And pathogens. The procedure can be indicated for both preventive and therapeutic purposes. We will tell you how to do it and how to prepare the solution for washing in this article.
How often can you rinse your nose?
In a healthy state, it is recommended to perform nasal hygiene every morning. The procedure helps remove secretions accumulated during the night and frees breathing. Viruses have difficulty taking root on clean mucous membranes, so people who regularly wash their nose are less susceptible to colds.
If you have a runny nose, clean your nose 4 times a day. The first time is in the morning, immediately after waking up. The remaining procedures are carried out during the day, 1.5–2 hours after meals.
In order not to wash away beneficial microflora from the mucous membranes, it is important to use properly prepared solutions.
How to prepare the product?
Sea salt is good for nasal rinses.For rinsing, you can use table or sea salt diluted in water (0.5–1 teaspoon stirred in a glass of water). The exact amount of salt is selected empirically. If after the first use it turns out that the solution stings, then next time its concentration will need to be reduced.
Another way to prepare “sea water”:
- Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of table salt in a glass of water, add a pinch of soda and 3-5 drops of 5% iodine solution.
In addition, the procedure can be carried out with weak herbal infusions:
- Mix licorice, coltsfoot and calendula herbs in equal proportions. Brew a tablespoon of the mixture with a glass of boiling water. Leave for 10 minutes. Cool and strain through cheesecloth.
- Pour 2 teaspoons of chamomile herb into a glass of hot water. Keep in a water bath for 10–15 minutes. Cool, strain.
- Mix willow bark in equal parts with succession grass. Place a tablespoon of the mixture in a thermos and brew a glass of boiling water. Leave for 10–15 minutes.
Decoctions of oak bark should not be used for rinsing. The substances contained in this plant irritate the mucous membranes and damage.
For sinusitis, rinsing with furatsilin solution is useful:
- Dissolve 1/2 tablet of the drug in a glass of hot water. Strain through several layers of gauze.
Furacilin has a detrimental effect on bacteria and prevents the spread of infection from the sinuses.
The prepared solution should have a comfortable temperature - 36–37 degrees. Liquids that are too cold or too hot can injure the mucous membranes.
For preventive purposes, it is also allowed to use plain boiled water for nasal hygiene.
Washing technique
Before starting the procedure, you need to clear your nose of accumulated secretions. If persists, it is necessary to instill.
For rinsing, use a syringe (20 ml), a small syringe (100 ml), a teapot or a special irrigation device, which can be purchased at a pharmacy. For one procedure, 50–70 ml of solution is enough.
The procedure is as follows:
- The patient needs to stand over the sink, bend forward and tilt his head to the side 40-50 degrees.
- The solution is injected into the upper nostril, holding your breath and opening your mouth slightly. If the procedure is carried out correctly, the liquid should go around the nasal septum and flow out of the lower nostril in a stream. A small amount may enter the nasopharynx and flow out through the mouth - this is considered normal.
- After rinsing the first, the solution is injected into the second nostril. Upon completion of the procedure, blow your nose.
- To soften and moisturize irritated mucous membranes, you can drip vegetable oil (peach, apricot or olive) into your nose.
Otherwise, they rinse the nose of young children, who still find it difficult to explain the essence of the manipulations. With the child in a supine position, 3-4 drops of solution are injected into each nostril. Then they ask him to blow his nose thoroughly. For newborns, after instillation, the nasal cavity is cleaned with cotton wicks.
When should you not rinse your nose?
Washing is not carried out with a stuffy nose. Breathing before starting the procedure should be more or less free, otherwise the solution will flow into the ear cavity and provoke the development. The same risk exists when
A saline solution for rinsing the nose has a number of medicinal properties - it makes breathing easier when you have a runny nose, relieves swelling of the mucous membrane, and helps remove pathogenic mucus. The product is used not only for therapy, but also for the prevention of rhinitis and sinusitis.
It's easy to rinse your nose with saline solution.
Benefits of rinsing your nose with salt water
Based on the amount of salt in water, physiological and hypertonic solutions are distinguished. In order to prevent infectious and inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx, for hygiene and hydration, a solution with a moderate amount of salt is used (corresponds to the level of the substance in the blood and mucus of the body). Hypertonic fluid is more concentrated and is used to treat sinusitis, rhinitis, and sinusitis.
Water-salt rinsing has a positive effect on the condition of the nasal cavity:
- increases local immunity due to a strengthening effect on small vessels and stimulation of metabolism in cells;
- disinfects the sinuses and prevents the occurrence of allergic reactions - together with mucus, it helps remove pathogens, saw particles, allergens;
- relieves swelling of the mucous membrane and helps ease breathing.
It is possible to shorten the treatment time for sinusitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, avoid complications of a prolonged runny nose and speed up the healing process if you rinse your nose in time.
How to make a saline nasal rinse
It is not difficult to prepare a remedy for rinsing the nose yourself, the main thing is to take into account the basic principles.
- The purpose of the procedure is that weak solutions are suitable for prevention and hygiene, and more concentrated (hypertonic) solutions are suitable for treatment.
- It is better to take sea salt without preservatives, dyes and flavors. It has a wide spectrum of action (disinfects, relieves swelling, reduces inflammation).
- When using regular salt, you can enhance the healing effect with the help of iodine and soda. They effectively eliminate inflammation and swelling.
- The water for the procedure is warm, no more than 35 degrees.
- Perform all actions correctly and adhere to the daily norm.
Before introducing the liquid into the nasal cavity, it must be filtered through gauze or a bandage. This will protect the sensitive mucous membrane from damage by insoluble salt particles or sediment from water.
Recipes
At home, a water-salt solution is prepared in different ways, based on the needs of a person, his disease and physiological characteristics.
Standard solution for adults for runny nose
Dissolve 2 tsp. sea or regular salt in 1 liter of boiled water, cool until warm. Irrigate the nasal cavity with medicinal liquid 3-4 times a day for a week. You can use a special system, a syringe, a pipette, or a syringe without a needle.
Using a saline solution to rinse the nose is often the only option to ease breathing during pregnancy. The product has no contraindications and copes well with a runny nose and congestion, preventing the disease from worsening.
With iodine for sinusitis
The use of saline solution is not contraindicated for children
Seafood is prepared in a ratio of 1/3 tsp. salt per 300 ml of boiling water. Pour the warm solution into the baby’s nose, 1–2 drops at a time, using a pipette. Children after one year of age are allowed to use a syringe without a needle to irrigate the nasal cavity. The number of procedures per day is from 2 to 5.
Concentrated remedy for rhinitis
Dissolve 10 g of sea salt in 250 ml of boiling water and let cool. Pour warm water-salt liquid into the nose with a syringe or using a teapot (head to one side, pour into one nostril, pour out the other).
Irrigation with a hypertonic solution allows you to thoroughly disinfect the nasopharynx, dilute and remove mucus along with pathogenic bacteria. The disadvantage of the recipe is that it leads to increased dryness of the mucous membrane and causes a burning sensation. Not used in the treatment of children and for prophylactic purposes.
Washing with salt and soda
Recipe proportions:
First, dilute the salt in boiling water, let it cool and add soda to the warm water, stir. It is enough to do 2-3 procedures to reduce swelling and reduce inflammation. The product has a pronounced bactericidal effect and a calming effect.
Combined product with soda and iodine
Dissolve 1.5 tsp in warm water (500 ml). salt, 3 drops of iodine and 5 g of soda. Rinse the nasal cavity with medicinal liquid 2-3 times a day. Helps get rid of congestion, gently disinfects, relieves inflammation.
To achieve maximum results, you need to prepare the medicine correctly, observing the proportions. Abuse of the concentrated solution leads to dryness of the mucous membrane, and incorrect manipulation leads to infection in the ears, which threatens otitis media.
Saline solution for rinsing a child’s nose (Komarovsky)
The famous Evgeny Komarovsky considers physiological sodium chloride solution, which can be purchased at any pharmacy, to be the best means for rinsing the nose. You can replace the drug with a water-salt liquid prepared at home.
It is necessary to dilute 1 tsp in 1 liter of warm water. regular table salt. Be sure to follow the proportions - the solution for irrigating the nasal cavity in children should be weak.
The correctness of the procedure: flushing is carried out with a disposable syringe without a needle, so as not to create a lot of pressure. Failure to comply with the rules risks infection in the ear canal or sinuses, which can lead to otitis media and sinusitis.
The teledoctor claims that the correct temperature and air humidity allow you to do without preventive rinsing and promote normal nasal breathing
.Saline solutions in a pharmacy
Ready-made saline solutions can be purchased at any pharmacy.
Table “The most effective aerosols”
Aquamaris - a ready-made saline solution for rinsing the nose
The mechanism of action for all salt preparations is the same - they wash away mucus, soothe the mucous membrane, and improve breathing. The difference is in salt concentration and auxiliary components (eucalyptus).
Allergic, viral, bacterial, sinusitis, rhinitis cause swelling of the nasal mucosa and discharge, often causing discomfort and headaches. To alleviate their condition, most people rush to pharmacies for expensive miracle drugs, forgetting about centuries-old remedies. Saline nasal solution is effective, healthy and low cost. What are its advantages and how justified is its use for children?
Saline solution and its benefits
Having unique properties, salt can help with colds, runny nose, and sinusitis in the form of a solution; purulent wounds, infections - as a compress; cuts, bleeding - as a means of helping blood clotting; pharyngitis, tonsillitis - as a disinfecting, anti-inflammatory liquid. Medicine and ancient folk practices strongly recommend the use of saline solutions for the prevention and treatment of diseases of the nasal mucosa.
Having the ability to “pull out” harmful bacteria and microorganisms, helping to destroy the pathogenic flora of the mucous membrane, a weak saline solution makes breathing easier, softens the mucous membrane, and dries out the adenoids that enlarge with a runny nose. In medicine, a 9% sodium chloride solution is widely used, which can be easily prepared at home. For adults, it is good to add 2 drops of iodine and 5 g of soda to the nasal salt preparation. For children, to prevent the mucous membrane from drying out, it is better to prepare a pure solution of sea or table salt.
With swelling of the nasopharynx, runny nose, and in the sinuses, pathogenic processes caused by bacteria and viruses occur. Washing will help:
- get rid of harmful microorganisms;
- cleanse the nasal mucosa;
- protect the body from viruses during the period of exacerbation of acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections;
- remove toxins from the maxillary sinuses and enlarged polyps - adenoids;
- free the nasal sinuses from crusts, soften ulcers and wounds, promoting healing.
For nasal congestion and runny nose
Most people have experienced a runny nose at least once in their lives. Headaches, discomfort in the nose, inability to breathe normally, swelling of the nasopharynx are symptoms of this unpleasant sore. Using a saline solution on your nose will help get rid of accumulated mucus and clear the nostrils and passages for free breathing. To wash the villi covering the cells of the nasal membrane, you will need:
- Prepared saline solution (9%). For adults, children over 12 years old - with a few drops of iodine and soda. For small children - 3% liquid with salt without impurities is ideal (up to 3 years), for ages 3 - 12 years: 5% mixture.
- Special cup-watering can with a narrow spout. Tilting your head slightly to one side, pour a thin stream of room temperature solution into one nasal passage. The saline liquid will gently flow out of the second nostril or run down the tongue of your open mouth.
- Syringe. Pour the required amount of rinsing liquid into the bulb. Leaning over the sink, slowly press on the bulb, placing the narrow tip at the beginning of the nostril.
- Pipette or syringe without needle. It is used for burying the noses of infants and children who cannot blow their noses on their own.
- Jar with vertical spray. Do not throw away the remaining bottle of pharmaceutical preparation with saline solution for the nose after use. If you have a runny nose, pour saline liquid into it and spray it into the nasopharynx one pump every 15-20 minutes for the first days of the disease.
Children, adults, elderly people, and people with allergies can use the salt remedy. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are no exception. Contraindications for use are:
- Hypersensitivity to sodium and chlorine ions.
- Hypertonic disease.
- Frequent nosebleeds.
- Tendency to otitis media.
For sinusitis
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to get by with saline solution alone for acute sinusitis. Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, which occurs due to under-treatment of a common runny nose, can lead to serious complications. Swelling of the connective tissue of the maxillary sinuses prevents normal blood circulation in the vessels of the walls, contributes to the stagnation of mucus and the formation of pus.
Antibiotic therapy, the use of drugs that constrict nasal vessels in combination with soda-salt nasal rinses, and physical procedures will help to get rid of the disease without surgical intervention. It is very important to monitor the level of humidity in the room where a patient with sinusitis is located. It should not be lower than 60 - 65%.
For the prevention of colds and as hygiene
Do you want to protect yourself and your loved ones from infections and colds? More than 90% of viruses enter the body through the respiratory tract. The higher the local immunity, the less prone people are to disease. Daily morning rinsing with saline solution will help strengthen the walls of blood vessels and create a favorable microflora of the nose. Please note that you should go out for fresh air after this procedure no earlier than 30 minutes later.
Crusts that form in the nose when indoor humidity is low make it difficult for the cilia of the ciliated epithelium to protect local immunity. Use a low dosage saline spray during the day (1-2 sprays per each nostril) for prevention, which will relieve the drying out of the nasal cavity and the presence of aesthetically unpleasant “boogers.” Experts noted that peoples who use salt-based liquid for oral hygiene suffer from colds and viral diseases 4.5 times less often.
Video
Isotonic liquid will help relieve the symptoms of a runny nose and help the child’s grunting, sniffling nose. There is no need to rush to the pharmacy, because you can prepare it yourself at home. You will need 1 liter of distilled (boiled) water and 1 teaspoon of salt (5 g). This concentration itself is a proportion that is competent from a medical point of view. What to pay attention to when doing the procedure of washing a small nose and what dangers await your baby - find out by watching our video:
How to prepare saline solution for rinsing the nose - recipes
For those who do not want to “bother” with making their own saline liquid, doctors advise purchasing medications produced by pharmaceutical companies: Aquamaris, Aqualor, Physiomer and a host of nasal solutions with similar properties and composition. The price for such simple preparations is high:
- For a 50 ml bottle of Aqualor you will have to pay from 257 to 299 rubles.
- A similar volume of Aquamaris costs 259 rubles.
- Physiomer is a cheaper analogue priced at 334 rubles per 135 ml.
The most economical “ready-made option” will be a saline solution costing 106 rubles. for 450 ml volume. All drugs differ in the manufacturer, possible additions of iodine, essential oils and the “loudness” of the name. By preparing your own saline solution for rinsing a stuffy nose, you will spend:
- From 39 rub. for 700 g of sea salt.
- 50 rub. – 5 liters of distilled water.
- By simple arithmetic operations we get the cost of 1000 ml - 10.50 rubles.
Salt and water - basic recipe
To make an isotonic solution, boil water over a fire. Set aside and let cool to room temperature. Pour the required amount of salt into the warm liquid, stirring until completely dissolved. If there is sediment, strain through several layers of sterile gauze. If desired, add 1-2 drops of grapefruit or eucalyptus essential oil. To prepare the saline solution you will need:
- Liter capacity.
- 1 liter of filtered/distilled water.
- 5 g or 9 g sea or table salt (for children/adults).
Recipe with soda
The addition of soda and iodine will help enhance the antiseptic and anti-inflammatory characteristics of the saline solution for effective nasal rinsing. A strong natural antibiotic, baking soda has disinfectant properties. Iodine improves the composition of the liquid, constricts blood vessels, and disinfects the nasopharynx cavity. Boil water by adding salt and soda to the hot solution. Stir thoroughly until completely dissolved. Leave to cool. Add 2 drops of iodine to the warm liquid.
To make a soda-salt solution in the correct ratio, take:
- 500 ml water;
- 0.5 tsp salt;
- 0.3 tsp soda;
- 2 drops of iodine.
Alternative to salt - furatsilin
This drug effectively fights the microbial flora of the nose, being an excellent antiseptic. For people sensitive to salt components and small children, furacilin solution is an excellent replacement for isotonic liquid. One tablet will give an excellent result if you dissolve it in 500 ml of boiled water, after grinding it into powder.
How often can you rinse your nose with saline solution at home?
Preventive measures to combat viruses in the autumn-winter period involve rinsing the nose with saline solution (9%) no more than 3-4 times a week. Employees of enterprises with a high degree of air pollution and significant emissions of harmful substances are recommended to rinse their nasal passages at least 2–3 times in 7 days. For those wishing to use a concentrated saline solution (5 g per 200 ml of water), it is better to perform the procedure no more than 1 – 2 times a week. For inflammatory processes and nasal congestion, rinse with saline 2 to 4 times a day.
How to properly rinse with sea salt
Sea salt of the Adriatic Sea Aquamaris contains enriched with essential oils of common myrtle and Italian immortelle, which, due to their hypoallergenic properties, gently and carefully care for the nasal cavity. A home kit for rinsing the nasal passages allows you to rinse the nostrils and sinuses one by one without irritating the mucous membrane, forming local immunity to city dust, dirt, viral infections, and pathogens. You can learn how to properly rinse your nose with saline solution by watching the video:
Sea salt is a unique remedy that is often used in ENT practice to treat nasal diseases. This is an important organ of the respiratory system and disruption of its functioning can lead to serious complications. Due to the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory properties of the salt solution, rhinitis and sinusitis go away much faster if you rinse your nose with sea salt daily.
Halotherapy (salt treatment) is an effective non-drug method of therapy. The unique composition of sea salt helps to cope with many different diseases. It contains a large amount of iodine, which is credited with all its beneficial properties. This trace element has a healing, antiseptic, antibacterial effect, and also maintains the hormonal balance of the body. In addition to iodine, sea salt contains a lot of magnesium, manganese, iron and copper - important minerals involved in the functioning of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems, as well as in the processes of hematopoiesis.
Knowing how to make the correct sea salt solution for rinsing the nose, the basic rules for the procedure, you can treat complex diseases of the ENT organs at home. This is a very simple but effective method of treating such pathologies.
The nose is an important organ of the respiratory system, so its condition must be monitored. It moisturizes, warms the inhaled air, and is involved in the process of smell. Colds and allergic diseases can disrupt the functioning of this organ, which can lead to severe and very dangerous complications.
Rinsing your nose with sea salt is indicated for:
- treatment of various rhinitis (in combination with other drugs);
- reducing dryness of the nasal mucosa;
- removal of mucus in infants and pregnant women;
- relieving swelling due to inflammation of the maxillary and other sinuses;
- cleansing the nasal cavity from allergens;
- restoration of the mucosa during the development of atrophic rhinitis.
A solution of sea salt for a runny nose is one of the best therapeutic and preventive remedies. During the period of active viral infections, it can be used to protect the body from infection. 
Contraindications to the procedure
Despite the enormous benefits of sea salt, not everyone can use it. There are some conditions and diseases in which saline rinsing should not be performed:
- otitis;
- tumors of unknown etiology in the nasal cavities;
- periodic nosebleeds;
- allergic reactions to components of sea salt.
It is important to note that when performing the procedure, you must follow the general rules and observe the recommended proportions. Otherwise, rinsing a sore nose with sea salt at home can cause harm to the body. 
How to properly dilute sea salt for nasal rinsing?
Today, many pharmaceutical companies produce a huge number of products with the addition of sea salt to help cope with ENT diseases. But preparing a solution for rinsing the nose is not difficult at home. This requires:
- salt (sea);
- boiled water;
- standard glass;
- teaspoon.
How to prepare the right saline solution? The following proportions are suitable for an adult: for a glass of water (no more than 36° C) a level teaspoon of salt. Depending on the severity of the disease and the patient’s age, the doctor may prescribe a different ratio. 
Sea salt for rinsing should be used in accordance with the rules of hygiene. Before doing this, it is recommended to thoroughly wash the glass and rinse it with hot boiled water. The same should be done with a spoon.
How to properly rinse your nose with sea salt - instructions
To carry out the procedure, you need to take any container with a narrow and smooth neck, so that it fits into one nasal passage without any problems. You can use a regular kettle for brewing tea, a neti pot, a syringe or a disposable syringe. Which device is chosen does not matter; it should be convenient for the patient. But you need to know how to properly rinse your nose with the solution.
“Grandma’s” method of washing
If you don’t have anything convenient and suitable at hand, you can rinse your nose the “grandmother’s” way. This procedure is easy to do even not at home. Sea salt for nasal rinsing is used as follows:
- A teaspoon of the product is stirred in water until completely dissolved.
- The prepared salt solution is scooped up with the palm of your hand.
- The fingers of the second hand press one nostril, and the opposite hand slowly draws in liquid from the palm.
- If the actions are correct, the solution will flow out through the mouth.
- Next, the procedure is carried out with the other nostril.
This washing method is quite simple, but is not suitable for everyone. For small children and infants, other methods should be used. 
Using a kettle
The procedure is best carried out in the bathroom. They do it as follows:
- Add salt to a teapot or neti pot and dilute it with water.
- The head is tilted over the sink and turned to one side.
- The spout of the teapot is inserted into the nostril located on top.
- If everything is done correctly, the liquid will flow out of the parallel nostril.
- Next, all actions are repeated, tilting and turning the head in the opposite direction.
After washing, you should lie down for a while and rest. It is not recommended to go out into the fresh air after the procedure. 
Using a syringe, douche
Other suitable devices can be used to rinse the nose. It is very convenient to carry out the manipulation using a regular syringe or a medical syringe.
- Use the selected device to draw up the solution.
- Then the head is bowed over the bathtub or sink and the tip of the bulb or syringe is inserted into the nostril.
- After slowly squeezing the syringe or pressing the syringe plunger, liquid will begin to flow into the nasal passage and flow out through the other.
- All steps are repeated by inserting the device from the second side.
Features of nasal rinsing for children
Sometimes this procedure is required for infants, because when their nose is not breathing, babies cannot latch on to the breast and eat properly. For babies from 0 to 12 months, a solution of sea salt is instilled with a pipette after clearing the nose with cotton wool. Then, after a couple of minutes, the remains are pulled out with a special device - an aspirator.
How to prepare a solution for a child? Its strength in this case must be halved. A glass of chilled boiled water requires a little less than half a teaspoon. You can carry out the procedure to improve breathing 3-4 times a day. Infants are instilled alternately with 2-3 drops at each turn. To rinse the nose of older children (2-5 years old), it is better to use a syringe or a small syringe. 
How often should you rinse your nose with sea salt for a runny nose and sinusitis?
A common runny nose, if left untreated, leads to the development of an inflammatory process in the maxillary and other sinuses, which is fraught with serious consequences. Uncomplicated rhinitis responds well to treatment, but rinsing the nasal passages with sea salt helps speed up recovery. Carrying out this procedure daily 3-4 times a day can reduce swelling of the mucous membrane and make breathing easier. In addition, the components of sea salt have an antibacterial and wound-healing effect, which speeds up recovery.
For sinusitis and sinusitis, the number of rinses can be increased to 5-6. However, you should know that treatment of such diseases should be carried out strictly under the supervision of a doctor. Additionally, the use of antibiotics may be required.
Can a pregnant woman rinse her nose with sea salt?
Sea salt is not prohibited for use by pregnant women. Moreover, this is the only remedy that does not cause any harm to the female body during this difficult period and does not affect the development of the fetus. The recommended proportions for preparing the solution should not be increased. The shelf life of fresh product is one day, so you need to prepare a new one the next day.
Depending on how you feel at first, the procedure should be performed up to 6 times a day. As you recover, their number can be reduced to 3-4. For one wash you need to take approximately 50-60 ml of the prepared saline solution. 
Is it possible to rinse your nose with iodized sea salt?
Since sea salt also contains iodine, using iodized salt for rinsing makes sense. It is possible to carry out manipulations using such a solution, but only for a limited number of days. The course of treatment in this case should be no more than 1-2 weeks. Longer use can lead to the accumulation of this element in the body. Excessive amounts of iodine can lead to disruption of the thyroid gland and other problems in the body.
The rinsing solution is prepared in the same way as sea salt is diluted. It should be used according to the instructions above no more than 3-4 times a day. By the way, this solution is effective for rinsing the larynx for colds.
Rinsing the nose is an extremely useful procedure. It is widespread in some cultures, for example, it is actively practiced among yogis.
In our realities, rinsing the nose has an important preventive value, because a salted solution allows you to remove accumulated mucus, restore nasal breathing, reduce swelling of the nasal mucosa and reduce the amount of discharge; in addition, it is an excellent remedy for easing breathing during a runny nose and an effective prevention of sinusitis.
How often should you rinse your nose?
If you develop rhinitis, then to stop the disease, you can rinse your nose 3-4 times a day, about an hour or two after eating.
How to rinse your nose?
You can purchase a ready-made solution for rinsing the nose at the pharmacy; all preparations for rinsing the upper respiratory tract contain an isotonic solution - a solution of sodium chloride (salt) at a concentration of 0.9%. There are also preparations based on sea water.
But you can prepare a rinsing solution at home by dissolving half a teaspoon of regular salt in a glass of water. However, the exact salt concentration should be determined individually, because if the solution stings, be sure to add water and make it less salty.
The temperature of the rinsing solution should be comfortable and close to body temperature - 36.6 degrees. Too hot water can injure the nasal mucosa.
In addition, you can rinse your nose with a weak decoction of herbs, such as chamomile, coltsfoot, sage or other anti-inflammatory herbs. You can rinse your nose with any mineral water without gas or with ordinary boiled water.
Nasal rinsing technology
Most ENT offices have special devices that help rinse the nose. However, you should resort to this method either as prescribed by a doctor, or if home rinsing, which is not so difficult, is not suitable for you.
For home rinsing, you will need a syringe or a regular syringe without a needle, into which you need to draw a pre-prepared solution. Bend over the sink, turn your head to the side so that the solution entering the nostril, bending around the nasal septum, flows out through the other nostril. Breathe through your mouth. Insert the tip of the syringe or syringe into the nostril and apply pressure, but do not force the solution into the nose.
If the airway is not obstructed, the solution will pass through the nasopharynx and flow out through the second nostril. Don't be alarmed if some of the solution leaks out of your mouth. Do the same with the second nostril and blow your nose after the procedure. The main thing is to learn to relax while washing.
If you need to rinse your child’s nose, the rinsing technique is exactly the same, the only thing is, ask the baby to hold his breath while inhaling. The main thing is that he is not afraid of this procedure, so first show the process with your own example.
If an infant needs to rinse the nose, then lay him on his back and drip 2-3 drops of saline solution into the nostril, then use a cotton swab soaked in oil to very carefully clean it, twisting the cotton no more than 2 cm. Then do the same. Do the same with the other nostril.
Alternative methods
If the classic method of rinsing your nose with salt water seems uncomfortable, you can try doing it differently. For example, pouring water from a teapot into the nostril and releasing it through the mouth. You can try sniffing the salty solution from the saucer with your nose.
Why rinse your nose when you have a runny nose?
Usually the main source of inflammation is a virus that has entered the nasal cavity. Due to rhinitis, the nasal mucosa becomes inflamed, swells, and edema begins. Usually a runny nose is combined with inflammation of the nasopharynx and pharynx, that is, nasal congestion is complemented by a sore throat, but inflammation can spread below the level of the pharynx - into the larynx, which will lead to laryngitis.
In addition, the swelling can spread to the mouth of the auditory tube, the middle ear loses its ability to cleanse itself, which will lead to the development of otitis media.
To prevent this path of the virus from the nose to the larynx and middle ear, it is worth rinsing your nose at the first symptoms of a runny nose, which will help remove plaque, excess mucus and pus.
Also, rinsing the nose during illness helps medications - sprays, drops and ointments - work better. If the nasal mucosa is not cleaned, but is covered with mucus or pus, then the drug will fall on the secretions and come out of the nose with them, without bringing the expected relief or therapeutic effect.
When not to rinse
If your nose is stuffy. In acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections, the mucous membrane swells and blocks normal breathing, so there is a risk of applying the solution with too much pressure and, along with the liquid, bringing the causative agent of the disease to the middle ear. Therefore, during rinsing, the nose must breathe; in extreme cases, vasoconstrictor drops can be used before the procedure.
Before leaving the house, you should rinse your nose at least half an hour before you go outside.
With a curved septum, the efficiency of washing will be extremely low.
If you have polyps, it is useless to rinse your nose yourself; in this case, qualified help is needed.
Also contraindications to rinsing the nose are tumor formations in the nasal cavity, a predisposition to nosebleeds, inflammation of the middle ear or the risk of its occurrence, an allergic reaction to the components of the solution.
