# Is Nasal Irrigation Effective? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 31, 2002, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nasal-irrigation-effective/134632 "2002-10-31T02:31:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nasal-irrigation-effective/134632/21 "2002-11-03T02:16:20Z")
Well, if you’re not willing to go thru 4 or 5 bottles of the saline spray a day, and wish to pour the stuff directly up your nose with a tea-kettle, all I can say is: Go for it! The bottom line is that nasal hygiene at least as important as moral and mental hygiene, if not moreso! I love the sensation one gets when the mucous suddenly gives up its tight grip on the local epithelium and shifts, and then shuddering, moves out of the impacted, infected sinus and into the nasopharynx, sliding down and out of the nares into the gentle sunshine! It feels like…Victory! ---
**Author:** ![cacti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@cacti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cacti)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nasal-irrigation-effective/134632/22 "2002-11-03T17:44:29Z")
Well thank you all for the feedback. It seems like no one has anything negative to say about this procedure. (other than it may sting a little at first and that it looks gross). I believe I will give this a try, when no one is around. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nasal-irrigation-effective/134632/23 "2003-03-22T21:09:06Z")
**Update on: Is Nasal Irrigation Effective?** I just got finished doing my first nasal irrigation and the results are great. Both my nostrils are clear and I can breathe through my nose instead of acting like a knuckle-dragging, mouth-breathing, nose-picking idiot that I usually do. I plan on repeating this procedure right before I go to bed. The process is unpleasant but not painful. You have to gently inhale the salt solution and gently blow it out your other nostril. Direct the flow of solution into each nostril. Try it, I think you’ll like it. ---
**Author:** ![cedric45](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@cedric45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cedric45)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nasal-irrigation-effective/134632/24 "2003-03-22T22:59:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\* > I love the sensation one gets when the mucous suddenly gives up its tight grip on the local epithelium and shifts, and then shuddering, moves out of the impacted, infected sinus and into the nasopharynx, sliding down and out of the nares into the gentle sunshine! It feels like…Victory! \*\* At long last I know I’m not alone in the world! I appreciate all the posts in this thread but this one… this one speaks to my very soul. Yep. Thirty years of one continious headache/sinus infection/misery, then big time sinus surgery and then… a daily dose (sometimes twice) of what Qadgop said. It truly feels like victory! ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nasal-irrigation-effective/134632/25 "2003-03-22T23:37:09Z")
I had a recent appt with my ENT…he gave me a brochure for [this](http://www.nasalrinse.com/)… available at drugstores. The saline/baking soda comes pre packaged, and you can buy refill boxes. It’s not expensive (10 bucks) so I gave it a shot to compare it with what I’ve been doing. It seems to works well…also seems convienent for travel. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nasal-irrigation-effective/134632/26 "2003-03-23T00:36:03Z")
Am I the only one who thinks any water in his nose would cause extreme pain? At least it does when I swim… ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nasal-irrigation-effective/134632/27 "2003-03-23T03:01:58Z")
Speaking just for myself: A few years ago, I had a deviated septum corrected. One of the post-op procedures was to snort salt water into each nostril. (I used a small glass, filled with salt water – my doctor advised this, or a squeeze bottle). The resultant cleansing feeling was so good, I continue the practice to this day, every morning when I get out of the shower. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nasal-irrigation-effective/134632/28 "2003-03-23T03:47:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Speaker for the Dead \* > \*\*Am I the only one who thinks any water in his nose would cause extreme pain? At least it does when I swim… \*\* I’ll bet if you poured hyper-chlorinated pool water into your nose, it would cause extreme pain. Warm saline solution, however, doesn’t. In fact, I can tell if I don’t have enough salt in my solution if it hurts my nose. I use a squeeze bottle I got at the hospital once. Okay, it was meant for peritoneal lavage after childbirth (if you don’t know, don’t ask), but it was the second one they gave me, so I never did use it for its original purpose. I’ll bet that the squeeze bulbs used for babies’ noses would work just as well. I’ve never tried any of the fancier, more expensive devices, although the Water Pik one sounds intriguing. If the solution doesn’t seem to be getting into my nose far enough, I just snort it (in as elegant and womanly a way as possible). **Quadgop** , that was a truly poetic tribute. Nasal irrigation may sound (okay, and look) disgusting, but we sinus sufferers can appreciate the true beauty of the procedure. ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nasal-irrigation-effective/134632/29 "2003-03-23T04:53:24Z")
- - - Well it certainly may not be effective, but it sure is fun! ~ ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nasal-irrigation-effective/134632/30 "2003-03-24T02:51:00Z")
I have the modern electrically-powered version and just now finished using it (damn allergies!). Actually, it’s a plain-vanilla WaterPik with a different attachment that seals up against the nostrils and shoots a straight stream of water. Easier than the “pouring” method (no hack cough I’m drowning aaagh I swallowed it yecch types of problems). I’ve discovered also that dissolving a pair of Benadryls in warm hypersaline water and running it up one side and down the other for awhile hits the target site with antihistamine with more effectiveness than taking them in the usual manner. ---
**Author:** ![cedric45](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@cedric45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cedric45)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nasal-irrigation-effective/134632/31 "2003-03-24T13:03:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AHunter3 \* > \*\*I’ve discovered also that dissolving a pair of Benadryls in warm hypersaline water and running it up one side and down the other for awhile hits the target site with antihistamine with more effectiveness than taking them in the usual manner. \*\* whooooooo, I gotta try this. Strange… I feel like a junkie! Never did drugs or alcohol or smokes; a new chapter in my life? ---
**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nasal-irrigation-effective/134632/32 "2003-03-24T21:51:57Z")
Damn, here’s something I never thought I’d try that you guys have convinced me I now need to do. Sounds like…relief? ---
**Author:** ![lauramarlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a5b964/32.png) [@lauramarlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lauramarlane)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nasal-irrigation-effective/134632/33 "2003-03-25T13:45:08Z")
I’m sorry but your name, **Bongmaster** just has me wondering if you know of any other interesting ways to injest benadryl 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lauramarlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a5b964/32.png) [@lauramarlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lauramarlane)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nasal-irrigation-effective/134632/34 "2003-03-25T13:46:57Z")
I’m glad this thread got bumped just before intense allergy season gets underway! I’ll be checking out the drugstore this afternoon to see if they have that sinus rinse thingy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nasal-irrigation-effective/134632.md?page=1)