Nasal Irrigation For Allergies Or Infection
Nasal irrigation is a cheap and easy way for people with allergies, nasal congestion, stuffy noses and post-nasal drip to get relief, says Dr. Melissa Pynnonen, co-director of the Michigan Sinus Center and an assistant professor in the University of Michigan’s department of otolaryngology:
“For most patients, the benefit of nasal irrigation is that it does a great job of treating symptoms that otherwise aren’t well treated with medicine, nasal irrigation can be considered a first-line treatment for common nasal and sinus symptoms. It’s often more effective than medications.”
Nasal irrigation involves rinsing nasal passages with a solution made with a quarter-teaspoon of kosher salt, eight ounces of warm water and a quarter-teaspoon of baking soda. Some Ayurvedic mixtures recommend using just finely ground sea salt and warm water.
If you have a sinus infection, then you can add substances like wild oregano oil (dilute 7:1 in olive oil, then add 14 drops to your warm water and mix well) or grapefruit seed extract to the warm water.
For people who’ve never done nasal irrigation, Pynnonen recommended using an eight-ounce squeeze bottle and squirting four ounces of the solution into each nostril. The solution exits through the opposite nostril. Opening your mouth and making a “K” sound will prevent the solution from coming out of your mouth.
However, this video, which shows you how to use a neti pot, may well be the best method to use – with the best chance of not getting “sinus burn”:
Excellent Neti Pot Video
The squeeze bottle and complete instructions can be found on the website of a company called Niel-Med Sinus Rinse. This procedure worked so quickly to eliminate my sinus headaches. I literally would not be able to work if I had not solved this problem. Don’t be fooled by those little bottles of salt water that give you a couple drops….doesn’t work. This stimulates your own system to clean itself. Ten minutes or so after doing it you will experience some drainage…that’s how you know it’s working. Also…do not fail to bring that water to room temp before using…works much better! Using this technique would keep a lot of people from getting sinus surgery, which MD’s suggest to sinus sufferers.
Look into adding Magnesium. I add inexpensive Epsom Salts (Magnesium) to a hyper-tonic saline solution (similar to the above). Some people prefer Dead Sea Salts and the benefit (I think) is the Mg. I think I saw that there are some U.S. Patents applied for for the use of Mg in nasal sprays to reduce inflammation. It’s the internet… check it out.
Good luck. I appreciate getting a recommendation on the amount of Oregano Oil in a sinus rinse… thank you! Despite my best efforts, I seem to be fighting off a mild sinus infection. I have read that Oregano Oil can kill MRSA at 1,000 to 1 dilution. There are 3648 drops in 8 oz. I may add the tiniest touch of a soap to emulsify the oil. I’ve also seen evidence that breathing the vapors is good enough so maybe some drops of oil in hot water and a towel over my head. We’ll see…
Add A Comment