Salt Water Rinse

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I'm not sure if rinsing your nose with salt water is avoidance or if it's medication, but, either way, it's one of the most under-utilized treatments in chronic sinusitis and chronic rhinitis.

To get started, try dissolving a level teaspoon of salt and a pinch of baking soda in 8 ounces of distilled water, then rinsing the inside of your nose with this mixture. An infant's bulb syringe is an easy device to rinse with, but remember: with an infant, the purpose is to pull mucus out of the nose; with this adult salt water rinse technique, the purpose is to spray saline into your nose in order to irrigate mucus out.

You can also buy pre-packaged salt envelopes including an 8 ounce rinse bottle at Walgreen's under the name "Sinus Rinse", or get the easiest to use premixed form called "Simply Saline" at any pharmacy. Either way, you receive many benefits. Obviously, you moisten your nasal membranes and rinse away thickened secretions, which may cause obstruction. You also rinse out pollen or other allergens which you may have inhaled, lessening the chance of their promoting further allergic reactions.

Interestingly, though, you also rinse away some of the major basic protein (MBP). OK, what is MBP? It's one of the proteins released by the allergic white blood cells that helps protect you from becoming infected by germs. But when not busy fighting germs, too much MBP can also damage the protective lining of the nose and the lungs.

If you have chronic allergy or sinus symptoms, rinsing your nose with salt water will reduce the amount of MBP in your nose. Studies have shown that this simple, low-tech procedure, if done regularly, will reduce the symptoms and decrease the frequency of sinus infections.

David B. Engler, MD

Note: Information contained in this article should not be considered a substitute for consultation with a board-certified allergist to address individual medical needs.