How to Get Rid of Mucus in the Sinuses

Mucus is a watery fluid produced by the body to keep the sinuses moist and to trap harmful airborne particles from various pollutants before they enter the body. It contains lysozyme, an antibacterial enzyme that helps keep these microorganisms under control, and is one of our body's defense mechanisms to help prevent illness. But sometimes our body produces too much mucus, leading to sinus congestion, pressure and infections, and other respiratory illnesses. Nasal irrigation or "nasal wash" is an effective therapy to flush out excess mucus to relieve irritated nasal and sinus passages.

Things You'll Need

• Neti pot or 8-oz. squeeze bottle
• Saline solution

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Instructions

• 1

  Fill the neti pot or squeeze bottle with 8 oz. of saline solution.

• 2

  Lean over the sink at a 45-degree angle, head down. Turn your head so that one nostril is above the other.

• 3

  Insert gently the spout of the neti pot into the uppermost nostril, enough to form a comfortable seal. The spout should be straight, and not pressed against the insides of the nose. If using a squeeze bottle, gently press the bottle cap up against the uppermost nostril to form a comfortable seal.

• 4

  Raise the handle of the neti pot and, with the mouth open, pour 1/2 of the saline solution into the uppermost nostril. In a few seconds, the sinus cavity will fill up and the solution will begin to trickle out the lower nostril. If using a squeeze bottle (bottle should be turned upside at an angle so that squeezing the bottle will result in water running into the nostril), squeeze 1/2 of the solution into the uppermost nostril.

• 5

  Turn the head the other way until the lower nostril now becomes the uppermost nostril.

• 6

  Repeat step 4 in the opposite nostril.

• 7

  Blow the nose gently over 10 minutes to gently expel the loosening mucus. Do not sniff the mucus back into the head.