A nasal douche can relieve the symptoms of colds or hay fever. We show you what you need for a nasal douche and how to use it properly.
The cleaning of the nose and mucous membranes are understood by a saline solution. The idea of rinsing your own nose with water may be uncomfortable at first. However, rinsing the nose has a long tradition in many cultures. The nasal douche is an integral part of yogic cleaning rituals (“Neti Kriya”) and part of Ayurvedic health theory.
Nasal douche: effect and medical use
A nasal douche frees the nose of:
- secretion
- Dust
- Pollen
- People
The correct use of a nasal douche can prevent both colds and help with other health problems. These include:
- Acute cold and runny nose
-
Sinusitis (sinusitis)
- hay fever
- House dust allergy
- dry nose
- Strong dirt pollution
- After operations in the nose area
Scientific studies show that nasal rinsing can generally alleviate the symptoms of runny nose and no serious side effects occur. However, there are restrictions on the studies in relation to the number of participants and comparability, according to the health knowledge Foundation.
A nose rinsing can also be useful in connection with Corona. It does not protect against an infection, but can liquefy the nasal secretion. In this way, the flicker hair can better remove the secretion together with the pathogens. This is how the virus load could fall. Several studies report on the effectiveness.
Tip: If you also plague your earache in the event of a cold, an onion helps as a home remedy. You can make the onion bags out of it and put them on the ear to breastfeed the pain.
When a nasal douche is taboo
Nasal showers should be carried out for a maximum of a week, otherwise the nasal mucosa can be damaged, warns the health knowledge foundation.
If the sinuses are inflamed, you should also do without. If pus has formed, the saline solution may not flow properly.
With strong nosebleeds and injuries to parish walls or nasal roof, you should not carry out a nasal douche. If the mucous membranes are swollen sharply in runny nose, a nasal douche does not really help – because then the rinsing fluid cannot go well.
What you need for the nasal douche
It is very easy to carry out a nasal douche: you only need a suitable container – alternatively you can also use your hands. In this case, however, make sure to wash them thoroughly beforehand to avoid germs. In addition, you only need water and salt.
The right vessel:
- The containers for the metal, ceramic or glass nasal shower were originally. Today, most models are made of transparent plastic so that dirt is easier to see. You can get a classic ceramic nasal dishwicks from Avocadostore, Aponeo or Amazon, for example
- In addition to traditional nasal showers, there are also models in which the liquid is pumped into the nose using pressure. For example, you can get them in your local pharmacy or online at Shop Pharmacy, Doc Morris or Amazon
- So that there are no germs in your nasal douche, you should clean them regularly according to the manufacturer’s information. It is also important to let the device dry completely- because residual moisture offers an ideal breeding ground for germs, as the German allergy and asthmabund (DAAB) recommends.
The appropriate salt solution
You need an isotonic salt solution for a nasal douche.
- This corresponds approximately to the body’s salary and can therefore be compared to our tear fluid. If there is too much salt, a burning feeling arises in the nose and the nasal end shower dries out the mucous membranes in the long term. Too little salt, on the other hand, also irritates the mucous membranes because the osmotic difference is too big.
- A number of manufacturers pass for pre -portioned salt so that the ratio is right. In order to avoid garbage in the long term, you can also produce your own saline solution. For this you need about 4.5 grams of salt on half a liter of water.
- Ideally, you use pure salt without additives such as iodine, fluoride, separation or trickle aids. In Germany you can easily use tap water for the nasal douche. Only freshly operated patients: Boil the water in advance and then let it cool.
- Always make the salt solution fresh to avoid later germ load.
- Alternatively, you can also buy a finished saline solution from the pharmacy.
Make a nasal douche yourself
The first time it can feel strange to clean your nose with the help of a nasal douche. With our step-by-step instructions, it will definitely work. You need about 300 to 500 milliliters of salt solution per nasal shower.
- Warm the salt solution to body temperature and make sure that the salt is completely dissolved. It is best to check the temperature on your wrist. Important: Under no circumstances should the liquid be too hot, otherwise you will risk burns!
- Fill half of the liquid into your vessel – alternatively you can also put the liquid in your hollow hand.
- Hold your head over a sink and rose your head at an angle.
- Depending on the model, you pump the entire water into your nose or let it run slowly.
- In the meantime, you breathe through your mouth to prevent the liquid from running down your throat.
- Wait until the salt solution is completely crushed out of the other nostril.
- Breathe out through the nose so that the remaining water can be sprinkled more easily. Then change the page.
With swollen nasal mucosa, it is advisable to use a decongestant nasal spray beforehand.
Nasal shower: more tips and notes
In order to optimize the use of the nasal douche and achieve the best possible results, there are other tips here:
- In the yogic tradition, for example, the nasal douche is used in the morning before meditation, pranayama or physical yoga practice.
- In the event of colds, you can add a few drops of sage oil to the salt solution.
- So that the nasal douche actually cleans, it is important to keep the container clean. Rinse it with lukewarm water after each application and regularly wash it with vinegar water or in the dishwasher.
With material of the dpa.
Revised by Pascal Thiele
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