A nasal douche can relieve the symptoms of colds or hay fever. We’ll show you what you need for a nasal douche and how to use it correctly.
Nasal shower means cleaning the nose and mucous membranes with a saline solution. The idea of flushing your nose with water may seem uncomfortable at first. However, rinsing the nose has a long tradition in many cultures. The nasal douche is an integral part of yogic cleansing rituals (“Neti Kriya”) as well as part of Ayurvedic health teachings.
Nasal shower: effect and medical benefits
A nasal shower clears the nose of:
- secretion
- Dust
- Pollen
- pathogens
Proper use of a nasal douche can prevent colds as well as help with other health problems. These include, among others:
- acute cold and runny nose
-
Inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis)
- hay fever
- House dust allergy
- dry nose
- heavy contamination
- after operations in the nose area
Scientific studies show that nasal irrigation can generally relieve the symptoms of a runny nose and that no serious side effects occur. However, there are limitations to the studies in terms of the number of participants and comparability, according to the Health Knowledge Foundation.
Nasal rinsing can also be useful in connection with Corona. Although it does not protect against infection, it can liquefy nasal secretions. This means that the cilia can better remove the secretion along with the pathogens. This could reduce the viral load. Several studies report on its effectiveness.
Tip: If you also have an earache when you have a cold, an onion can help as a home remedy. You can make onion bags out of them and place them on the ear to relieve the pain.
When a nasal douche is taboo
Nasal showers should only be carried out for a maximum of one week, otherwise the nasal mucosa can be damaged, warns the Health Knowledge Foundation.
If your sinuses are inflamed, you should also avoid it. If pus has formed, the saline solution may not be able to drain away properly.
If you have severe nosebleeds or injuries to the sinus walls or roof of your nose, you should not do a nasal shower. If the mucous membranes are very swollen when you have a cold, a nasal douche doesn’t really help – because then the rinsing liquid cannot drain off well.
What you need for the nasal shower
Performing a nasal shower is very easy: all you need is a suitable container – alternatively, you can also use your hands. However, in this case, make sure to wash them thoroughly beforehand to avoid germs. In addition, you only need water and salt.
The right container:
- Originally, the containers for the nasal douche were made of metal, ceramic or glass. Today most models are made of transparent plastic so that dirt is more easily visible. You can get a classic ceramic nasal rinsing pot from Avocadostore, Aponeo or Amazon, for example
- In addition to traditional nasal douches, there are also models in which the liquid is pumped into the nose using pressure. You can get them, for example, at your local pharmacy or online at Shop Apotheke, Doc Morris or Amazon
- To prevent germs from settling and multiplying in your nasal douche, you should clean it regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. It is also important to let the device dry completely afterwards – because residual moisture provides an ideal breeding ground for germs, as the German Allergy and Asthma Association (DAAB) recommends.
The right salt solution
For a nasal shower you need an isotonic saline solution.
- This corresponds approximately to the body’s own salt content and can therefore be compared with our tears. Too much salt creates a burning sensation in the nose and the nasal douche 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 great.
- Many manufacturers sell pre-portioned salt so that the ratio is correct. To avoid waste in the long term, you can also make your own saline solution. For this you need about 4.5 grams of salt in half a liter of water.
- Ideally, you use pure salt without additives such as iodine, fluoride, separating or free-flowing aids. In Germany you can easily use tap water for the nasal douche. Only patients who have recently undergone surgery should boil the water beforehand and then let it cool down.
- Always make the salt solution fresh to avoid contamination with germs later.
- Alternatively, you can also buy a ready-made saline solution from the pharmacy.
Make your own nasal douche
The first few times it may feel strange to clean your nose with a nasal douche. With our step-by-step instructions it will definitely work. You need around 300 to 500 milliliters of saline solution per nasal shower.
- Warm the salt solution to body temperature and make sure the salt is completely dissolved. The best way to check the temperature is on your wrist. Important: Under no circumstances should the liquid be too hot, otherwise you risk burns!
- Pour half of the liquid into your container – alternatively, you can also pour the liquid into the cup of your hand.
- Hold your head over a sink and tilt your head back at an angle.
- Depending on the model, you pump all the water into your nose or let it run in slowly.
- While doing this, breathe through your mouth to prevent the liquid from running down your throat.
- Wait until the saline solution has completely clotted out of the other nostril.
- Breathe out through your nose to allow any remaining water to drain out more easily. Then switch sides.
If the nasal mucosa is very swollen, it is recommended to use a decongestant nasal spray beforehand.
Nasal shower: Further tips and advice
To optimize the use of the nasal douche and achieve the best possible results, here are further tips:
- In the yogic tradition, for example, nasal douching is used in the morning before meditation, pranayama or physical yoga practice.
- If you have a cold, you can also add a few drops of sage essential oil to the salt solution.
- In order for the nasal douche to actually clean, it is important to keep the vessel clean. Rinse it with lukewarm water after each use and wash it regularly with vinegar water or in the dishwasher.
With material from dpa.
Edited by Pascal Thiele
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