Nasal Irrigation: Try it Out

Westerners are big on their oral hygiene-brushing teeth, flossing, mouthwash, etc.-but people often don't think about cleaning their nose. However, nose hygiene is an important thing in many countries and is gaining attention by people in Western countries too. If you're serious about your nose hygiene, you might want to consider nasal irrigation.

This is the practice of flushing water through the nasal passages to rinse out mucus and other debris. It is one of the disciplines of yoga, so has been practiced in other countries for ages, although it is not a widespread practice in the United States. Proponents of nasal irrigation say it helps prevent the common cold, as well as to treat an array of chronic sinus conditions. The procedure is safe and there are no documented severe side effects (after all, it's just rinsing a bit of water through your nose).

So how do you do nasal irrigation? The simplest way is to just cup some water in your hands and snort it in your nose. Salt water is generally used because it has antibacterial properties and also feels better than tap water in your nose (tap water irritates the mucus). Sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, is often added as a buffering agent. Other things can be added, too, such as xylitol to kill bacteria in the nose.

Another effective way is to tilt your head to the side and pour the salt water into the higher nostril, letting the water run out of the other one. This can be a little tricky at first and takes some practice. Some people choose to use a "netipot" or other device for this purpose, but it s not necessary. An electrical irrigation device can also be used, which use pressure to push water through the nose. These devices are available for home use in the United States.

A basic home recipe for a salt water solution is 1 pint water, with 1 teaspoon salt and an optional teaspoon of baking soda to produce an isotonic solution. An isotonic solution has the same concentration of salt as does your body. If you want a hypertonic solution, just add more salt. Medical sources tend to say that iodized table salt should not be used for nasal irrigation because of the additives, and that pickling salt should be used instead. Sometimes Dead Sea salt is recommended, too.

It's not well understood exactly why nasal irrigation works. One hypothesis is that nasal irrigation decreases inflammation by reducing mucus and improving mucociliary clearance. It is clear that mucus has something to do with it.

Although the idea of snorting salt water into your nose may take some getting used to, many people from around the world say that it helps them feel better and stay healthy. Nasal irrigation is an easy thing to do, as it does not require much equipment at all. Next time you're feeling clogged up, keep nasal irrigation in mind and give it a try. You might be pleasantly surprised.