Nasal wash

A saltwater nasal wash helps remove mucus, bacteria, and other foreign materials from the nose and sinuses. This can temporarily reduce symptoms of nasal congestion and postnasal drip. Doing a nasal wash before using a steroid nasal spray may make the steroid more effective. After doing a nasal wash, wait until the draining stops, then use your nasal spray as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Nasal saline wash of the nose can be one of the most helpful treatments for both acute and chronic sinus problems.

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A nasal wash:

• Cleans mucus from the nose so medication is more effective.
• Cleans allergens and irritants from the nose, reducing their impact.
• Removes bacteria and viruses from the nose, reducing the frequency of infection.
• Decreases swelling in the nose and increases air flow.

The first step in carrying out a nasal wash is to wash your hands. Next, prepare the nasal wash solution.

To make the saltwater solution for the nasal wash:

• Mix one-half teaspoon uniodized salt in an 8-ounce glass of warm water. Uniodized salt is used because iodized salt may be irritating when used over a long period of time.
• Add a pinch of baking soda. A pinch is a small amount you can pick up between two fingers.
• If you are congested, use the entire 8 ounces of saltwater during the nasal wash; otherwise, 4 ounces should be enough. Briefly, the wash involves squirting saltwater into one side of your nose and letting it run out the other; see the next page for techniques to use. After the wash, discard any unused saltwater. Prepare a new saltwater solution before the next nasal wash, using a clean glass.