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Buffered Hypertonic Saline Solution –
For Nasal Irrigation
Benefits:
- Washes crusts and debris
from nose.
- Salty water pulls fluid
out of the swollen membranes of your nose.
- Decongests nose
- Improves air flow and
breathing
- Helps open sinus
passages
- A mixture of
concentrated salt and baking soda helps the nose work better
and move mucus out faster.
Recipe:
- 1 quart of clean tap or
bottled water (Don’t have to boil it)
- 2-3 heaping teaspoons of
“pickling/canning” salt. Don’t use table salt which has additives.
- 1 rounded teaspoon of
baking soda (pure bicarbonate)
- Stir or shake before each
use. Discard at end of day and make fresh solution daily
- If the mixture seems too
strong, use less salt—try 1˝ to 2 tsp of salt.
- For children, start with
a weaker solution and gradually increase to 2 – 3 heaping tsp of
salt or whatever the child will accept.
Instructions:
- Rinse nose with salt
solution 2 to 3 times each day. Use a bulb/ear syringe or a
Waterpik.
- Pour some salt water into
a clean bowl. Some people prefer warm (body temp) solution by
warming it in the microwave. Do not use hot solution.
- Fill syringe with water
from bowl. Don’t put the syringe into the bowl or jar with the
original solution, because that will contaminate it.
- Lean over the sink or in
the shower and squirt the salt water into each side of your nose.
Aim at the back of your head, not the top. This lets you spit some
it out and it won’t hurt if you swallow a little. Most of the
solution will run back out of the nose.
- Try to get 3 bulb
syringe-fuls into each side of the nose 3 times a day.
- Some people notice a mild
burning the first few time the salt is used. This usually goes
away in a few days.
For Young Children:
- Put the salt water in a
small commercial spray container, like a nasal steroid spray
bottle. Squirt it many times into each side of the nose.
Do not force your child to lie down. It is easier to do when
sitting or standing.
If You Use a Nasal
Steroid:
- Use the salt water first,
and then use the nasal steroid (Flonase, Nasonex, Rhinocort,
Nasarel, TriNasal). The steroid works better when the nasal
membranes have been cleaned and decongested.
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