Saline (salt water) can be prepared easily at home each day: Mix 1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt in 8 ounces (1 cup) tap water. Rock, sea, pickling or kosher salt are best, but table salt is fine. You need not boil the water.
Irrigations are best performed using a BULB SYRINGE (available at the drugstore for cleaning ears), since it instills much more saline into your nose than does the mist from a purchased squeeze bottle.
Lean over a sink and place the bulb syringe just into the opening of the nostril. Squirt the saline into the nostril. Aim back into the nose more than up. Let it run back down into the sink. Some may go back into your throat; this will not hurt you, but it can be minimized by leaning far over the sink. You may sniff after the irrigation to spread it throughout your nose.
Saline can also be purchased at the drug store in small plastic spray bottles. While not as effective as the bulb syringe irrigations, they are good for portable use when you are not near a sink. Because of the smaller quantity of salt water in each spray, this should be used every 20-30 minutes. Nasal saline is available in many brands (e.g. Ocean Spray®, Ayr®, etc.); buy the least expensive since they are all salt water!
It is common to experience mild burning for the first few irrigations – this usually passes.
A variation which you may prefer includes adding 1/4 tsp baking soda; it can be gentler.
Patients using saline irrigations are also commonly on nasal steroid sprays; they are a powerful combination. If you use both, be sure to perform the saline irrigation first, then use the nasal steroid spray. The steroid spray will stick better to the nasal mucosa, go farther into the nose, and be better absorbed after the nose is rinsed and decongested with the saline.
The doctor also recommended Afrin® nasal decongestant (0.05% oxymetazoline; you may use an over-the-counter equivalent). Use it twice daily for 3-5 days, but no longer – it is addictive!
If you have any problems or questions, please do not hesitate to call the OSENTA office.
