Nasal irrigation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 the symptoms of allergies^{[citation needed]}.

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 below. 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.

A neti pot is not really necessary. A large syringe, empty saline spray bottle with tube removed, or a baster may also be used.

Contents 1 Benefits and uses 2 Tools 3 Saline solution prep 4 See also 5 External links 6 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
• Treat empty nose syndrome (a crippled nose caused by over-aggressive turbinate resection)
• Improve breathing
• Temporarily reduce symptoms of post nasal drainage
• Reduce cough caused by post-nasal drip
• Temporarily reduce symptoms of phantosmia
• Treat acute bacterial rhinosinusitis^[2]

[edit] Tools

Traditionally, and most commonly, nasal irrigation is done very simply using a small vessel called a Jala neti pot. Other types of irrigators are available, including small watering cans for plants, ear wash bulbs, hand-squeezed bottles, large syringes, empty saline spray bottles with tube removed, basters, electricalelectrical pump nasal irrigators, and nasal attachments for water picks.^[5] One can also purchase pre-mixed saline solutions in a can that sprays or mists at the push of a button at a drug store, but these are moisturizers and do not rinse the nasal cavity.

[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 fine common table salt is 1/4 teaspooon per cup water; while a very coarse salt (kosher or sea) may require 1/2 teaspoon per cup. Many otolaryngologists suggest adding a small amount of baking soda to balance the pH and decrease the chance of "burning" the nasal mucosa.[1] 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]

Sea salt, iodized salt, and kosher salt should not be used because of the trace minerals and additives found in them. These extra chemicals, while beneficial as nutrients when eaten, can potentially cause damage to the mucous membranes. ^{[verification needed]}

[edit] See also

• Jala neti

[edit] External links

• University of Wisconsin Family Medicine nasal irrigation information
• YouTube Demonstration Video

[edit] References

1. ^ "Sinusitis Treatment: What Is New Is Old." About.com : Senior Health
2. ^ ^{a b} Rabago, D; Zgierska A, Mundt M, Barrett B, Bobula J, Maberry R (2002 Dec). "Efficacy of daily hypertonic saline nasal irrigation among patients with sinusitis: a randomized controlled trial". J Fam Pract 51 (12): 1049-55. PMID 12540331. Retrieved on 2006 Nov 22. 
3. ^ Rabago, D; Pasic T, Zgierska A, Mundt M, Barrett B, Maberry R (2005 Jul). "The efficacy of hypertonic saline nasal irrigation for chronic sinonasal symptoms". Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 133 (1): 3-8. PMID 16025044. Retrieved on 2006 Nov 22. 
4. ^ Tomooka, LT; Murphy C, Davidson TM (2000 Jul). "Clinical study and literature review of nasal irrigation". Laryngoscope 110 (7): 1189-93. PMID 10892694. Retrieved on 2006 Nov 22. 
5. ^ Website with nasal irrigation information
6. ^ Friedman, M; Vidyasagar R, Joseph N (2006 Jun). "A randomized, prospective, double-blind study on the efficacy of dead sea salt nasal irrigations". Laryngoscope 116 (6): 878-82. PMID 16735920. Retrieved on 2006 Nov 22.