# An old wives tale to consider: gargling with salt water \[edited title\]

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-old-wives-tale-to-consider-gargling-with-salt-water-edited-title/156130>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 19, 2003, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-old-wives-tale-to-consider-gargling-with-salt-water-edited-title/156130 "2003-02-19T15:02:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![ghostrider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58f4c7/32.png) [@ghostrider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ghostrider)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-old-wives-tale-to-consider-gargling-with-salt-water-edited-title/156130/41 "2003-02-21T01:09:01Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Shirley Ujest \*  
> \*\*Welcome \*\*ghostrider \*\* It is nice that you can make an intelligent, informed contribution in your first post!
> 
> I have yet to acheive such an honor, but it ain’t from a lack of trying! \*\*

Well, thanks! Tho it’s probably the last one (informed contribution) I’ll be able to make. :rolleyes: So it goes…

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**Author:** ![ghostrider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58f4c7/32.png) [@ghostrider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ghostrider)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-old-wives-tale-to-consider-gargling-with-salt-water-edited-title/156130/42 "2003-02-21T01:14:23Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Dogface \*  
> \*\*Why do that? Why not get a sterile saline nasal spray? They do work. \*\*

The OTC saline sprays don’t contain nearly enough salt to do the job when you have severe chronic sinusitis. For lesser sinus problems they’re fine. And they’re handy as a tide-me-over thing, I always carry one in my backpack.

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**Author:** ![plain\_jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@plain\_jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plain_jane)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-old-wives-tale-to-consider-gargling-with-salt-water-edited-title/156130/43 "2003-02-21T03:30:14Z")

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Thanks for the info!

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