What is nasal irrigation?
Nasal irrigation is an at-home treatment to rinse your sinuses. Your sinuses are air-filled, hollow cavities behind the bones in your face. Usually, they remain open so you can breathe easily. If your sinuses become irritated or inflamed, however, mucus (snot) can clog your nasal cavities.
With nasal irrigation, you flush away the clog using a saline solution (water and sodium chloride mix) with a neti pot or a rinse bottle. Nasal irrigation thins the mucus that’s causing the clog. It rinses away substances causing the swelling.
Which nasal irrigation is best?
You can buy the ingredients for nasal irrigation over the counter at most pharmacies or drug stores. All you need is a saline solution and a container to administer it. All containers sold for nasal irrigation purposes work equally well. Choose a container that’s most comfortable for you.
Containers include:
- Neti pots that allow you to pour saline into your nostrils, as if you were pouring tea from a teapot.
- Rinse bottles that you squeeze into your nostrils.
- Containers with special applicators that contain a prefilled saline solution.
What is nasal irrigation good for?
Nasal irrigation clears mucus and flushes out pathogens, allergens or other debris. Pathogens include germs, like bacteria and viruses. Allergens include pollen, mold, dirt, dust and pet dander. When these substances get trapped in your nose, they irritate your sinuses and cause symptoms like:
- A stuffy or runny nose.
- Itchy feeling in your nose or sneezing.
- Trouble breathing.
Nasal irrigation can help with symptom relief associated with allergies, sinus infections (sinusitis), colds, flu and COVID-19, among other conditions.
Who shouldn’t try nasal irrigation?
Nasal irrigation isn’t for everyone. You shouldn’t try nasal irrigation if you:
- Have an ear infection.
- Have pressure in one or both ears.
- Have a nostril that’s completely blocked.
- Have had surgery on your ears or sinuses.
Contact your healthcare provider if you have questions about whether nasal irrigation is safe for you.
What kind of water can you use to irrigate your nose?
It’s essential to use water that doesn’t contain substances that could irritate your sinuses or make you sick. Most water contains trace amounts of minerals, germs, pesticides and other substances. You don’t want to introduce these substances to your sinuses during nasal irrigation.
Instead, use:
- Distilled or sterile water: Distilled water is purified. It’s gone through a process to remove materials that could irritate your nasal passageways and germs that may make you sick. Look for “distilled” on the water before buying it.
- Boiled water: Boiling water kills harmful organisms, like bacteria. Boil water for five minutes to ensure you’ve killed all the germs. If you can’t use it immediately, place a lid on the container. Use it within 24 hours.
- Filtered water: Certain water filters can remove harmful organisms so that water is safe to use. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) offers detailed guidance about which filters are safe for nasal irrigation.
FAQs
Usually, there are no side effects. Some people experience burning or stinging in their noses after doing nasal irrigation. If this happens, reduce the amount of salt you use in your saline solution. Also, make sure that boiled water has cooled to lukewarm before you use it.
What are the benefits of nasal rinse? ›
Sinus rinsing can remove dust, pollen and other debris, as well as help to loosen thick mucus. It can also help relieve nasal symptoms of sinus infections, allergies, colds and flu.
When should you not use nasal irrigation? ›
If the rinse is helping, you can irrigate your nose up to three times a day. But nasal rinses should not be used as a preventive measure when you don't have symptoms. It won't prevent sinus issues and can cause infections to develop.
Is nasal irrigation safe long term? ›
But using it too often can irritate your nasal passages. And it might be counterproductive to use it daily for a long time. The mucus in our nasal passages helps to protect us against infection. It captures germs and irritants before they enter our bodies and can even kill some bacteria.
What comes out during nasal irrigation? ›
The saline solution flows out of the neti pot and through your nasal cavity and out the other nostril.
What is the best time of day to do a nasal rinse? ›
The solution made with the SINUS RINSE™ packet will not burn or sting because it is pH neutral. Moreover, the ingredients in each packet are identical, taking the guesswork out of preparing the solution and giving you the same solution each time you make it. Nasal rinses can be done at any time of day.
How to clean a deep inside nose? ›
Using a squeeze bottle, bulb syringe, or neti pot, pour or squeeze the saline solution slowly into the upper nostril. Allow the solution to pour out your other nostril and into the drain. Breathe through your mouth, not your nose, at this time. Repeat on the opposite side.
What is the best nasal irrigation system? ›
1. Naväge Nasal Care System. The Navage is our top choice for your nasal irrigation needs. The Navage Nasal Irrigation System is a highly effective and convenient solution for people with nasal congestion, sinus pressure, or other symptoms.
How many times can you do a nasal rinse? ›
Irrigate your nose with saline 1 to 2 times per day. If you have been told to use nasal medication, you should always use your saline solution first. The nasal medication is much more effective when sprayed onto clean nasal membranes, and the spray will reach deeper into the nose.
Can you overdo nasal irrigation? ›
DON'T overuse it. Use a nasal rinse as needed, whether it be a few days or once a week. When your allergies are bad, you can use a neti pot or nasal rinse one to two times per day. Be aware, though, that using nasal rinses too often can irritate your nasal passages.
Abstract. Background: Nasal saline irrigations are a valuable, widely used adjunct for the management of chronic rhinosinusitis. Due to potential concerns regarding infection, patients are commonly recommended to use distilled, bottled, or boiled tap water when mixing these solutions.
Why use baking soda in nasal rinse? ›
Nasal washes or rinses containing baking soda can be particularly helpful in thinning the mucus out and making it clear. People with allergic rhinitis and acute or chronic sinusitis might consider using baking soda nasal rinses regularly. This can help keep airways clear from mucus and reduce the risk of infection.
What happens if you use tap water for sinus rinse? ›
CDC Reports Deadly Amoeba Infection Due to Nasal Rinsing With Untreated Tap Water. New research from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has found that using a neti pot in combination with tap water increases your risk of a rare but serious infection.
Why do my ears hurt after a nasal rinse? ›
A: Since the Eustachian tube drains into the back of the nose, there is potential for a pressurized rinse to regurgitate irrigant into the middle ear space. This will temporarily diminish hearing and cause some pain, but will resolve with time.
How to make a homemade nasal rinse? ›
Saline Nasal Washes for Sinusitis
- Add 2 cups (500 mL) distilled water to a clean container. If you use tap water, boil it first to sterilize it. Let it cool until it's lukewarm.
- Add 1 tsp (5 mL) non-iodized salt to the water.
- Add 1 tsp (5 mL) baking soda.
Because your ear, nose and throat are interconnected, using sinus rinses or neti pots can sometimes cause water to get stuck in your ears. If this happens, try one of the self-care tips mentioned above to drain the water from your ear or book an appointment with a hearing care specialist.
What are the side effects of I Rinse nasal spray? ›
Use I-Rinse 0.9% Nasal Spray 100 ml as advised. In some cases, you may experience certain common side effects such as cough, sneezing, abnormal taste, and stinging sensation in the nose. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time.
Is bottled water safe for nasal rinse? ›
Abstract. Background: Nasal saline irrigations are a valuable, widely used adjunct for the management of chronic rhinosinusitis. Due to potential concerns regarding infection, patients are commonly recommended to use distilled, bottled, or boiled tap water when mixing these solutions.
