Why You Should Start Nasal Rinsing
While we appreciate our nose for allowing us to smell and breathe, your nose plays another important role behind the scenes. Each time we breathe in air, the nose acts as a filtering system for our body. The mucus lining of the nose traps harmful particles such as bacteria, allergens and pollutants. Microscopic hairs inside your nose then sweep the bad particles into the throat where they are neutralized by your gut. This natural filtering process of the nasal cavity allows cleaner and healthier air to reach your heart and lungs. However, just like any filtering system, this filter needs to be cleaned or rinsed periodically. This is where nasal rinsing comes into play.
What is Nasal Rinsing?
Nasal rinsing typically involves running warm salt water (saline) through your nose, or in one nostril and out the other nostril. You may know nasal rinsing as synonymous with the Neti Pot, or that blue teapot-like vessel that holds saline. While this is certainly the most popular brand of nasal irrigation, it is not the only one – or the first one. In fact, the benefits of nasal rinsing were discovered long ago. According to a recent post in the New York Times, “nasal rinsing, which traces back thousands of years to the Ayurvedic medical traditions of India, is an unusual example of a practice that is at once ancient, trendy and evidence-based. And, it’s safe and inexpensive to boot.”
A Proven, Safe and Natural Therapy for Prevention
While you may consider using the Neti Pot or other nasal rinses when you are sick or especially congested, we urge patients to start using nasal rinses as a daily nasal hygiene routine. In other words, as a preventative measure instead of a sinus remedy. Just like you change the oil in your car, your nose may need some maintenance efforts to help it do its job. Daily nasal rinsing especially beneficial for people who react to the unwanted particles that build up in the mucus, which can cause congestion, sneezing, pressure and sinus pain.
Nasal rinsing is not only effective at relieving and preventing seasonal and environmental allergy symptoms, but it is an easy, affordable and very natural solution to helping you avoid disruptive nasal issues that can otherwise compromise your quality of life. Nasal rinsing does not involve medicine, and can safely be performed twice a day.
It is an ancient therapy that is recognized worldwide for its success. According to The New York Times, “an international team of experts published a consensus on how best to manage common sinus issues, like chronic inflammation of the nasal and sinus passages that can cause runny nose, congestion, impaired sense of smell and facial pressure or pain. They concluded that regular rinsing with saltwater was one of the treatments most proven to be effective.” There is even research that supports nasal irrigation as a remedy to soothe upper respiratory infections caused by the flu and other viruses.
When it comes to nasal rinsing, you’ve got plenty of strong reasons to do it, and few (if any) reasons not to. For more information on how to incorporate nasal rinsing into your daily hygiene regime, please contact City Sinus Care.
