For many respiratory diseases, doctors advise rinsing the nasopharynx with different solutions. Nasal rinsing helps cleanse the mucous membrane of pathogenic microorganisms and allergens . Thanks to these procedures, tissue swelling is reduced and inflammation is eliminated. In addition, such procedures can also be carried out for preventive purposes. Due to them, local immunity is strengthened and a person’s susceptibility to ARVI is reduced. A device for rinsing the nose can be either completely primitive or complex.
Carrying out the procedure at home
Rinsing the nose does not have to be done in a hospital treatment room; this procedure can be carried out in normal home conditions. Most often, at home, people use a small rubber bulb or a disposable syringe without a needle. But you need to know that there are various devices that will help you carry out the washing procedure more efficiently.
Pharmacies sell several types of devices for high-quality nasal rinsing:
- Bottles. Using a plastic bottle with a medicinal solution, you can thoroughly rinse your nasal passages. Suitable pressure is created by pressing on the walls of the bottle.
- Neti teapots and watering cans. Here the fluid pressure can be adjusted by tilting the device.
- Aspirators. Using such a device, you can remove accumulated mucus from the nasal passages. An aspirator creates a vacuum in the nasal cavity.
There are also quite complex devices that can be used to rinse the nose at home. These include a compressor nebulizer. When inhalations are carried out with special solutions, the mucous membrane is softened and cleansed of pathogenic microorganisms. After inhalation, mucus leaves the nose easily.
To treat a runny nose, inhalations through a nebulizer are carried out using saline solution or alkaline mineral water. It is acceptable to use a baking soda solution.
How to rinse your nose at home
To properly rinse your nose at home, you need to adhere to the following rules:
- Use weak solutions of medications so as not to damage the nasal mucosa.
- The solution temperature should be room temperature (no more than 24 degrees).
- Carry out the procedure regularly (in winter - for preventive purposes).
- Before walking after irrigation, lubricate the nasal passages with oxolinic ointment (to protect against microbes).
Using home remedies you can:
- eliminate nasal congestion;
- remove the resulting secretion and mucus;
- normalize breathing;
- reduce swelling of the mucous membrane.
You can rinse your nose either using special rinsing devices or using a regular saucer.
Dolphin
Dolphin is a unique system for cleansing the nose, thanks to which the population of pathogenic microorganisms in the nasopharynx is reduced and swelling is eliminated . This device is suitable for treating both adults and children. The technique for performing the procedure using the Dolphin system looks like this:
- Water, previously boiled and cooled to a temperature of 37 degrees, is poured into the bottle up to the mark. One sachet of medicinal powder is dissolved in it.
- Next, you should lean over the sink, tilting your head slightly to the side. The tip of the bottle is pressed tightly against the nostril that is higher.
- Inhale deeply and hold your breath. Then press the bottle and rinse the nasal passages. When the procedure is carried out correctly, the liquid pours out of the second nostril. The mouth should be open.
- After this, you just need to blow your nose.
Dolphin powder contains sea salt, baking soda, dry rosehip and licorice extract. Due to this composition, the drug has a pronounced antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous effect.
Dolphin is recommended for use in the treatment of runny nose of any etiology. In addition, the drug is used for adenoiditis and for preventive purposes. The solution can be used to sanitize the mucosa before surgery.
Procedures should be carried out no more than 2 times a day. The duration of treatment usually does not exceed 2 weeks. Pregnant women should be treated with this drug with extreme caution, as there is a high risk of nosebleeds.
The Dolphin system cannot be used for certain ailments and conditions. The main contraindications are:
- Deviations of the nasal septum, which impede the passage of the nasal passages.
- Tumors of various types in the nasal cavity.
- Age up to 4 years.
- Severe nasal congestion.
- Regular nosebleeds.
If the procedure is performed incorrectly, there is a risk of fluid entering the middle ear area, which can lead to otitis media.
Dolphin in many cases is considered a more effective remedy than other drugs that contain sea salt.
Efficiency
A runny nose worsens a person’s condition and can cause complications, so treatment cannot be ignored.
When taking traditional medications (tablets, drops), the risk of adverse reactions increases. The devices are safer, which is why patients often prefer them. Ignoring a runny nose can cause serious complications, such as:
- sinusitis;
- otitis;
- lack of air for the brain;
- inflammation of the bronchi;
- pneumonia.
These devices have a wide range of capabilities. Most often, the operating principle is based on the influence of steam, electrical charges, and heat. They warm up the tissues, kill microbes that caused the infection, so the result comes quickly. Each device comes with instructions for use. If all rules are followed, therapy will lead to recovery.
Aqualor
You can also thoroughly rinse your nasal passages with the Aqualor medicinal solution. This product is produced in the form of nasal drops and a spray with a special nozzle.
This preparation contains sea salt. The salt concentration varies slightly depending on the form of the medicine. Less concentrated solutions are always used to treat children.
It is not difficult to rinse the nasal cavity at home; just bend over the bathtub, turning your head slightly to the side, and spray the spray into the nostril at the top for 5 seconds. After this, the nose is blown out and this manipulation is repeated with the second nostril.
There are practically no contraindications to the use of Aqualor. This drug should be used with caution by pregnant women and people with individual intolerance to certain components of the drug.
After using the nasal spray, rinse the nozzle well with running water and dry.
Rinolife
The Rinolife system will help to effectively rinse the nasal passages. This nasal rinsing device is equipped with a special nozzle that will help thoroughly clean the mucous membrane of microorganisms, mucus and dried crusts.
As solutions for cleansing the nasal cavity, you can take pharmaceutical preparations or compositions prepared independently. The most commonly used are sea water, salt and soda solutions, saline, and herbal decoctions.
The principle of operation of the Rhinolife system is identical to Dolphin. The strength of the jet is regulated by pressing on the plastic bottle. It is not recommended to use this method of cleaning the nose if there are some contraindications:
- Children under 4 years old.
- Hypertension.
- Tendency to nosebleeds.
- Deviation of the nasal septum, which obstructs the passage of the nose.
The nasal rinsing device should only be used by one person. It is unacceptable for different people, even members of the same family, to perform procedures with the same device.
The Rinolife device can be used to clear the nose of children and pregnant women. You should not use decoctions of medicinal herbs if your runny nose is caused by allergies.
Aqua Maris
Aqua Maris is a unique nasal rinsing device that can be used to treat all categories of patients . The device is made in the form of a watering can with a special nozzle shape. To rinse the nose, use a sea salt solution prepared from dosed sachet bags. The contents of one sachet are poured into a teapot and filled with warm water, stirred until the granules are completely dissolved and then rinsed out the nose.
This composition is recommended for clearing the nose of children over 3 years of age and adults. To treat rhinitis in young children, nasal drops should be used. They put them in the nose, and then clear it of mucus using an aspirator.
Aqua Maris solution is recommended to be used to cleanse the nose in the following cases:
- For any respiratory diseases, both in the acute stage and during the recovery period.
- For chronic diseases of the ENT organs, especially in the acute stage.
- For vasomotor rhinitis, to soften the mucous membrane and remove crusts.
- For the prevention of respiratory diseases.
The Aqua Maris device is often recommended for adenoiditis and sinusitis. In this case, nasal rinsing procedures are included as part of complex treatment.
Aqua Maris solution is completely natural, so there are almost no contraindications to its use.
Solutions
Any solution used in the device must contain the required amount of salts. This level must correspond to the level of salts in the composition of our blood. Mucosal cells have a very thin membrane and can be destroyed when in contact with ordinary water. Neutral water will tend to dissolve the salts contained in the cells to restore balance (osmosis) and will penetrate into the cells. As a result, the cell membrane bursts and the cell dies. Therefore, using ordinary water is strictly prohibited.
Sea salt solution or saline solution are the most versatile means for irrigating the nasal cavity. The temperature of the solution should correspond to the temperature of the human body - approximately 37 degrees. To prepare the solution, you must use boiled water. The kit includes 30 sachets of sea salt, 2.7 g each.
To prepare a medicinal solution for rinsing the nasal passages, you must use warm boiled water. The fact is that a cold solution can aggravate the course of the disease and irritate the nasopharyngeal mucosa. On the other hand, hot water can cause tissue burns.
If you plan to use a herbal decoction for the procedure, it should be filtered before use. If burning sensations appear during the procedure, you need to rinse the solution from the surface of the mucous membrane with boiled water. Next time, it is recommended to prepare a medicinal product for rinsing with a lower concentration of the active substance (salt, antiseptic, plant).
The following solutions can be used for hygiene and treatment:
- saline. To prepare, just dilute 5 g of salt in 350 ml of warm water. The ingredient should be thoroughly dissolved to avoid irritation of the mucous membrane. Salt can be used as food salt or sea salt;
- iodine To enhance the therapeutic effect, you can add a couple of drops of iodine to the saline solution (if you are not allergic to iodine-containing medications);
- soda-salt. During an epidemic of viral diseases, as well as during infectious and inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx, rinsing can be done with soda-salt liquid. To prepare, you need to dissolve 2 g of components in 420 ml of water;
- herbal. To prepare you will need chamomile, eucalyptus, oak bark, sage, St. John's wort or green tea. 15 g of herb should be poured into 310 ml of boiling water;
- saline solution It can be purchased at the pharmacy in ready-made form;
- antiseptics (Furacilin, Miramistin) - are prescribed to sanitize the infectious focus.
Olive
To carry out the procedure, you can use a special nozzle, similar to the one with which the aspirator is equipped. A salt solution or other medicinal composition is poured into Esmarch's mug, and a tip is attached to the end of the hoses. Next, the tip is placed tightly against one nostril and, bowing your head over the bathtub, water is supplied, adjusting its pressure by raising or lowering the mug relative to the head.
Rinsing the nose using special devices is considered more effective. Thanks to this procedure, the mucous membrane is cleared of mucus, crusts and microbes, which leads to a decrease in swelling and inflammation .
