saline nasal wash

Saline Nasal Wash

This remedy is used to treat any symptoms of mucus build-up in the nasal passages, caused by the common cold or chronic sinusitis. It consists of warm water (not too hot or it will burn your nose!) mixed with regular table salt. It can be applied through the nose using either a little spray bottle, or using a neti pot. A neti pot is a porcelain pot resembling a tea pot, used for nasal irrigation. It is used often in Southeast Asian Culture, but is starting to be used more and more in Western Culture. To use this, one mixes the salt and water in the pot and sticks the spout through one nostril, head tilted slightly forward so the water doesn’t go down the throat, and the salt water is poured through one nostril and out the other. Repeat on the other side, and make sure to gently blow your nose after using to get rid of excess water and mucus in the nasal passages. This method may be used as often as needed, up to about four times a day when you are sick. Some risks associated with using this remedy are not adequately draining all of the water out, which may lead to breathing problems later, or irritation of the lining of the nasal cavity.