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Alkaline Nasal Wash Procedures

Alkaline nasal wash procedures flush the sinus cavity with a solution that has an alkaline pH factor. It is a natural and therapeutic procedure also known as nasal irrigation and nasal lavage. It can be performed with the assistance of a professional or used as a home remedy. According to an article in Clinical Otolaryngology, the use of alkaline nasal wash procedures when combined with Western medicine has been shown to eliminate the need for sinus surgery. Additionally, it has been successful in treating chronic sinusitis sufferers when included in a regimen with Western or alternative medicine.

  1. When to Use Alkaline Nasal Wash Procedures

    • Alkaline nasal wash procedures are useful in treating a number of sinus and health conditions and are a traditional treatment used in Oriental, Ayurvedic and folk medicine. Patients with sinusitis, chronic sinusitis, atrophic rhinitis, postsurgical patient and other nasal crust-forming conditions have been shown to benefit from a regimen that includes alkaline nasal wash procedures.

    Do-It Yourself Alkaline Nasal Wash Procedures

    • Perform alkaline nasal wash procedures yourself, at home. First, sterilize all the instruments you will be using by submerging them into boiling water or wiping them with isopropyl alcohol. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water; use a scrub brush for your nails if possible. You'll need a bulb syringe (the sort used for ear irrigation work well) and a measuring spoon and cup.

      Stand or sit with your head over a sink or basin so that any water is easily captured.

      According to the Mayo Clinic, to create an alkaline saline solution, mix ¼ tsp. of sea salt and add 1/8 tsp. of baking soda with 2 C. of warm water (boil water to sterilize it and then allow it to sufficiently cool). It is important to maintain this ratio and maintain or exceed the amount of salt. The mixture as prescribed is an isotonic solution. This means it resembles the salt levels in our bodies. Saline solutions of a lesser concentration are foreign to the body and will cause irritation. Those with nasal wash procedures may graduate to higher concentrations.

      Firmly but gently grab your bulb syringe and squeeze out as much air as possible. Place the tip of the syringe into the alkaline saline solution and draw it in. Then turn it over and gently squeeze until all remaining air is out and a bit of the solution oozes out. Place your head over the sink or basin (if your hair is long, have it pulled back) and do not tilt it backward. Insert the syringe into your nose using the width of your index finger as a guideline. With the tip in your nostril, aim toward the outermost corner of your eye, slowly grip the bulb and squeeze the solution into your sinus cavity. Let the solution drain into the capturing vessel. Use two syringes full of solution for each nostril. At the end of the treatment, the solution should run clear.

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