A year ago I posted about many commercial nasal sprays and how they may contain preservatives that can actually destroy neutrophils.
Since then, I've told patients to make it at home. Here's the secret formula:
- 1 Teaspoon of Baking Soda
- 1 Teaspoon of salt
- 1 Cup of warm water
The solution can be squirted up the nose from a squeeze bottle .. or you can just dip a teaspoon in the solution, place it under one nostril and hold the other nostrol closed … and snort it up. Yep .. if feels like you just went bodysurfing on a big Atlantic wave .. invigorating. Nasal saline is now a mainstay of my treatment for nasal complaints. I rarely use antibiotics. This article reviews the use of nasal saline and concludes:
"Summary: Nasal irrigations should no longer be considered merely adjunctive measures in managing sinonasal conditions. They are effective and underutilized. Some of the persisting unanswered questions will only be answered by further research."
