Saline solution is the most affordable, effective and at the same time safe means of helping from the cold. It can be used for inflammation, purulent discharge, dryness, washing them not only the nasal passages, but also the throat.
Cooked or sea salt?
The washing efficiency mainly depends on the main component, sodium chloride. So, with a mild headache, you can quickly wash the nasal passages with the help of regular table salt. During the procedure, the mucous membrane is disinfected, so that bacteria cannot descend lower into the throat and enter the bronchi. But in the presence of purulent secretions of a green or brown shade, it is better to use sea salt to prepare the solution.
You should also choose a food product without dyes, flavors, because chemical additives will only irritate the mucous membrane, leading to increased edema.
Sea salt contains the following minerals that help ease breathing:
- calcium, which promotes the healing of small cracks, helps relieve irritation;
- iron and copper, which restore the work of blood vessels and capillaries, normalize blood circulation, reduce swelling;
- Iodine has an antiseptic effect: this mineral is useful in infectious diseases, sinus, as it disinfects the nasal passages, improving the outflow of purulent secretions;
- manganese helps to improve immunity, fighting with pathogens of rhinitis.
Sea salt works better than cooking. It is for this reason that all pharmaceutical formulations are prepared on the basis of sea water.
It is impossible to use tap water for washing - it contains bacteria and harmful microorganisms that can lead to inflammation, infection, and allergic rhinitis.
For the preparation of high-quality salt solution, you must use non-carbonated mineral water or distilled water, which is free from germs and impurities.
If there is no filtered liquid in the house, you can cook it yourself: pour water into a ceramic or iron pan, bring it to a boil and leave to stand for 3-5 hours. The top layer should be carefully poured into another container - it will be used just for preparing the solution.
Inventory recommendations
Clean must be not only the liquid for the preparation of the solution, but also the dishes for storing the medicine. A jar or cup must be washed with antibacterial soap. After application, the container should be rinsed 2-3 times so that there is no film from the previous solution on the jar walls, pour boiling water over it.
Disinfect as a spoon or fork, which will mix the composition. Strain the solution through sterile gauze: before use it must be washed and ironed.
Do not neglect the rules of disinfection. Salt does not destroy all the bacteria that "live" on the dishes: if they fall into the nasal passages, the inflammation may increase, which can cause an aggravation of sinusitis or rhinitis.
An important point: do not mix the composition in a plastic or stainless steel container, since such materials contain substances that can lead to increased edema.
Correct proportions are the key to a quality solution.
When using too weak solution, it will not be possible to remove all the pus secretions, to destroy the bacteria that caused the runny nose.
A too concentrated solution can cause burns to the mucous membranes. It is best to wash the nasal passages with a 5% solution: the composition has an antiseptic composition, moisturizes the mucosa, heals cracks.
To prepare such a solution, you need to take 0.5 liters of pure water and 1 tsp. salt. The components are stirred until complete dissolution of the crystals.
When using sea salt you need to take 1 tbsp. dry ingredient.
To prepare the solution for children (it should be more benign), you need to take 5 g of sodium chloride or 10 g of sea salt and stir in 0.4 liters of water.
But a more concentrated tool should be used in extremely rare cases:
- with purulent sinusitis;
- for softening crusts;
- for thinning thick secretions.
You can use this solution no more than once a week. To prepare a concentrated solution, you need to take 2.5 tsp. salt and 0.5 liters of water. This solution should not only wash the nasal passages, but also rinse the throat. Sea salt needs to be taken twice as much.
Recipes solution for washing the nose with sea salt
The options are simple:
- For 1 cup of boiled water at room temperature, take ½ tsp. sea salt.
For 1 cup of boiled water at room temperature 2 tsp. sea salt. This dosage is relevant for people working in a dusty room.- At 1 liter of warm boiled water, take 2 tsp. sea salt. The tool is recommended to use for gargling, cleansing the nose for inflammatory diseases, acute and chronic sinusitis. To flush the nose of the child, the solution is prepared from ¼ tsp. salt and glass of boiled water at room temperature.
- If for any reason you could not find sea salt, you can use the usual cooking. At 0.5 liters of warm water, take 1 tsp.
- For the preparation of saline solution in order to clean the nasal cavity, you can use salt in combination with baking soda, for 1 cup of warm boiled water, take ½ tsp. products. The solution will have a bactericidal effect. For the prevention of the disease, the solution can not be used only for medicinal purposes.
For 1 cup of boiled water at room temperature 2 tsp. sea salt. This dosage is relevant for people working in a dusty room.What supplements to use
In addition, other ingredients can be added to the solution. For example, a small amount of iodine will increase the antibacterial properties of the solution.
To do this, add 2 drops of iodine to the glass to clean and disinfect the nasal passages, destroying the cause of rhinitis.
But if allergic rhinitis is observed, iodine cannot be used.
To moisten the overdried nasal mucosa, you need to steam the chamomile by adding 10 g of salt. Instead of chamomile, you can take St. John's wort or calendula.
Some important recommendations
The temperature of the solution is about +30 degrees. Too hot liquid will cause burns to the mucous membranes, and cold liquid may cause a decrease in immunity.
The solution is injected into the nasal passages with a small syringe, the head should be tilted to the right or left. During the procedure, the mouth should be slightly opened, so that the excess liquid flows out through the mouth, rather than being poured into the throat.
After that, the mucous membrane must be lubricated with sea buckthorn oil or petroleum jelly so that the skin does not dry.
Patients with rhinitis, sinusitis (bacterial or infectious nature) should wash the nose for 2-3 weeks. A common cold is treated in 2-3 days.
With SARS or a common cold, it is necessary to carry out procedures about 4 times a day, but with allergic congestion - three times a day. And for simple moistening of the nasal passages, for example, with a long stay in a dry room, saline solution is used twice a day.
The medicine prepared at home is used for such chronic pathologies as:
- sinusitis;
- rhinitis;
- sinusitis.
In this case, the washing should be carried out twice a day. For children, the nose is cleaned 4 times a day with a bad cold and inflammation, 1 time for prophylaxis. If you are allergic to pollen, the nasal passages must be cleaned after each walk.
Are there any contraindications
Before you carry out the washing of the nose, it should be remembered that such therapeutic measures are not suitable for everyone.
So, the procedure is contraindicated:
- if there is a curvature of the nasal septum;
- with frequent nosebleeds;
- in the presence of polyps or tumors;
- with otitis;
- with obstruction of the nasal passages.
Also, some patients may experience allergic reactions: mucous swells and reddens, there is a burning sensation, congestion. In this case, you need to stop washing, take any antihistamine drug and consult a doctor.
Saline Analogs
If you are faced with the fact that washing does not help or leads to allergies, you can replace it with analogues. These include:
- Aquamaris;
- But salt;
- Salin;
- Aqualore;
- Dolphin.
The budget option is sodium chloride 9%. A solution is sold in glass ampoules: a rubber cap is pierced with a needle, the necessary amount of the agent is collected (it is better not to remove the cap itself, otherwise the saline will quickly deteriorate).
The use of saline solution is an excellent method of therapy for various diseases, allergies. However, it is important to remember about the correct preparation of the tool and its use.
