How to rinse the nose with saline

Nasal washing is one of the most necessary, useful and effective procedures in the fight against many diseases. Rinsing the nose can seem like a rather complicated treatment, although in reality there is nothing intricate about it. If done correctly, salt water will relieve nasal congestion and prevent the appearance of new symptoms. Rinsing the nose is completely harmless, therefore, it is recommended to wash the nose even for children and pregnant women. In this article we will try to understand the beneficial properties of this procedure, learn about the methods of washing the nose, and also learn how to prepare the solution for the procedure.

The benefits of saline washes

Why is saline used most often for washing? You can wash your nose with broths of medicinal herbs, antibacterial compositions, pharmacy salt solutions, as well as diluted juice of some plants and vegetables.However, salt water - is the most common and popular solution for washing the nose. It's all about the safety of this composition. In some diseases of the ENT organs, it is impossible to do the nasal rinsing with special medicines or juices, but salt water will not harm anyone. In addition, for the preparation of such a composition does not need special ingredients - salt and water is in every home. But how does salt water affect our bodies?

1. Rinsing the nose with salt water is very effective with nasal congestion, runny nose and active mucus secretion. Salt water removes infected mucus from the nasal passages, relieves swelling, disinfects and flushes the sinuses. It is very effective for sinusitis, frontal sinusitis and other inflammations. After such a flushing of mucus becomes much less breath opens.
2. Rinsing the nose with salt water is very helpful with allergies. When an allergen gets on the mucous membrane of the nose, an active reaction of the body begins - the person sneezes, coughs, tears and snot flow from him - this is how the mucous is trying to wash off the foreign particle from its surface. Washing helps flush the allergen quickly and efficiently - after the procedure, the symptoms of allergies pass away quickly.
3. The nose is often washed as a prophylaxis.In the cold season, a large crowd of people is a chance of getting an ARVI infection. If, after close contact with a sick person, you flush your nose, you can wash off those particles of the virus that hit the mucous membrane, but have not yet had time to be absorbed into the blood. If you wash the nose of a child after attending kindergarten, the likelihood of colds is sharply reduced. The same should be done for pregnant women after visiting clinics and other crowded places. Washing is a safe way to protect your body from colds, because the immunity of pregnant women and children is very weak.
4. Flushing the nose helps not only to remove mucus, but also dilutes it. It is very effective in purulent processes.

Salt water according to the law of physics pulls the mucus out, forcing the capillaries to work independently. If you rinse your nose regularly with salt water, a runny nose will go much faster.

How to make salt water for rinsing the nose

Properly prepared solution is the basis of a well-performed procedure. The fact is that too salty or too hot water can bring mucosal discomfort and burning sensation.To prepare the solution you need to take a glass of water - this volume is usually enough for one procedure. Water must be boiled or filtered. In no case do not use running water - it may contain chlorine, which dries the mucous membrane. The salt concentration should be this - about 2 grams of salt per 250 ml of liquid. This is about a pinch of salt in a glass of water. Water should be no hotter than 38 degrees - that is, about comfortable for the body. Instead of simple salt it is better to take the sea. After preparation of the solution, you can proceed directly to the procedure.

How to wash your nose with a kettle

Rinsing the nose can be done in various ways, but the classic and optimal method is to use a special kettle with a thin and movable spout. It is designed specifically for this procedure. If there is no such kettle on hand, you can use the most ordinary small kettle that you have at home.

1. Rinsing should be done over the sink, bathtub or basin.
2. Be very careful - if the nose is so congested that it is not breathing, rinsing can be dangerous, since enlarged adenoids close the permeability of the fluid between the nasal passages and water can get into the middle ear.If the nose is stuffed up, vasoconstrictive drops should be placed in the nose before the procedure. And only when the nasal breathing opens, you can begin washing.
3. Pour the cooked composition into the kettle and lean over the sink. Apply the tip of the kettle tightly to one nostril, for example, to the right. Carefully start turning your head to the right so that the water starts to flow into your right nostril, and leave the left. You may not be able to do it the first time, but in order to understand the principle of action, you need to repeat the procedure several times.
4. During the procedure, you need to hold your breath so that water does not get into your mouth.
5. After having washed one nostril, by all means carry out procedure with the second nostril.
6. After rinsing, blow your nose well without pinching nostrils. After that, carefully wipe off with a towel, rinse and disinfect the kettle.

After washing it is impossible to go outside for a few more hours, because the mucous at this time is very vulnerable and cold air can harm it.

How else can you flush your nose

It is not necessary to use a teapot to rinse the nose, and besides, some people cannot wash their nose this way at all. Here are some more ways to flush your nose.

1. The easiest way to rinse your nose safely is to suck in the salt water of your own nostrils. To do this, type water in the palm and attach to the nostril (the second you need to hold your finger). Then, in a sharp motion, inhale to tighten the salt water. Repeat the procedure with the second nostril.
2. Supply water under pressure using a syringe without a needle, a syringe or a plastic bottle (you need to make several holes on the lid). This is also a very effective method of washing. However, the pressure should be moderate, so that water does not fall into the middle ear.
3. Another way to wash your nose is in the ENT room. The special apparatus, which is also called the “cuckoo,” is a unit with tubes in which a vacuum is formed. The patient is placed on his back, his head slightly tilted back. Before that, vasoconstrictor drops are dropped into the nose. Saline is poured into one nostril, and a vacuum apparatus draws water along with mucus from the second nostril. During the procedure, you need to say “Ku-ku” - when these sounds are pronounced, the larynx is located so that water does not enter the esophagus. The method of washing the nose about Proetts provides high-quality and professional washing of the nose.Effective for young children who cannot blow their own nose.

These are the main ways of washing the nose. Which one to choose is up to you.

How to wash the nose baby

Washing the nose of a child is a very important point in its hygiene. In time made washing will suppress the development of a runny nose, promotes recovery from a cold. After all, rinsing the nose, drinking plenty of water and moistening the air are the main drugs for ARVI.

You can wash the nose of children with a kettle only from 3-4 years old, when they begin to understand the meaning of the procedure. But babies should be washed with a pipette. To do this, you can use saline or the same salty water. Turn the child on the flank and drop two drops of the washing solution into each nostril of the baby. After that, you need to wait a while for the mucus to cease to be viscous, and the crusts are slightly soaked. Now it is important to remove mucus from the spout. Since the crumb cannot blow its nose, this can be done with a nasal aspirator. Modern models are very convenient and effective - quickly, efficiently and painlessly clean the nose from accumulated mucus. If there are hard crusts, they are easy to remove with a cotton swab.

After that, you need to dig in the nose medicines (if they are prescribed by a doctor), because they act much better if applied to a clean mucous membrane. Act in exactly this order — water softening, mucus removal, and medication. And runny nose in a few days.

You can rinse the nose during the disease 2-3 times a day, until the acute symptoms in the form of nasal congestion and mucus flow are relieved. However, remember that there are also contraindications for nasal rinsing - any nasal condensation and formation, obstruction of the nasal passages, otitis, nasal bleeding, and curvature of the nasal septum. Before carrying out the procedure, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

However, remember that everything is good in moderation. Too frequent washes can be harmful, because salt water washes away the natural protective layer of mucus that performs important functions in the body. The nose should be washed at the first sign of a cold, after a stay in a crowded place (clinic, playground), as well as with various sinusitis and sinus inflammation. And then washing will be a faithful friend and an indispensable assistant in the fight against the common cold.

Video: how to wash your nose