared saline solution. The patient can lay on a bed, face-up but hanging their head back over the edge, or squat onto the floor and on three points (knees, and a hand behind your back on the floor) with their head tilted back. With the head now nearly upside down, the practitioner takes and holds a deep breath. The solution is slowly poured or squirted into the nose until the sinus passages are nearly filled. Waiting as long as possible allows the saline solution to migrate deeply into the sinus cavities.

While pinching the nose, the practioner brings their head to the upright position. Now breathe, stand, and lean over a sink or towel. Hold the solution a half minute longer with the head tilted parallel to the sink or table; solution will migrate to other areas of the sinus cavities. Let the solution drain out, and then gently blow the nose to expel mucus. Wait 5 minutes, and repeat the above until the drainage is clear and runs freely.