Posted by Danielle Downs on Apr.30, 2009

The northern hemisphere is slowly being dusted yellow, rendering many of us sniffling, sneezing, and searching for relief. Fortunately, pollen allergy symptoms can be lessened or avoided altogether by cleaning pollen from the mucous membranes. Our bodies naturally try to wash away the contaminants by secreting more mucous, hence the runny nose and watery eyes.

Saline solutions can help wash away more pollen faster. These can be made at home or purchased in a ready-to-use bottle. There are also a variety of applications or washing methods for you to try.

Neti Pot: nasal irrigation

What it is:
A neti pot is a small “tea pot” shaped vessel designed specifically for nasal irrigation. Neti pots are made from ceramic, plastic, or glass and have a volume of 8 to 12 ounces of saline.

How to use it:
Always use warm saline in your neti and fill the pot completely. Hold the pot level to the ground and position your head at a slight angle. It’s always best to move your head and not the pot to ensure proper pressure and flow. Breathe slowly and evenly through your mouth. Press the spout against your nasal opening and tilt head to the opposite side drawing ear toward the shoulder. Warm saline will rush into the sinus cavity and out the open nostril. As the saline exits, mucous and debris will flush out. If you feel pressure and no water flows from the open nostril, lean forward and re-tilt your head.

If your sinuses are severely clogged, neti washing may be very difficult. The fluid will eventually break through and flow due to pressure. This pressure can be extremely uncomfortable. Using steam or a vaporizer to loosen the mucous beforehand will lead to faster and more comfortable irrigation.

Most people are comfortable using ¼ to a whole teaspoon of sea salt per cup of warm water. If the solutions burns or irritates the nasal passages, it is most likely not salty enough. If you suffer from nasal dryness during allergy season, substituting baking soda for the salt provides a more slippery alkaline solution.

Saline Spray: nasal irrigation

What it is:
Several first aid products manufacturers produce saline solutions packaged in squeeze bottles. They are sold as “eye wash” or “nasal wash” and are generally interchangeable as both. Always read the ingredients when purchasing a manufactured health and wellness product to avoid products that contain synthetic stabilizers or preservatives.

How to use it:
Squeeze bottle saline is packaged with tips that squirt either a stream or a fine mist. The fine mist tip is best for nasal washing while the stream is best for eye washing. For nasal cleansing, use the saline spray as you would any nasal spray. Squeeze the bottle and sniff the mist into the sinus cavity.

If you use a prescription or over-the-counter nasal spray with medical ingredients, nasal irrigation by any means will wash away the active ingredients. Wait at least 30 minutes before using any nasal medication.

Saline Spray: ocular irrigation

What it is:
Saline eye wash is readily available in natural products stores and big box retailers. These are packaged most often with a stream tip. Some eye washes contain a moisturizer or conditioner. Read the label to ensure you are using a product free of preservatives. Bottles with a red tip are not to be squirted directly into the eye. These products are part of a saline-based contact lens cleaning system and contain strong disinfectants that cannot come in contact with the eyes.

How to use it:
Remove contact lenses before eye washing. For eye washing, direct spray into the eyes is not recommended because the pressure of the stream can cause damage. Eye wash cups are generally sold with commercially produced saline wash. Eye wash cups are oval shaped and approximately half the size of a golf ball. In a pinch, a wide mouth shot glass can serve as an eye wash cup. Fill the eye wash cup with saline and press the cup against the eye to seal. Tilt your head back and open the eye. Moving the eye from side to side increases the amount of contact the eye surface has with the saline and will help rinse more debris away. Always wash the eye area first with mild soap and warm water to remove any makeup or soils on the skin to prevent them from contaminating the eye wash cup.

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Posted under Detox For Health, Health & Fitness.