I really want to write a post about the benefits of nasal irrigation. A couple months ago, I read an article in a magazine at the gym (and I don’t even remember which magazine–maybe Yoga?) that touted the virtues of nasal irrigation via tools like the Neti Pot or Sinus Rinse. It said that rinsing sinuses with a saline solution regularly can keep you from catching a cold as it flushes out the bacteria and viruses that get trapped in your nose before they have a chance to infect you. It also said that rinsing while you have a cold can reduce the severity and length of the cold by keeping sinuses clear. I can say from experience that at least it provides some relief from all the congestion, snot, and swelling of nasal passages.
However, I’m having trouble finding solid information on the internet about this. No real studies, no decent articles. I’ve decided it’s worth posting anyways just to speak from my personal experience. Six years ago, I saw an allergist for some headaches I was having (which I now believe were due to VOCs from my newly constructed home). He recommended I try a product called the Sinus Rinse, which is really just a modern version of the Neti Pot. It’s a plastic bottle with a hole in the cap. You fill it with warm water, empty a packet of basically salt and baking soda into it (you need some sodium chloride in the water to make it comfortable for your mucus membranes), insert the cap into one nostril and squeeze the water into your nose. The water pours out the other nostril, carrying with it all the junk that was in your sinuses. The doctor recommended it to prevent allergies, as any allergens trapped in your sinuses would be rinsed away before soliciting an immune response from you.
It seems kind of gross and uncomfortable, but it’s honestly not. I don’t use it on a regular basis now that my headaches are gone, but I do use it when I feel a cold coming on (don’t use it when you’re completely congested). I think it makes perfect sense that the rinse could help prevent colds and flus and am trying to use it more often because of that. Dr. Oz recommended the Neti Pot on Oprah, saying it can even be more effective than medication because it mechanically removes allergens and irritants. If you suffer from sinus problems, allergies, or just want a natural way to provide relief for colds, maybe consider trying nasal irrigation.
