Washing the nose is harmful. Why is nasal rinsing dangerous?

Washing the nose is an extremely useful procedure. It is widespread in some cultures, for example, actively practiced among yogis.

In our realities, washing the nose is of great preventive importance, because the salted solution allows you to remove accumulated mucus, restore nasal breathing, reduce swelling of the nasal mucosa and reduce the amount of secretions, in addition, it is an excellent remedy for easing breathing with a runny nose and effective prevention of sinusitis.

How often should you rinse your nose?

If you develop rhinitis, then to stop the disease, you can rinse your nose 3-4 times a day, about an hour or two after eating.

How to rinse your nose?

You can purchase a ready-made solution for washing the nose at the pharmacy, all preparations for washing the upper respiratory tract contain an isotonic solution - a solution of sodium chloride (salt) at a concentration of 0.9%. There are also preparations based on sea water.

But you can prepare a solution for washing at home by dissolving half a teaspoon of ordinary salt in a glass of water. However, the exact concentration of salt should be determined individually, because if the solution pinches, be sure to add water and make it less salty.

The temperature of the solution for washing should be comfortable and close to body temperature - 36.6 degrees. Too hot water can injure the nasal mucosa.

In addition, you can wash your nose with a weak decoction of herbs, such as chamomile, coltsfoot, sage, or other anti-inflammatory herbs. You can rinse your nose with any mineral water without gas or ordinary boiled water.

Nasal wash technology

Most ENT offices have special devices that help rinse the nose. However, this method should be resorted to either as prescribed by a doctor, or if home washing is not suitable for you, which is not so difficult to do.

For home washing, you will need a syringe or a regular syringe without a needle, into which you need to draw a pre-prepared solution. Bend over the sink, turn your head to the side so that the solution entering the nostril, bending around the nasal septum, flows out through the other nostril. Breathe through your mouth. Insert the tip of the syringe or syringe into the nostril and apply pressure, but not too abruptly, into the nose.

If the airway is not obstructed, the solution will pass through the nasopharynx and out through the second nostril. Do not be alarmed if some of the solution flows out through your mouth. Do the same with the second nostril and blow your nose after the procedure. The main thing is to learn how to relax while washing.

If you need to wash your child's nose, then the washing method is exactly the same, the only thing is, ask the baby to hold his breath while inhaling. The main thing is that he is not afraid of this procedure, so first show the process with your own example.

If you need to rinse the nose of a baby, then put it on its back and drip 2-3 drops of saline into the nostril, after which, with a flagellum made of cotton soaked in oil, very carefully clean it, twisting the cotton no more than 2 cm. Then the same do the same with the other nostril.

Alternative ways

If the classic way of rinsing your nose with salt water seems uncomfortable, you can try doing it differently. For example, pouring water from a teapot into the nostril and releasing it through the mouth. You can try to suck in a saline solution from a saucer with your nose.

Why rinse your nose during a runny nose?

Usually the main source of inflammation is a virus that has entered the nasal cavity. Because of rhinitis, the nasal mucosa becomes inflamed, swells, and edema begins. Usually, a runny nose is combined with inflammation of the nasopharynx and pharynx, that is, nasal congestion is complemented by a sore throat, but inflammation can spread below the level of the pharynx - into the larynx, which will lead to laryngitis.

In addition, edema can spread to the mouth of the auditory tube, the middle ear loses its ability to cleanse, which will lead to the development of otitis media.

To prevent this path of the virus from the nose to the larynx and middle ear, it is worth rinsing the nose at the first symptoms of a runny nose, which will help remove plaque, excess mucus and pus.

Also, washing the nose during illness helps medicines work better - sprays, drops and ointments. If the nasal mucosa is not cleansed, but covered with mucus or pus, then the drug will fall on the discharge and exit the nose with them, without bringing the expected relief or therapeutic effect.

When not to wash

If the nose is blocked. With acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections, the mucosa swells and blocks normal breathing, so there is a risk of applying a solution with too much pressure and, together with the liquid, bringing the causative agent of the disease to the middle ear. Therefore, during washing, the nose must breathe, in extreme cases, vasoconstrictor drops can be used before the procedure.

Before leaving the house, rinse your nose at least half an hour before you go outside.

With a curved septum, the washing efficiency will be extremely low.

In the presence of polyps, it is useless to rinse the nose on your own; in this case, qualified assistance is needed.

Also, contraindications to washing the nose are tumor formations in the nasal cavity, a predisposition to nosebleeds, inflammation of the middle ear or the risk of its occurrence, an allergic reaction to the components of the solution.

However, not many people know how many times you can rinse your nose with saline in order to feel comfortable and not harm your health.

The nose wash procedure is very popular in many countries and is often practiced by yogis. In our country, washing is used for prevention, because saline liquid makes it possible to easily eliminate the formed mucus, improve breathing and reduce the amount of discharge. When used correctly, the solution can help children with nasal problems, pregnant women, nursing mothers and people who have allergies.

How often should you rinse your nose?

Many people who monitor their health are interested in how often you can rinse your nose with salt water and if there are any contraindications. Doctors recommend this therapy every morning as hygiene procedures.

If rhinitis appears, then the number of daily procedures should be increased up to four times with breaks of two hours.

Important. Washing the nose with a saline solution helps to quickly get rid of a runny nose in children of different ages. Also, this method is good as a preventive measure.

During preventive procedures, washing can be done at least 3 times a week. But you need to pay attention to your well-being. The solution is made individually and the proportions in it are always different.

They depend on several factors:

the chosen washing technique;
time of therapy;
reasons for clearing the nasal passages.

If a person is sick with ARVI, then washing the nose with salt during a runny nose should be performed daily for 7 days. Flushing should also be carried out regularly for people who have chronic illnesses or work in dusty buildings.

Attention. If a person has an inflammatory process in the nose, then washing should be done once a day. A full course should be 6 days.

Nasal wash technology

The nostrils should not be washed together, but in turn. First you need to pinch one nostril with your finger and gradually pour the liquid into the other. This procedure must be performed carefully so that pain and discomfort do not appear. If desired, the solution can be poured into a glass or use the palm of your hand.

The solution, which is poured into the nose, exits through the mouth. If a person has a runny nose, then this does not happen immediately, but after a few minutes.

All remaining liquid should be poured out by exhaling from each nostril of the nose.

Thorough cleaning should be carried out so that no infection remains.

For the convenience of the procedure, it is better to use a syringe purchased at a pharmacy or a syringe with a volume of 10 ml. But for small children, syringes of a smaller volume are suitable. It is important to keep such devices clean so as not to introduce even more infection.

To rinse your baby's nose well, you can use a more gentle method:

ask the child to lie down on a bed or other flat surface;
inject a couple of drops of the solution into each nostril;
after a couple of minutes, the liquid from the nose will pass into the mouth;
spit out the solution.

Many parents are wondering how often to rinse their child's nose with saline. After all, children's procedures are different from adults. If you perform washing as a preventive procedure, then only once a day is enough. It is best to carry out this therapy in the morning after waking up.

Important. Before carrying out each procedure, a mandatory consultation with a doctor is necessary. Nasal lavage is no exception.

To get the desired effect from cleaning the nose, you must first make sure that it is not blocked. If even one nostril is clogged, then the procedure in this case is useless. After the therapy, a person is not recommended to leave the house for an hour. After all, the remaining liquid can freeze and further provoke the formation of a severe runny nose and inflammation.

Saline preparation

Many medicines with antiseptic properties have a number of side effects. As a result, allergic reactions may occur due to intolerance to one of the components of the drug.

But salt solutions allow you to perform painless procedures without causing an allergic reaction. For this reason, they can be adopted by pregnant women or nursing mothers. However, a good nasal cleansing solution should be prepared. Any salt can be used.

You should know that sea water has a great effect on the nasopharynx, protecting the body from various diseases, even those that have become chronic. If there is a chance to use sea water, then this is a good option for flushing.

It is better to buy home sea salt, which is sold in many supermarkets and pharmacies. The price for it is very affordable - within 40 rubles per kilogram.

There are three methods for making a nasopharyngeal irrigation solution.

The most popular options are:

1 tsp salt should be mixed in 500 ml of purified water.
In 1 st. pour water 2 tsp. sea salt. This fluid should only be used by adults who work in harsh environments. You should be aware that such a solution leads to drying of the mucous membrane and often the procedure is not worth it.
In one liter, it is necessary to dilute 2 tsp. salt. This solution is great for gargling and treating even chronic diseases.

To make a solution for babies, you need to reduce the dose of salt. It should be taken in a glass of purified water ¼ tsp. salt. This liquid is optimal and does not harm the health of the child.

If there is no sea salt in the house yet, then you can wash with a solution that is made from simple salt. It perfectly replaces sea salt, while maintaining all the advantages of therapy.

All proportions should be strictly observed. If you take the wrong amount of salt and water, it can worsen your health. The best option is to dilute a teaspoon of salt with 0.5 liters of water.

The question of how many times a day to rinse the nose often depends on the health of the person and his goal. For prevention, once a day is enough, but for treatment, the procedure should be performed every two hours until complete recovery.

Conclusion

Washing the nose with a prepared salt liquid is considered a useful and necessary procedure for every person. It can be performed as a therapeutic goal and for the prevention of various diseases of the nose.

It is important to first consult with your doctor about whether you can perform this procedure. Indeed, in rare cases, the doctor may even prohibit such therapy.

Directory of major ENT diseases and their treatment

All information on the site is for informational purposes only and does not claim to be absolutely accurate from a medical point of view. Treatment must be carried out by a qualified doctor. By self-medicating, you can harm yourself!

Is washing your nose every day harmful or beneficial?

I asked myself this question, since my husband’s mother (God forgive me ... always with bells and whistles) she has eternal muddies and methods of treatment, then they eat aloe with their grandmother whole crunching, now a new feature ... she rinses her nose every day ... you know how? breathing water into the nose, and from the tap… I think it’s easy to choke on water and in general what’s in this water, and it does it every day… and every time she comes to us, she starts brainwashing us like in a sect… what you need to wash your nose ... I already hesitated to answer her.

this is how this question appeared ... WHAT is it useful to rinse the nose with water, even if there is no illness?

Chat for moms

You are missing here!

Flushing every day is not harmful, even beneficial ... but not with tap water, of course, but with saline.

Well, during the epidemic of colds and flu, it is very necessary, but not with tap water, but with a special solution, after having been in crowded places.

no, well, your mother-in-law is something, I just surprise her every time

Useful if rinsed properly... with saline, not tap water)

my husband rinses his nose with water, slightly salted. 1 tsp per liter of water. It's very useful. Just the flora is not washed out, but generated. I wish I could, but I can't. And my husband took it and achieved many results thanks to this. Chronic rhinitis has passed. Konda is an epidemic of viruses, so he does not care how much. This is a very useful yoga procedure. Prevention of sinusitis.

an example lived under our noses. a 5-year-old boy 9 months a year on sick leave, and all because his grandmother rinsed him with saline every day. even ears.

Doctors indicated that washing was the cause of the dead immunity.

and another gynecologist in Israel is shocked by her daughter, a physicist, who constantly treats her daughter’s hands with an antimicrobial spray))

but I don't think that's possible.

physical solution for prophylaxis once is enough during the season of exacerbation of diseases, if you get sick, also rinse from 3-4 times a day

Of course, there is no harm, but it is better to rinse with brine or soda, but do not drink from the tap)

an experienced doctor told us that for the prevention of Pts it is useful to wash the nose every day, but! not tap water, but salty or sea water.

I wash with a humer but not every day

rinse something useful, but from a teapot and salt water! and she definitely has bells and whistles!

after the street you need to wash a lot where I heard. and aloe is good for sore throat and cough

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For prevention and treatment. How to rinse your nose with saline

Washing the nose is not very painful, but extremely useful procedure, especially in winter. But how often should you rinse your nose? What is needed for this and to whom washing is strictly contraindicated?

Washing the nose is an extremely useful procedure. It is widespread in some cultures, for example, actively practiced among yogis.

How often should you rinse your nose?

If you develop rhinitis, then to stop the disease, you can rinse your nose 3-4 times a day, about an hour or two after eating.

How to rinse your nose?

Nasal wash technology

If you need to wash the nose of a baby, then put it on its back and drip 2-3 drops of saline into the nostril, after which, with a flagellum made of cotton soaked in oil, very carefully clean it, twisting the cotton no more than 2 cm. Then do the same do the same with the other nostril.

Alternative ways

Why rinse your nose during a runny nose?

In addition, edema can spread to the mouth of the auditory tube, the middle ear loses its ability to cleanse, which will lead to the development of otitis media.

To prevent this path of the virus from the nose to the larynx and middle ear, it is worth rinsing the nose at the first symptoms of a runny nose, which will help remove plaque, excess mucus and pus.

When not to wash

Before leaving the house, rinse your nose at least half an hour before you go outside.

With a curved septum, the washing efficiency will be extremely low.

In the presence of polyps, it is useless to rinse the nose on your own; in this case, qualified assistance is needed.

"Self-doctor". Can you treat a cold on your own? 2
No "leaks". How to treat rhinitis and avoid sinusitis 4
Leaky nose? How to deal with childhood hay fever 1

Weird runny nose. What is cold rhinitis? one
Runny nose in babies. What does it threaten and how to treat 4

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Flushing the nose with saline

Rinsing the nose with a saline solution effectively cleans the contaminated airways for people of all ages. This method does not require special skills and significant material costs. At the same time, most modern people do not know how to properly rinse their nose with salt water.

To prepare a washing liquid, in our case it is a saline solution, it is recommended to dilute the salt in water in the proportion of one teaspoon per 200 milliliters of water at room temperature. It is also necessary to wait for the complete dissolution of salt crystals, as they can adversely affect the preservation of the integrity of the mucous membrane. Even more effective is the use of sea salt instead of kitchen salt, it contains a significant amount of natural minerals that help soften and restore the respiratory tract.

Methods for washing the nose

The easiest and most unpretentious method is that you scoop up liquid in the palms of your hands, folded in a boat, and draw water from them through your nose.

Also, during the procedure, a syringe or a small enema is used, with the help of which the liquid is injected into one of the nostrils, after which it drains through the oral cavity.

Washing is also practiced using a specialized watering can, which can be easily found on the free market. You stand over the sink, tilting your head to the side, and alternately, changing the position of your head, pour the saline solution into one or the other nostril.

If something prevents you from doing a full flush, you can simply drip salt water into your nose, after tilting your head back, and blow your nose in half a minute. Although this method does not reach the effect of a full-fledged washing, it can still give a rather tangible result and make breathing easier.

Consider how to rinse your nose with salt water with a syringe. A regular syringe is taken, always without a needle, and inserted into one of the nostrils. The fluid is injected under pressure, and if the airways are not clogged, the solution should be poured out through the second nostril.

Separately, it is worth considering how to rinse the nose with salt water for a child. Since in children the nasopharynx is much more sensitive. Before rinsing, children need to soften the airways through the use of nasal sprays.

The most gentle method for newborn babies is that the baby is injected with a solution into the nose with a pipette. For older children, you can use a rubber bulb, after washing it with warm boiled water. An important point in the procedures is the control of the compression force, with a sharp pressure, the mucous membrane in the baby's nasopharynx can be damaged.

How often can you rinse your nose with salt water?

The frequency of procedures depends on the goals that you are pursuing to achieve by washing. So with a preventive approach, it will be enough to carry out flushing procedures only a few times a week. If the goal is to stop the inflammatory processes in the nasopharynx, then it is necessary to rinse up to four to five times a day. It is also worth mentioning how many days you can rinse your nose with salt water. To relieve inflammation, the duration of the procedures can be up to several weeks, although usually 5-6 days are enough.

Who should not wash with salt water?

Tendencies to otitis;

Individual intolerance by a person to one of the components of the solution;

With complete obstruction of the airways of the nasopharynx.

Thus, without even having special skills, it is possible to solve the problem of airway obstruction at home, to prevent the possible occurrence of a runny nose.

Nasal lavage - pros and cons

Chronic sinus problems or allergies can make your nose feel like it's constantly stuffed up. In order to regain the ability to breathe freely, many people who are prone to sinus problems resort to the technique of rinsing the nose with saline solution, the purpose of which is to free the nasal passages.

Many people are interested in whether it is harmful to rinse the nose, are there any contraindications to the use of this method and how effective it is.

What is used to wash the nose? The most common tools for nasal irrigation are: a syringe without a needle, a douche, or a special vessel designed for this purpose. With the help of such instruments, a spray or mixture containing salt is poured into the nostril and poured out of the other. There are also special nasal irrigation devices that allow the solution to pass through the nose and allow you to regulate the pressure of the incoming fluid. The most important thing in choosing such a device is to choose the most convenient way for you, which causes a minimum of discomfort.

How to rinse your nose?

Do not use tap water to rinse your nose. Distilled, sterilized or pre-boiled water must be used to prepare the saline solution. Salt is better to take sea and without additives (you can buy a pharmacy). It is also important to rinse the nasal irrigation tool after each use and let it dry. It also needs to be changed regularly, like a toothbrush, for example.

Arguments in favor of washing the nose?

The purpose of nasal lavage is to eliminate infectious agents and irritants accumulated in the nose. The nasal passages are "equipped" with tiny cilia, which, swaying back and forth, trap dust particles, bacteria, viruses and other foreign substances.

Spores and other particles that a person inhales are pushed to the back of the throat, swallowed, and destroyed by stomach acid.

In the event of sinusitis or allergies, the consistency of the mucus changes, preventing the movement of the cilia. Nasal rinsing helps loosen thickened mucus and improve cilia coordination, helping them to more effectively remove bacteria and other irritants from the nasal passage.

Nasal irrigation with saline can be an effective way to relieve sinus symptoms and serve as an adjunct to traditional antibiotic and steroid treatments.

The harm of washing the nose

According to a study by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, using nasal irrigation for too long can backfire. Namely, patients who resorted to regularly rinsing their nose with salt for one year, and then stopped using it, were 62% more likely to suffer from sinusitis after a year.

What conclusion can be drawn from the results of such a study? Nasal mucus performs a useful function by helping to protect the body from infections. Nasal mucus contains very important immune elements that are the first barrier to protecting the respiratory tract from infections.

By flushing out "bad" nasal mucus, saline can rid the nose of beneficial antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agents.

However, this does not mean that rinsing the nose with saline should be abandoned. The saline solution itself is not harmful. However, prolonged daily rinsing of the nose can exacerbate the problem. The optimal duration of rinsing the nose with saline, according to the authors of this study, is 2-3 weeks. If during this time the symptoms you are trying to get rid of do not disappear, you still need to see a doctor.

How to ensure the safety of nasal irrigation

As a rule, nasal rinsing is safe, but sometimes it can lead to minor side effects in the form of slight irritation.

People with a weakened immune system are more at risk of developing infections, so they should always consult a doctor before resorting to nasal irrigation.

Also, washing the nose is contraindicated in people who often experience nosebleeds and people with swallowing problems.

Washing the nose helps a lot, I also washed it with a teapot before. I read an article that calcined sea salt diluted with special water is more effective and healthier than just sea salt.

I wash my nose with a 20 ml syringe with a solution of 2 amps of calcium chloride, 1 amp of magnesium sulfate and 1 tbsp of sea salt (this one I invented myself) per 1 liter of boiled water, and in the recipe, just salt can store a drop of iodine for 48 hours. Helps me with sinusitis.

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Washing the nose is a mandatory attribute of personal hygiene, which we are undeservedly afraid of.

Every morning after waking up, we without fail perform hygiene and water procedures, which are the key to our health, beauty and good mood. We put ourselves in order, take a shower, brush our teeth, ears, use a whole arsenal of cosmetics for this. And then he goes to a new day, what to work, create, create, love ...

Before you continue reading: If you are looking for an effective method of getting rid of a runny nose, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis or colds, then be sure to check out this section of the site after reading this article. This information has helped so many people, we hope it will help you too! So, now back to the article.

But we often forget to do something very important. We don't pay much attention to our nose. Most often out of ignorance, due to the banal ignorance that the nasal cavities must be washed, rinsed and cleaned according to the rules in order to avoid frequent colds and maintain one's health. In this article, we want to explain to everyone and prove that it is wrong to refuse the mandatory procedure of nasal water hygiene, because otherwise we will seriously harm our health in a difficult environmental situation.

Nasal breathing: its features, meaning and functions

Let's first evaluate how important free nasal breathing is for us. Many do not even know that our nose performs not only the function of breathing, but also warms, moisturizes and purifies the air entering our body. In addition, it provides our sense of smell. And how hard it is for a person if nasal breathing is disturbed. The feeling of discomfort when breathing through the nose is difficult is known to everyone. To ensure breathing, it is necessary to compensate for the respiratory process with the help of the mouth.

But the oral cavity is not able to clean the air from microparticles that can settle in the lower respiratory tract, and prolonged breathing through the mouth will sooner or later lead to inflammatory processes in the pharynx and larynx. In the long term, laryngitis and pharyngitis, and even bronchitis, may develop. And all the fault is the congestion of the nasal cavities, the inability to carry out nasal breathing.

So how does the process of air purification in the nasal cavity take place? As you know, it is divided by a partition into two equivalent parts. In turn, in each of them there are three nasal conchas, formed by bony protrusions, under which three passages lie. They have openings leading to the paranasal sinuses. All these formations in the nasal cavity are lined with a mucous membrane of a special structure.

The air in the nasal cavity has to overcome the path in the form of a tortuous arc towards the nasopharynx, and due to such a complex trajectory of movement, it has to come into contact with a large surface area of the nasal cavity. This feature allows for a more thorough purification of the air from microparticles of dust, bacteria, allergens, viruses, warm it and humidify it.

The process of air purification is carried out by small bristly hairs and mucus produced by special cells. Hairs trap larger particles in the air stream, while smaller particles stick to the mucus and are removed to the outside. Nasal mucus generally has a very interesting structure, it includes antibodies, mucin and lysozyme. They are able to effectively fight microorganisms due to their ability to exhibit a bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect against pathological microorganisms.

And the more and more pronounced the bacterial aggression, the more the nasal cavity has to work on the production of mucus, which after its service must be regularly removed, because it accumulates not only the microorganisms themselves, but also toxic products of their vital activity or decay.

If nasal breathing is not difficult and free, then with the help of the same mucus, lymph that seeps into the nasal cavity through the epithelium, and even tear fluid, the air entering the lungs is constantly moistened. Abundantly developed circulatory network of capillaries in the mucosa is able to effectively heat the inhaled air. Purified, warm and humidified air will not force our lungs to work with tension.

In a healthy person, the mucous membrane lining the nasal surface is updated with a new one every minute. Cell cilia carry the used film to the digestive tract. But this whole process goes on smoothly only in a healthy organism, when the nasal cavity performs all its functions of purifying a considerable amount of air - about 100 thousand liters per day!

But if the mucous film becomes thin, liquid or, conversely, thick and difficult to remove due to external influences, bacterial aggression? In such situations, there is a complete blockage of the sinuses, which creates an obstacle to the free passage of air and mucus. That's when the need arises for washing the nose, the purpose of which is a deep cleansing of the nasal passages.

The Incredible Benefits of Nasal Wash You Didn't Know

It would be wrong to assume that washing the nasal cavities should be carried out only when pathological processes appear and breathing difficulties due to inflammatory processes. Even a perfectly healthy person, adults and children, will benefit from clearing the nasal passages from time to time to maintain the healthy functioning of the respiratory system.

One can only regret that few people now resort to this effective method of personal hygiene. We are used to washing our faces every day, brushing our teeth, monitoring the condition of our skin, and cleaning our ears. And we do not use home washing of the nasal cavities. Moreover, many do not even know how to do a nose wash!

But first, let's bring to your attention all the advantages and useful features of washing the nose at home. How and why this procedure is carried out during inpatient treatment of diseases of the nasal cavity, we omit for now. So, the benefits of washing the sinuses are as follows:

prevention of the development of allergic reactions, tk. not only dust microparticles are removed, but allergens;
prevention of inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system, tk. removal of dust, mucus either prevents the development of an inflammatory reaction or significantly reduces its manifestations;
strengthening local immunity, by strengthening capillaries and improving the functioning of cells lining the nasal cavities;
relief of breathing, increased tone, which will be felt by everyone who will breathe easily and freely.

By the way, yogis are sure, and there is a huge amount of truth in their words, that the cleansing of the nasal cavities calms a person and leads to a cleansing ... of the mind. And Muslims, most of whom live in hot regions dominated by deserts, practically do not suffer from respiratory diseases, for example, pharyngitis, sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, etc. And all just because before prayer they perform the obligatory process of washing, which includes the procedure for washing and cleansing the oral cavity and nasopharynx.

Have you not yet believed in the benefit of this method as a way to prevent numerous diseases of the nasopharynx and the entire respiratory system? Are you still sure that washing the nasal passages is necessary only for a runny nose? Well, then if you are an active Internet user, then turn to the Web and read all the reviews of knowledgeable people about the benefits of flushing the upper tracts, as a method of personal hygiene and prevention of respiratory diseases. Have you read? Are you not convinced again?

What is the danger of breathing through the nose?

Then find out what terrible consequences a person who suffers from nasal congestion has to experience. The inability to breathe fully, this is a very painful feeling. And it is especially difficult for children who experience a lot of suffering due to the fact that they cannot breathe freely through their noses. After all, they have a highly developed lymphoid tissue, and its swelling and growth causes many problems for babies. In addition to physical discomfort, while maintaining difficult nasal breathing, over time, the child may experience:

disturbance of appetite and sleep;
decrease in activity, attentiveness, ability to learn;
delayed growth and development;
impaired functioning of the brain and nervous system;
bronchial asthma and other allergic diseases;
chronic diseases of the respiratory system;
decreased vision;
formation of malocclusion;
increase and growth of adenoid tissues;
defects and speech disorders.

In adults suffering from nasal breathing disorders, many of the above can also become a reality. Therefore, you should not hope that the disease will not arise, or will pass by itself. And do not listen to stories that a runny nose, even if treated or not treated, still goes away in a week. It is not true! You can get rid of it in a few days. Otherwise, there are many examples when rhinitis becomes chronic and lasts for weeks, and even months. Such a prospect is unlikely to please anyone.

What solution to choose for washing the nasal cavity?

You no longer need to be convinced, you understand that washing the nose for children and adults is a very favorable and useful procedure. But you don’t know where to start and how to carry out this treatment and preventive procedure. We come to your aid to explain all the subtleties and nuances of this process.

Let's start with what solutions and means can be used to wash the nasopharynx. The choice is big enough. Ordinary drinking water, sea water, saline solutions, tinctures and decoctions of medicinal herbs, herbal teas, mineral water, soda-salt solutions, beet juice with honey, solutions of medical preparations, etc. can be used. Each of them is used according to indications, depending on the situation and the need to achieve the goal.

And if you are a beginner and want to start doing nasal cleansing with solutions for the first time, then first consult with your doctor to make sure that you can use this procedure, and find out which rinse solution is preferable for you to use. And now we will consider the types and methods of preparing solutions for washing the nose, their purpose and conditions of use.

1. Water is a universal helper to clear the nose of impurities

The most popular solution for washing the nasal cavities, of course, will be plain water. The main thing is that it should be warm and not rigid in its composition. If you live in an area where drinking water is very hard due to the high content of various salts in it, then it is enough to boil the water, which will make it softer, and cool it. Soft water, unlike hard water, does not dry out the mucous membrane. But the use of plain water for washing the nasal cavities is best used only for preventive and hygienic purposes.

It will be useful to use any non-carbonated mineral water. If you have purchased highly carbonated water, first open the bottle and let all the gas bubbles out of the water for some time. Remember, chilled water should not be used for rinsing!

2. Rinsing the nasal cavity with sea water and saline solutions gives amazing results.

Sea water has healing properties, it has a beneficial effect on the nasopharynx, relieving us of many diseases, even those that have become chronic. Therefore, if it is possible to use real pure sea water for washing the nose, then it is better to immediately take advantage of this opportunity. At home, it will not be superfluous to pre-purchase sea salt in a pharmacy, which is always on sale, and use it to wash the nasal passages as needed.

Procedures with the use of sea salt will help destroy pathogens, suppress their reproduction processes, because sea water is an antiseptic in essence. Washing the sinuses with salt will help to effectively remove purulent and mucous secretions, traffic jams, dust accumulations saturated with allergens, and restore physiological breathing.

By the way, even babies can carry out saline washing of spouts. After all, the use of familiar and popular medications with a strong vasoconstrictive effect is often prohibited for children. And salt showers for their spouts will be a real find for the prevention and treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

It is only important to make the solution for washing the nose correctly, observing all the proportions of the ratio of salt and water, and then it will never give side effects, will not lead to the development of allergic reactions. To prepare a solution for two glasses of boiled water, you need to add a maximum of one teaspoon of sea salt without a slide (this corresponds to 7 grams of salt) and stir it until completely dissolved. As a basis, you can use heated, unboiled, but pre-filtered water.

In some recipes, you can find suggestions to use 2 teaspoons of sea salt per glass of water. Be very careful here, because in this case you will get a hyperconcentrated salt solution, and washing it with it will lead to a strong drying of the nasal mucosa. Hypertonic solution is recommended only for those who work in heavily dusty areas. It can be quite successfully used for gargling, washing the nose in inflammatory diseases, acute and chronic sinusitis. Only the dosage of sea salt per liter of boiled water is only 15 grams or two teaspoons without a slide.

In order to observe a more accurate dosage for the preparation of a saline solution for washing the nose, you need to remember that 2 grams of salt should be dissolved per 200 ml of boiled water. Why is this concentration the most acceptable? Yes, all because the concentration of salt in the blood plasma is 0.9%, no more and no less. The same concentration is used to prepare physiological solutions for intravenous administration of drugs. This concentration of saline will be the most successful for nasal lavages.

As for children, the dosage of salt for them should be reduced. It is enough to dissolve a third or a quarter of a teaspoon in a glass of water, as a result, you will get a saline solution for washing the nose for children!

But sea salt is not always at hand, and the preparation of a saline solution that has the healing properties of the Atlantic turns out to be an insoluble task. Then it is quite possible to use the most common table salt, which we use for cooking. It perfectly replaces sea salt while retaining all the advantages of salt therapy.

Yogis recommend using a saline nose wash prepared at a ratio of 1 teaspoon of salt to 500 ml of water. We agree with their recommendations and affirm that rinsing the nose with salt water is a reliable and very popular remedy for getting rid of congestion and shortness of breath. This has been proven by many years and centuries of practice.

It is impossible to ignore the soda-salt solution, which has strongly pronounced bactericidal properties. To prepare it for a glass of heated boiled or purified water, you need to dissolve half a teaspoon of soda and salt. This solution is considered therapeutic, it can be used no more than twice a week, preferably only during illness, and not as a prophylaxis and hygiene procedures.

3. Folk remedies for personal hygiene of the nose - affordable and effective

Infusions, decoctions and herbal teas, which are used for preventive purposes, have become very popular. Herbs such as chamomile, sage, calendula, string, oak bark, St. John's wort and eucalyptus, which have antiseptic properties, are suitable for washing the sinuses. In their absence, ordinary black and green teas will be very useful. But the concentration of antibacterial substances in herbal decoctions is very low, so they will have to be used much more often than solutions with medications, i.e. about once every two hours, if it is necessary to defeat inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract. And brewing and keeping herbal tea warm is very simple, just use a thermos. Only for washing, the solution should have a temperature of 40-42°C.

As a remedy, a folk method is used using beetroot juice and honey. For the treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract, a diluted solution should be used. To do this, you need to dissolve two tablespoons of natural honey in a glass of beet juice. And then dilute this solution with boiled warm water one to one. After washing with this solution, it will be necessary to blow your nose harder, free your nose from all accumulations of mucus and remnants of the healing fluid. And only after a few hours it will be possible to rinse the nose again with clean water.

A good anti-inflammatory effect is given by washing with an onion solution. But in order not to burn the mucous membrane, it is necessary to dilute only one part of freshly squeezed juice into ten parts of warm boiled water. As a precaution, a hypersensitivity reaction should be checked before starting the procedure. Take a moistened cotton swab and lightly wipe the mucosa. And if there is no burning sensation and discomfort, then it is quite possible to proceed to direct washing with an onion solution.

More often, solutions of cranberry, carrot, blackcurrant, orange and lemon juice are used, only their concentration must be selected individually.

Flushing for bacterial infections: the choice of medications

If a runny nose turns into a more serious inflammatory process, and rhinorrhea becomes purulent, then you can’t do without medical products for washing your nose.

You can use ordinary iodine, but only and exclusively for adults. It is enough to thoroughly dissolve 1-2 drops of iodine in boiled water and clean the nasal cavities with it. The main thing is not to overdose with concentration, otherwise iodine can burn the delicate mucous membrane. Another means of choice for washing is ordinary potassium permanganate, only the solution should be of a slightly pink hue and without the smallest grains of potassium permanganate, which can cause burns.

It is easier to apply the antiseptic solution of Furacilin. It is necessary to dissolve only one tablet per glass of boiled water. And believe me, in terms of effectiveness, this medicinal solution of Furacilin for washing the nose will in no way be inferior to expensive advertised preparations for washing the nasal cavities. No need to listen to those who talk about the fact that pathogenic microorganisms have long adapted to Furacilin. Cases of resistance can be detected in those who have a severely weakened immune system and have been using Furacilin for a long time. It is likely that this drug may not be effective enough in the fight against nosocomial infections, but sometimes even the strongest new generation antibiotics may be useless. And, by the way, Furacilin continues to be used for washing wounds and operating cavities.

Dioxidin is often offered for washing the nasal cavity and treating inflammatory diseases. This antibacterial drug is very toxic, although effective, so it is forbidden to use it to treat children. This antiseptic should be resorted to in cases where the inflammatory process has become neglected, abundant purulent discharge appears. Therefore, for the treatment of sinusitis, washing the nose with Dioxidine will be incredibly effective. With its help, it is quite likely that it will be possible to avoid an undesirable procedure - a puncture of the maxillary sinuses. The main thing is to use a 0.5% solution of this agent, higher concentrations are dangerous.

For medicinal purposes, you can use special solutions for washing, which are made on the basis of diluting 1 teaspoon of drugs such as phytodent, elecasol, rotokan or rekutan in a glass of water.

Recently, special solutions have appeared in the pharmacy network in the form of sprays for washing the nose. These include Salin, Aqua Maris, Aqualor, Physiomer, Marimer and Humer-150. They are made on the basis of sea or ordinary salt, i.e. it is actually a saline solution for washing the nose, which is filled with special devices in the form of portable pumps. With their help, you can and should inject liquid and irrigate the sinuses. After 4-5 injections in one session, it is necessary to blow your nose well or suck out the contents of the nasal cavities. Such solutions are good because they do not cause discomfort and are well tolerated by children, there are no side effects in the form of otitis media. Aqua Maris can even be used to rinse the nose of infants.

Another very good spray that has shown itself to be excellent in nasal cleansing procedures is Dolphin. It perfectly rinses and cleans, but the jet of the solution is supplied with a rather large force. Therefore, it should be used very carefully in children so that fluid does not reflux into the middle ear and eustachitis or otitis does not occur.

How often and when should you wash your nose?

Usually it is enough to clean the nose 2-3 times a week using prophylactic solutions. It is important to find out for yourself how often you need to do a deep cleansing of the nasopharynx, and what time is best for you to carry out this procedure. For preventive purposes, it will be very useful to wash your nose every day, morning and evening. But everything is selected individually, depending on the specific technique and the chosen agent, a solution for cleansing the nasal cavity and sinuses. Usually the amount of liquid at one time for washing is sufficient in volume.

If the issue of treatment of inflammatory diseases of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx is on the agenda, then the approach here is different. Sometimes it is necessary to rinse the nasal cavities up to four times a day, or even more often, for one to two weeks. In particular, rinsing with ARVI is indicated for days, with sinusitis - 2-3 weeks, and with adenoiditis - 4-6 weeks.

If such a technique as a nasal shower is used, then in the presence of acute inflammatory processes in the nasal cavity, it is enough to carry it out once a day. Total for course washings. For patients with chronic diseases of the nasal cavity and upper respiratory tract, for those working in heavily dusty rooms, such washings can be shown all the time.

We wash the nose: how to do it?

As you can see, there are plenty of nasal rinses, we choose them depending on the situation and the given goal. But how to carry out this process, which seems to many to be something fantastically difficult and unpleasant? Now there are a lot of devices and devices for washing and cleansing the nose, most of which are used in medical institutions. But the use of such “devices” for washing the nose at home also accounts for a lot.

Nose cleansing is done, who is what much. Some use a teapot, pouring water from it into one nostril and pouring the liquid out through the mouth. Others are able to suck the solution with their nostrils from a saucer, while others turn to traditional healers. The most virtuoso yoga questions in this are those that are able to stretch a cloth from one nostril to another and then move it from one side to the other, thereby clearing the nose. We do not offer you such a method, because, after all, you should not rush to extremes.

Contact the pharmacy and ask about the availability of special watering cans, which in their appearance resemble a small teapot for washing the nasal cavity. By the way, yogis call such vessels neti-pot. They are made of metal, ceramics and plastic, and sometimes even rubber. They have a narrow spout or an elongated narrow neck that is inserted shallowly into the nostril - just a few millimeters. To begin with, you can try to use a large bottle of nasal drops, only the hole needs to be expanded so that the liquid flows out in a trickle. You can use a small syringe-pear, but you need to use it very carefully, without creating a strong pressure of the supplied solution.

There are many options for rinsing the nose. Consider the first one - yogic, but do not be afraid of this name, because this method is the most common and effective. To do this, you need to bend over a sink or some kind of container, slightly open your mouth and lower your head with turning it to one side. In the nostril, which turned out to be higher, with the help of the device for washing the nose of your choice, pour water. Fluid will flow out of the "lower nostril". It is important not to breathe during this process, i. hold your breath, or regulate your breathing so that fluid does not get into the bronchi and lungs. Then you change the position of your head and pour the solution into the other nostril. The entire procedure may require about 2 glasses of water. At the end, you need to blow your nose well to remove the remnants of the washing solution.

The option with simultaneous washing of the nose and nasopharynx is used when inflammatory diseases occur in the nasopharynx. To do this, it is necessary to wash the nose with an elevated position of the head. So, we tilt our head back slightly, hold our breath and stick out our tongue a little. Then pour a little liquid into one of the nostrils, immediately tilt the head forward and down and pour the solution through the mouth. We continue this procedure with the infusion of small portions of water through each nostril. At the end, carefully vysmarkivaemsya.

The third option is called Muslim, it is an integral part of the Voodoo purification complex. Water is collected in the palms, from which it is drawn in by the nostrils and poured back through the nose or mouth. This method is the easiest and easiest to use.

The fourth option is this nasal shower, which has almost a century of history. To implement it, you need to stock up on Esmarch's mug with a rubber hose, a faucet and a tip. The latter should resemble an olive in shape, but such tips are practically not sold, so you will have to work hard and make your own tip 2 cm long, which will have a diameter of 20 mm in the wide part, and 10 mm in the narrow part. The through channel in such an olive should have a diameter of 4 millimeters.

Esmarch's mug with 500 ml of a solution heated to body temperature is located at a height of 50 cm above the container where the water will be poured. The tap must be adjusted so that the solution flows out of the mug no faster than 5 minutes. The olive is inserted into one nostril with the head position described in the first method. In this case, you can breathe through your mouth or say a long “aaaa”. The fluid will flow into one nostril, around the nasal septum, and out through the other nostril. Then the solution is poured through the other nostril in a similar way.

At the end, you can blow your nose no earlier than half an hour. Nasal douche is recognized by doctors as very effective, it takes little time and over time can turn into one of your favorite hygiene procedures that you can no longer do without. By the way, a similar technique is used to implement the Indian method of washing Jala-neti, only a small teapot is used for this, and not Esmarch's mug.

Cuckoo method of moving liquids: what is it?

There is another method that is used in case of inflammation of the maxillary sinuses - this is washing the nose by moving. It is recommended for use if sinusitis has not yet acquired a chronic course. Many people call this method "non-puncture" treatment of sinusitis, and in the common people it is called washing the nose with the "cuckoo" method. With the help of it, you can effectively wash the nose with sinusitis. Not only cavities are cleaned, but also the sinuses of the nasal cavity from purulent secretions and mucus. Good results are obtained by combining this method with laser therapy, but this can only be applied in stationary conditions.

Attempts to perform nasal irrigation at home using the "cuckoo" displacement method are most often unsuccessful because this method involves the use of nasal suction devices. It creates a negative pressure, due to which the nasal contents are drawn into the reservoir of the device. It is unlikely that you will be able to carry out this procedure on your own, especially if you want to clean your child's nose. Therefore, washing the child's nose with the help of the "cuckoo" should be done only under the supervision of a doctor.

It may seem to you that this whole procedure is very complicated, painful and unpleasant. But in fact, it turns out that all fears were in vain, and the effect exceeds all expectations, because you will not only eliminate congestion and shortness of breath, but also relieve swelling of the mucous membrane, remove all impurities, dust particles, allergens, microorganisms from the nasal cavities, get rid of accumulations of difficult-to-separate mucus and pus, disinfect the nasal mucosa. But most importantly - this method helps to effectively treat sinusitis.

How to persuade your baby to rinse and clean the nose?

If adults go through this procedure very simply and naturally, then a special approach will have to be applied for children who very often suffer from respiratory failure due to a runny nose, inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx, and all medical procedures are treated with a great sense of fear. If we are talking about the "cuckoo" method, then this method of cleansing has to be performed mainly by children 5-8 years old, in whom the small ethmoid sinuses of the nasal cavity are often infected. For children under 5 years old, it is almost impossible to carry out this procedure, because it is difficult to persuade the baby to sit or lie still, maintain one or another position, and out of fear, children simply do not allow the necessary medical manipulations to be carried out.

It is easier to use the first and second nasal cleansing options outlined above. But the most difficult thing is to agree with the child about this procedure. If everything goes well, then there will be no problems, and the child will be happy to carry out this fascinating technique for him. Therefore, mother's dexterity is very important in that matter. For everything to go well, mom needs to practice on herself the day before, and then, by her own example, show the baby how simple and even pleasant it all is. If the mother has well studied the mechanism of washing the nose of the baby, then performing this procedure will not be any problem for her.

That's just the trouble, some children are not affected by any persuasion and persuasion, therefore, according to the first and second methods, it is impossible to perform washing. At the sight of a nasal washer and approaching children with it, they become hysterical and flatly refuse to stand over the sink and allow liquid to be poured into their nostrils. Then you have to use a less efficient sparing method.

The child is offered to lie down on the bed so that his chin is pointing at the ceiling. 5-6 pipettes of the solution are instilled into each nostril, they are offered to lie down with the head thrown back for several minutes, and then the child rises, and all the liquid with impurities quickly flows out of the nasopharynx into the oropharynx. But this method has its drawbacks - the child has to swallow the contents, and mechanical washing of the nose with a stream of water is completely absent here.

Before washing the nasal cavity in children, some precautions must be observed, however, as for adults. You should never rinse your nose if it is not "breathing". Therefore, in a few minutes, you need to drip vasoconstrictor agents to relieve swelling of the mucous membrane and open the nasal passages. Do not flush with a strong jet of water, otherwise fluid may enter the Eustachian tube. To avoid this, the child needs to tilt the torso forward 90 degrees. And after this procedure, you can go outside no earlier than an hour later, so that the water lingering in the sinuses of the nose does not lead to local hypothermia and subsequent runny nose.

When is flushing absolutely contraindicated?

swelling that cannot be removed;
perforation of the eardrum;
tumor formations in the nasal cavity of a benign or malignant nature;
tendency to nosebleeds;
otitis or the possibility of its development;
severe curvature of the nasal septum or other obstacles to the introduction of the solution;
allergy to any component of the solution.

The article above and comments written by readers are for informational purposes only and do not call for self-treatment. Consult with a specialist about your own symptoms and diseases. When treating with any medicine, you should always use the leaflet that comes with it in the package, as well as the advice of your doctor, as the main guideline.

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Do you want to get rid of your nose, throat, lungs and colds? Then be sure to check it out here.

How to rinse your nose?

Arguments in favor of washing the nose?

Spores and other particles that a person inhales are pushed to the back of the throat, swallowed, and destroyed by stomach acid.

Nasal irrigation with saline can be an effective way to relieve sinus symptoms and serve as an adjunct to traditional antibiotic and steroid treatments.

The harm of washing the nose

By flushing out "bad" nasal mucus, saline can rid the nose of beneficial antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agents.

How to ensure the safety of nasal irrigation

As a rule, nasal rinsing is safe, but sometimes it can lead to minor side effects in the form of slight irritation.

People with a weakened immune system are more at risk of developing infections, so they should always consult a doctor before resorting to nasal irrigation.

Also, washing the nose is contraindicated in people who often experience nosebleeds and people with swallowing problems.

Recently, rinsing the nose with systems such as "Dolphin", watering can "Aqua Maris" and rinsing according to the yoga system has become increasingly popular.

But is it useful and safe?

Let's start with the pleasant - the benefits, indeed, are available.

Firstly, during washing, the nasal mucosa is moistened, which, for example, is extremely important in the Ural region due to low air humidity, especially during the heating season.

Secondly, during washing, the nose is mechanically cleaned not only from dust particles, but also from pathogenic microorganisms (viral particles, bacteria, etc.).

Despite the obvious benefits, lovers of "washing" often become patients of otorhinolaryngologists.

The fact is that during volumetric washing of the nose, water under pressure enters not only into the nose, but also into the nasopharynx. It is not always possible to quickly evacuate the liquid through the mouth, or through the other ½ of the nose, especially with nasal congestion, when swelling of the mucous membrane occurs. The fluid, forced to follow the path of least resistance, is sent through the auditory tube straight into the middle ear. With all the ensuing, literally and figuratively, consequences. In this case, the microflora enters the tympanic cavity (usually, the medium in the middle ear is relatively sterile). This, in turn, can provoke an infectious inflammation of the middle ear - otitis media.

In childhood, this problem becomes even more urgent. The anatomical features of young children provoke the rapid spread of the infectious process:
1. Short and gaping auditory tubes,
2. Horizontal arrangement of the auditory tubes,
3. Adenoids in the nasopharynx.

Based on the above, volumetric lavage is an extremely risky procedure, especially in young children.

There are two main types of saline solutions: saline and hypertonic. They differ in the concentration of salt in the solution and, as a result, in the principle of action.

Physiological (normotonic, isotonic) solutions, 0.9% solution - correspond to the normal salinity of mucus (blood, etc.) and are used to prevent infection and moisturize the nasal mucosa.

For example, in a pharmacy you can find: "Physiomer Soft Wash" and "Moderate Wash", saline, "Akvalor Soft" or "Akvalor Baby", "Aqua Maris", "Marimer Isotonic", "Humer 150" ... Of these, personally I like Physiomer and Aqualor - they have a fairly large volume of injected fluid. But the main favorite: physical. solution (the only drawback of which is ease of use) is cheap and cheerful. It can be instilled with a pipette or without pressure from a small syringe.

Hypertonic saline solutions - relieve swelling of the mucosa, improve the outflow from the sinuses due to the high concentration of salt in the nasal cavity. This happens due to natural physiological processes: where there is more salt, water enters there. Therefore, the liquid leaves the tissues and sinuses and enters the lumen of the nose, from where it is evacuated by a simple blowing.

An additional bonus is the destruction of the bacterial cell wall by the same mechanism as the removal of edema, the cells seem to “explode” from the inside. The downside is some possible drying of the mucosa, which disappears after the drug is discontinued.

Here are some examples of hypertonic solutions: "Aqualor Forte", "Humer Hypertonic", "Aqua Maris Strong", Quicks, "Marimer Hypertonic", "Physiomer Hypertonic" ... or 1 teaspoon of salt (at least sea, at least food) without a slide for 1 glass of water.

Attention! For some of these drugs, the instructions do not correspond to reality. Solutions are either sprayed (head straight) or instilled.

There are contraindications. Before use, consult with a specialist.

Many people are interested in whether it is harmful to rinse the nose, are there any contraindications to the use of this method and how effective it is.

How to rinse your nose?

Arguments in favor of washing the nose?

Spores and other particles that a person inhales are pushed to the back of the throat, swallowed, and destroyed by stomach acid.

Nasal irrigation with saline can be an effective way to relieve sinus symptoms and serve as an adjunct to traditional antibiotic and steroid treatments.

The harm of washing the nose

By flushing out "bad" nasal mucus, saline can rid the nose of beneficial antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agents.

How to ensure the safety of nasal irrigation

As a rule, nasal rinsing is safe, but sometimes it can lead to minor side effects in the form of slight irritation.

People with a weakened immune system are more at risk of developing infections, so they should always consult a doctor before resorting to nasal irrigation.

Also, washing the nose is contraindicated in people who often experience nosebleeds and people with swallowing problems.

Source estet-portal.com

Washing the nose with saline or, as doctors say, irrigation-elimination therapy from folk methods has long migrated to official medicine. The method was even included in the international guidelines for the treatment of rhinosinusitis from 2012. Indeed, rinsing the nose with salt:

removes infectious agents from the nasopharynx: viruses, fungi, bacteria;
cleanses the mucous membrane of possible allergens: dust, pollen, mold;
reduces the concentration of biologically active substances that stimulate inflammation: histamine, leukotrienes and others;
stimulates blood circulation in the mucosa;
liquefies the secret released during inflammation;
restores mucociliary transport: the movement of mucus, mechanically clearing the airways from foreign agents;
mechanically removes biofilms - structures formed by bacteria that allow them to protect themselves from antibiotic therapy;
reduces the need for drugs and the duration of their use.

Nasal lavage has many benefits.

It would seem - one solid benefit. On the other hand, reading reviews about the procedure, you can meet people who only got worse after it, to the point that their ears hurt. It is really easy to “wash” otitis media, especially for children, with their short and wide auditory tube. So what's the deal?

But the fact is that washing the nose, even at home, is a medical procedure, and like any medical procedure, it requires proper implementation at all stages, starting from the preparation of the solution.

We prepare the solution

Of course, you can buy ready-made - fortunately, there are a lot of nasal rinses in pharmacies: Dolphin, Aqualor, Aquamaris, Salin, Marimer ... you can’t count them all. But does it make sense to give more than 200 rubles for half a glass of salt solution, or even sea water?

So, the recipe for a saline solution for washing the nose at home:

10 grams or 1 teaspoon with a slide of salt (can be sea);
1 liter of boiled water.

Salt solution must be prepared correctly

The salinity of such a solution exactly corresponds to the salinity of the blood plasma, therefore it is called isotonic or physiological.

Remember this proportion: a teaspoon per liter! Salt solution recipes wander from site to site, in which it is proposed to take a teaspoon of salt in a glass. Such a high concentration is permissible only in purulent processes and only in adults, in a short course. And even then, it is better to take a hypertonic solution of 2 - 3% concentration, that is, 20 - 30 g per liter.

It is unacceptable to wash the nose of children, and even more so of infants, with such a solution - it irritates the already inflamed mucosa, only worsening the condition. Not to mention, such a strong solution pinches, the child breaks out and screams - and this is not only stressful for both the baby and the mother, but also the likelihood that the saline solution will enter the middle ear cavity, causing otitis media, or even into the lungs - and it's good if it will cost a bout of coughing.

The temperature of the prepared nasal saline solution should be approximately equal to body temperature. That is, if you drop it on your wrist, it should be pleasantly warm - not hot and not cold.

The finished solution can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days, heating the right amount as needed.

Instruction

Washing the nose of the baby

You will need a pipette and an aspirator - a "pear" to remove mucus from the nose with a soft tip.

pipette 2 - 3 drops of a warm solution;
drip into 1 nasal passage;
remove immediately with an aspirator;
the same with the other nostril;
repeat 2-3 times.

The procedure for washing the nose of the baby

The procedure can be carried out both prophylactically (for example, after a trip in transport or visiting a clinic), and for the treatment of a cold - then it must be repeated 2-3 times a day until nasal breathing is restored.

Despite the fact that the instructions for some sprays indicate that they can be used from birth, it is better not to do this: aspiration (inhalation) of the spray by a baby can provoke laryngospasm, which is why all throat sprays should not be used for children under 3 years old.

Washing the nose of a child

If the child screams and breaks out, you will have to look for other means of treatment. Why flushing through force can be dangerous, we talked a little earlier.

You will need a syringe, "pear", best with a soft tip.

If a runny nose is caused by a cold, use vasoconstrictor drops or spray in the first 2-3 days 3-5 minutes before the procedure.

draw a warm solution into the pear;
tilt the child's head over a basin, bathtub, sink (depending on height);
squeeze the pear, releasing air, until a drop of water appears;
insert into the nostril of the child, it is desirable that the tip “looks” at the inner corner of the eye from the same side;
release water with a soft jet, without trying to “break through”;
the same on the other side;
rinse 2-3 times each nostril;
ask the child to blow his nose (be sure to teach him how to blow his nose correctly - first pinching one, then the second nostril).

In no case should you tilt your head to one side, as in the pictures of yogis washing their nose with a kettle. So you can easily bring the infection into the auditory tube, from where it will go into the inner ear.

Rinsing the nose for an adult is fundamentally no different from a similar procedure for a child, only a little more solution is needed: 300 - 400 ml.

Summing up

Rinsing the nose is useful both for the prevention of acute respiratory viral infections and for the treatment of a runny nose of any kind, but it must be done correctly:

saline is 10 g of salt per 1 liter of water;
wash the nose of children only with saline;
adults can rinse the nose with a hypertonic solution: 20-30 g per liter, but only with purulent discharge in short courses (up to 5 days).
if rhinitis is caused by SARS, in the first 2-3 days, 3-5 before washing, use vasoconstrictor drops or sprays;
the temperature of the solution for washing the nose is equal to body temperature;
if the child actively resists and screams, it is impossible to rinse the nose - otitis media or the spread of infection to the trachea and bronchi can be provoked;
the head should be tilted over the bathtub or sink, in no case should it be turned to one side;
the tip of the syringe for washing the nose should be directed to the inner corner of the eye;
the jet should be "soft",
1 procedure takes 100 - 300 ml of solution, depending on the age of the child, for an adult 300 - 400 ml,
after washing the nose, you need to carefully blow your nose, in turn closing first one, then the other nostril.

This is an effective way of adjunctive therapy for nasopharyngeal diseases, helping to reduce the time of illness and the amount of medication.

European consensus document on rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps, 2012.

Anna Shust, especially for the Big City Moms portal:

Nadezhda Emelyanova- pediatrician, pediatric neurologist, homeopathic doctor. He has additional specializations: "Non-drug methods of treatment and reflexology", "Neuropathology", "Classical and clinical homeopathy". Experience as a pediatrician - 17 years. We publish a series of conversations with Nadezhda Borisovna dedicated to the most important issues for parents: children's health and soft methods of treatment.

In my medical practice, in fact, on a daily basis, I encounter such a phenomenon as otitis media, provoked by nasal lavages. Parents think that they are treating the child, but in fact they, with their own hands, under the guidance of pediatricians and, which is especially sad and unacceptable, ENT doctors, create an additional serious problem for the child. In general, I would like to talk more - about the widespread active local therapy in the nasal cavity: vasoconstrictor, antibacterial, antiseptic drops - all kinds of liquids are dripped into the nose of children from birth. How safe is it? Is it possible to raise a healthy child without nose drops? What is the world practice in this area of medicine?

What is, for example, nasal lavage - "irrigation therapy"? Methodologically and ideologically, these are echoes of the so-called “cleansing therapy”, which was practiced earlier, 100, 200, 300 years ago, and echoes of the infectious paradigm of diseases that took shape later, when doctors perceive a disease (in this case, a runny nose) exclusively as an infectious process, diverting microbes and viruses have an inappropriately significant place, much more significant than the macroorganism itself and its self-regulation systems. Based on these considerations, nasal lavage is an important component in treatment. We will wash the microbes, we will kill the viruses, we will remove the mucus, and health will come. Is it so?

An excursion into the history of medicine is always interesting, which sometimes helps to understand and critically comprehend some practices in modern medicine. Cleansing therapy was extremely popular in the past centuries and was based on the postulates of ancient healers about the disease as a violation of the ratio and quality of the fluids that fill the body, about the pollution of these fluids. The heyday and decline of cleansing therapy falls on the 16th-19th centuries, when bloodletting and klistir (as variants of cleansing therapy) were very popular, especially in the upper strata of society - foreign and ours. A textbook example and illustration is the treatment of King Louis ΧΙΙΙ of France, who received from his physician 47 bloodlettings per year, 215 emetic and 312 enemas. That is, the monarch received one enema a day for a year as prescribed by a doctor.

Today, such methods of treatment seem absurd, but once they were considered advanced by doctors and practiced everywhere, just like today's nasal rinses or vasoconstrictor drops.

- And yet, why is it harmful to rinse the nose and instill drops? And how should parents react to snot?

Let's figure it out. Why do you need to rinse your nose at all? This procedure is based on the thesis that there is something dirty and wrong, impure in the nose. Some negative properties are attributed to snot and a runny nose and they strive to get rid of them as quickly as possible, dry or moisturize the nasal mucosa, and also remove swelling with drops - defeat a runny nose.

In fact, snot is a unique protective mucus, a biological fluid with a unique composition. This is a whole army of leukocytes and lymphocytes (both dead and still quite healthy) that protect the nasopharynx from infection invasion, non-specific local defense factors that have bactericidal properties, complex proteins (mucins), salt, water and so on. Snot is just what helps us get rid of the infection and build immunity.

The nasal mucosa is interesting and extremely complex. The vascular network in the nasal cavity, according to researchers, is superior in complexity to the same vascular network in the liver (the Chinese called the liver for its function and participation in blood circulation the “Elder Queen”), and instillation of vasoconstrictor drops in this regard is a medieval barbarism, the same like a forgotten bloodletting. The use of such drops disrupts blood circulation in the mucosa for several months, and this side effect is well studied and described, and the vasoconstrictor drops themselves have not been proven effective and are not at all safe, their use in foreign pediatrics is limited.

On the Internet and in medical publications around the world, you can find a number of cases when, after instillation of drops into the nose, a child develops a collapse or even coma, strokes are described in adults after the use of such drops.

The nasal mucosa itself is delicate, work is in full swing in its submucosal layer: lymphocytes and leukocytes brought by blood fight bacteria and viruses. In the submucosal layer, in the microlymph nodes, detachments of these cell warriors are dispersed, ready to rush to the aid of those already fighting on a signal.

Protective mucus, consisting of complex proteins, covers the ciliated epithelium in two layers - sol below, gel above, very fluid. It flows at such a tremendous speed that a virus, a bacterium, even very eager to join a cell and start destroying it, cannot do it easily while the protective mucus covers the mucosa.

Therefore, first look at the runny nose from a different angle: what is snot? How should parents respond to them? Snot is our friends! React positively! That is, physiologically, we have in the body the cleansing of the nose itself. There is absolutely no point in adding something else from the outside to this purification.

- It’s clear with vasoconstrictors, but how can ordinary salt water for washing damage?

The fact is that when using these seemingly harmless drugs, in reality, an effect is obtained that is opposite to the expected one. Instead of a cure, we often get a worsening of the disease and its transition to otitis media. And this, along with proven ineffectiveness: it has been proven that saline solutions do not shorten the duration of a runny nose and do not affect its intensity in any way compared to placebo.

- What can cause otitis media when washing the nose?

The anatomical and physiological features of the children's skull are such that children have a short and wide auditory tube, some also tilt towards the ear. If you dilute and blur the mucus in the nose, then this mucus begins to flow more intensively towards the ear, where a direct path is open to it. This is what causes otitis media. You can’t even blow your nose too vigorously (and you need to explain this to children), because liquid mucus flows straight into the ear cavity when pressure increases. A huge number of otitis media in modern children is provoked by washing the nose.

What happens next? Inflammation of the middle ear doctors begin to treat with antibiotics. This, by the way, is also the wrong tactic! For example, the American Academy of Pediatrics for catarrhal otitis recommends expectant management (that is, non-intervention tactics), because most catarrhal otitis ends in recovery without antibiotics or any treatment at all.

The reverse is also true. When my patients do not drip anything into their children's noses, they do not wash their noses, we practically do not see otitis in children! However, there is an exception to this rule - these are children with overgrown adenoid tissue, which sometimes blocks the mouth of the auditory tube, disrupts ventilation and provokes pain in the ear. But even in this case, it is not the child’s nose that needs to be treated, but the child as a whole, because adenoid hypertrophy is a special case of hypertrophy of the lymph nodes of the whole organism, a consequence of the hard work of the immune system, in this case it is the whole organism that needs to be treated, and not the nose separately.

To sum up what we are talking about, the simplest and most effective advice for preserving the health of the child, which could be given to young parents who have children who have not yet “healed”, would sound like this: never touch the child’s nose with any manipulation , not with a nozzle pump, not with washes, not with anything else. It is important for parents of children with chronic ENT pathologies to realize that local therapy aimed at combating microbes and mucus is a dead end, here I will advise treating the child as a whole, gradually moving away from nose drops and local procedures.

- Do you use nose drops for a runny nose in your children?

Of course not. And I never prescribe to child patients, and I dissuade mothers from doing this. Imagine, for all childhood - never any drops in the nose!

- In this case, how do you recommend coping with a runny nose during acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections? A sick child has snot in a stream, it is hard to breathe. How to alleviate the condition?

Firstly, you still need to endure a little: nasal congestion associated with swelling of the mucous membrane cannot last forever: a maximum of two or three days - and the regulation of vascular tone will occur naturally and physiologically. Secondly, during an illness (if there is no very high temperature) - soak your feet in hot water before going to bed for 10-15 minutes. During this procedure, the snot will flow in streams, which is very good, during the procedure, the flow rate of the nasal secretion changes. You can do cold and warm inhalations, humidify and cool the air in the room, often bathe a child with a runny nose and cough. Thirdly, according to the indications, if necessary, phytotherapeutic and homeopathic preparations, which gently and gently help to go through an acute crisis of immunity regulation. It is also good to use home physiotherapy, if possible. And wait!

Parents need to remember that the excretions of the body, cleansing the body with the help of secretions are the efforts of your body to restore the disturbed balance, that is, this is your path to recovery with the child, and you do not need to interfere with it.

Washing the nose is a painless and useful procedure that is recommended for use in autumn and winter, when there is a high probability of catching a cold. However, not many people know how many times you can rinse your nose with saline in order to feel comfortable and not harm your health.

It is very popular in many countries and is often practiced among yogis. In our country, washing is used for prevention, because saline liquid makes it possible to easily eliminate the formed mucus, improve breathing and reduce the amount of discharge. When used correctly, the solution can help children with nasal problems, pregnant women, nursing mothers and people who have allergies.

Many people who monitor their health are interested in how often you can rinse your nose with salt water and if there are any contraindications. Doctors recommend this therapy every morning as hygiene procedures.

If it appears, then the number of daily procedures should be increased to four times with breaks of two hours.

Important. Washing the nose with a saline solution helps to quickly get rid of a runny nose in children of different ages. Also, this method is good as a preventive measure.

They depend on several factors:

the chosen washing technique;
time of therapy;
reasons for clearing the nasal passages.

Attention. If a person has an inflammatory process in the nose, then washing should be done once a day. A full course should be 6 days.

Nasal wash technology

The nostrils should not be washed together, but in turn. First you need to pinch one nostril with your finger and gradually pour the liquid into the other. This procedure must be performed carefully so that pain and discomfort do not appear. If desired, the solution can be poured into a glass or use the palm of your hand.

The solution, which is poured into the nose, exits through the mouth. If a person has a runny nose, then this does not happen immediately, but after a few minutes.

All remaining liquid should be poured out by exhaling from each nostril of the nose.

Thorough cleaning should be carried out so that no infection remains.

For the convenience of the procedure, it is better to use a syringe purchased at a pharmacy or a syringe with a volume of 10 ml. But for small children, syringes of a smaller volume are suitable. It is important to keep such devices clean so as not to introduce even more infection.

To rinse your baby's nose well, you can use a more gentle method:

ask the child to lie down on a bed or other flat surface;
inject a couple of drops of the solution into each nostril;
after a couple of minutes, the liquid from the nose will pass into the mouth;
spit out the solution.

Many parents are wondering how often to rinse their child's nose with saline. After all, children's procedures are different from adults. If you perform washing as a preventive procedure, then only once a day is enough. It is best to carry out this therapy in the morning after waking up.

Important. Before carrying out each procedure, a mandatory consultation with a doctor is necessary. Nasal lavage is no exception.

To get the desired effect from , you must first make sure that it is not embedded. If even one nostril is clogged, then the procedure in this case is useless. After the therapy, a person is not recommended to leave the house for an hour. After all, the remaining liquid can freeze and further provoke the formation of a severe runny nose and inflammation.

Saline preparation

Many medicines with antiseptic properties have a number of side effects. As a result, allergic reactions may occur due to intolerance to one of the components of the drug.

But allow you to perform painless procedures without causing an allergic reaction. For this reason, they can be adopted by pregnant women or nursing mothers. However, a good nasal cleansing solution should be prepared. Any salt can be used.

You should know that sea water has a great effect on the nasopharynx, protecting the body from various diseases, even those that have become chronic. If there is a chance to use, then this is a good option for washing.

It is better to buy home sea salt, which is sold in many supermarkets and pharmacies. The price for it is very affordable - within 40 rubles per kilogram.

There are three methods for making a nasopharyngeal irrigation solution.

The most popular options are:

1 tsp salt should be mixed in 500 ml of purified water.
In 1 st. pour water 2 tsp. sea salt. This fluid should only be used by adults who work in harsh environments. You should be aware that such a solution leads to drying of the mucous membrane and often the procedure is not worth it.
In one liter, it is necessary to dilute 2 tsp. salt. This solution is great for gargling and treating even chronic diseases.

To make a solution for babies, you need to reduce the dose of salt. It should be taken in a glass of purified water ¼ tsp. salt. This liquid is optimal and does not harm the health of the child.

If there is no sea salt in the house yet, then you can wash with a solution that is made from simple salt. It perfectly replaces sea salt, while maintaining all the advantages of therapy.

All proportions should be strictly observed. If you take the wrong amount of salt and water, it can worsen your health. The best option is to dilute a teaspoon of salt with 0.5 liters of water.

Conclusion

It is important to first consult with your doctor about whether you can perform this procedure. Indeed, in rare cases, the doctor may even prohibit such therapy.