Nasal irrigation

Nasal irrigation
Nasal irrigation (also called "nasal lavage" or "nasal douching") is an ancient and widespread practice.

There are many areas of the world where nasal irrigation is every bit as commonplace as the western practice of brushing one’s teeth.
Relative to nasal irrigation, oral rinses (gargles, mouthwashes) are a good deal more common in the western hemisphere. Unfortunately, most commercial rinses (such as Scope or Listerine) are formulated with the taste buds in mind, and are injurious to the mucosal lining of the mouth and throat. Listerine, for example, contains 26.9% alcohol (that’s nearly 54 proof!) In addition to alcohol, many commercial rinses contain a sweetener such as saccharine, and some contain detergents similar to what is used in toothpastes. Commercial oral rinses are probably not harmful if you are in good health, but if you are having problems with your throat, commercial rinses are not helpful and may contribute to your sense of discomfort.

Benefits and risks of nasal irrigation/oral rinses. These practices are most commonly prescribed for one of three purposes: to reduce tissue swelling (edema), to help clear tenacious mucus from the throat and/or nasal cavities, and to reduce dryness.

There are no known risks associated with oral rinses, other than the possibility of allergic reaction to one of the components (unlikely for one of the saline rinses, but certainly possible in the case of a commercial rinse, or if a formulated prescription is used– for example, an antibiotic rinse.)
Nasal irrigation can alter the environment of the nasal cavities and sinuses, making them more conducive to the growth of certain water-loving bacteria such as Pseudomonas. Also, irrigation should not be performed if you are suffering from acute sinusitis (an acute bacterial infection of the sinuses), since it could facilitate spread of the infection to the other sinuses, the eyes or throat. For these reasons, you should NOT irrigate your nose unless instructed to do so by your doctor.

How to do it. Commercial oral rinses cannot be used for nasal irrigation, with one exception (Alkalol, which is discussed below.) You can easily prepare an appropriate rinse/irrigant at home, and I have included a few recipes (below.) If possible, gargling and irrigating should be performed using a solution that is as warm as (or a bit warmer than) body temperature, but this is not essential.
Gargling should be done "deeply" so that the rinse penetrates deep into the throat. One way to do this is to vary the pitch of the sound you make while gargling (high, low, high, etc.) You will soon find a method that allows deep penetration into the throat. Don’t worry if you swallow a bit of the rinse– none of these solutions are harmful.
Nasal irrigation can be accomplished by a variety of means. In cultures where nasal irrigation is a routine daily practice, people "snuff" (inhale through the nose) the irrigant from a cupped hand. You could also purchase a small bulb syringe; these are sold in pharmacies and are usually used to aspirate mucus from the nostrils of infants, or to help irrigate wax from the ear canals (don’t use it for wax removal without talking to your doctor first!) The goal is to inhale (or squirt) the irrigant deeply enough that you thoroughly wash your nasal cavities. Once again, if a bit goes down the back of your throat don’t be concerned. This merely indicates that you have successfully lavaged the full length of your nasal cavity.

recipe-for-salt-water-gargle-1.

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