Nasal Irrigation With Salt Water

When your sinuses are inflamed and congested, you’ll try anything to get relief. Fortunately, one of the oldest traditional solutions for sinus congestion and removing bacteria, irritants and debris from the nose is also one of the best. Performing nasal irrigation with salt water has been a treatment for sinus problems for hundreds of years in India, and you can easily adapt the procedure to use in your own home.

Things You'll Need

• Table salt
• Water
• Bowl
• Bulb syringe
• Sink
• Towel

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Instructions

• 1

  Dissolve 1/8 to 1/2 teaspoon of pure, uniodized table salt into 8 ounces of warm water in a small bowl. The water should be about the same temperature as your body temperature, or close to 98 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix the solution thoroughly.

• 2

  Use a clean bulb syringe to draw up some of the salt solution to fill the bulb.

• 3

  Tilt your head forward and lean as far as you can over your sink. You might also want to place a towel over your shoulders to protect your clothing from any stray drops that might get you wet.

• 4

  Place the tip of the syringe in your nose, sliding it in about 1/4 inch, or about the width of a fingertip. Tilt the syringe so that the hole is pointing upward toward your ear on the same side as the nostril you are flushing.

• 5

  Squeeze the bulb slowly to release the salt solution. You will feel it enter your nasal passages and drain into your sinuses. Some of the solution should come out of the nostril with the bulb in it, while some of it may travel through your sinuses and come out the other nostril or your mouth.

• 6

  Repeat the process once more on the same nostril and then switch sides. You should flush each side twice, for a total of four flushes.