Make your own saline rinse: Combat sinus infections
Looking for a natural way to find relief from allergy or sinus infection symptoms? The use of saline (salt water) irrigations for the nose and sinuses has been shown to be highly effective in improving allergy symptoms and shortening the duration of a sinus infection.
Typically, for allergy sufferers, I recommend irrigating the sinuses once every day to every other day with 8 ounces of salt water. There is data that indicates over irrigating the sinuses can deplete natural immune cells that reside in the mucus of the sinuses. I would not recommend irrigating more than once a day.
The advantages of irrigating includes:
- Keeping the nose clean
- Decreasing the bacteria count inside the nose and sinuses
- Flushing out irritants out of the nose on a regular basis.
By doing this, many of my allergy suffers no longer require the use of allergy medications. Irrigation has been shown to improve nasal hygiene and decrease the swelling caused by nasal irritants. The saline irrigations can also help prevent recurring sinusitis.
Sinus infections frequently occur when swelling from irritants, allergens, or viruses causes blockage of the opening of the sinuses, thus preventing proper aeration and drainage of the sinuses.
Once a sinus infection occurs, the irrigations can also serve to flush out the pus from inside the sinuses and keep the sinuses open. Typically, during an active sinus infection, I would recommend that the saline concentration of the irrigation be increased one and a half fold if the patient can tolerate it.
Salt itself has a property of preventing bacteria from growing (that’s why salted foods spoil slowly). During an acute sinus infection, rinsing the sinuses 2 to 3 times per day is effective.
Saline Irrigation Formula
Ingredients
- Salt-containing no iodide or preservatives (these can be irritating)
- Baking soda
- 8 ounces (1 cup) of distilled or boiled water
Directions
- Mix 3 heaping teaspoons of salt with 1 rounded teaspoon of baking soda and store in a small Ziplock bag.
- Add 1 teaspoon of the mixture to 8 ounces (1 cup) of lukewarm distilled or boiled water. Use less to make a less concentrated salt solution if burning or stinging is experienced.
Application
Using a soft rubber ear bulb syringe, infant nasal bulb or a commercial nasal saline rinse bottle from your drug store, use the rinse by following these steps:
- Draw up 8 ounces of the saline solution. Tilt your head downward over a sink (or in the shower) and rotate to the left. Squeeze half of the solution gently into the right (top) nostril. Breathe through your mouth. In a few seconds the solution should come out through your left nostril. Repeat the process on the other side.
- Blow your nose very gently to prevent the solution from going into your ear and causing discomfort. If water goes into your ears, it is OK. The discomfort should resolve in a short time.
- If you are using other nasal medications, be sure you do not use it right before irrigating your sinuses – it will rinse the medication out. Use other nasal medication at least 30 minutes after irrigating.
As with any medical product, be sure to speak to your doctor about using sinus rinses and stop using if you experience pain, nosebleeds or other problems.
Are you looking for sinus relief? Schedule an appointment at the Baylor Sinus Center.
Additional Resources
Could your seasonal allergy flare ups be allergic rhinitis?
Dr. Takashima offers 10 tips to avoiding sinus infections
Headaches? They could be caused by sinus pressure.
-By Dr. Mas Takashima, associate professor and director of the Sinus Center at Baylor College of Medicine
For the past 45 years I have suffered ongoing sinus infections as ear infections, I ever had 2 sets of ear tubes in. I would be on numerous antibiotics from fall to spring. This fall I started rinsing my nose out with saline nasal rinse. It is now February and I haven’t had one antibiotic! It’s amazing what rinses out even after have blown your nose. I started off using it 3 times a day the cut back to once or twice a day if I feel a pressure headache or know there is still mucus in my sinus that I can’t blow out. I will now make my own saline rinse. Thanks for the ingredients and ratios!
I had been suffering from sinusitis for the past 10 yrs .I change from doctor to doctor who are ENT specialist to identify what exactly could’ve blocked my sinuses , apart from allergic rhinitis, I’m diagnosed of ear infection and throat infections. I have just come to realize that I am having chronic sinusitis after doing scanning. so with this home made remedy of nasal irrigation, hope to give it a try since I’m tired with medication.
Is it alright to use tap water?
Hi Carl,
Thanks for reading the Baylor College of Medicine blog. For questions or to schedule an appointment, please contact Dr. Mas Takashima.
Best,
-Nicole
Yes – boules water !
I meant Boiled water !
Only if you boil first otherwise it can cause problems
Yes, been using warm tap water for years. Add salt and baking soda to make your own solution.
In the early ’90’s my allergist was frustrated with me because I refused to use any nasal steroid spray. No one believed me, including my allergist, that the steroid spray would initially help but, inevitably, the benefit would plateau and I would develop a sinus infection and/or a cold. Then, I would begin an antibiotic. So I began flatly refusing any steroid spray. So he encouraged me to do nasal lavage and gave me a recipe like yours. It was such a benefit, I have continued the practice with much success in avoiding infections. I’ve also got several family members doing it. All have reduced infections. Thanks for the recipe!
Pingback: How to make saline solution | Grand Medicine
My nasal wash routine for year-round allergies is one 8 oz squeeze bottle per side, twice a day. After much research, I decided to go with my own recipe both to save on expenses and to add ingredients:
Per 8 oz bottle:
1 teaspoon of my own prepared dry mix:
(2 parts pickling/canning or kosher salt : 1 part sodium bicarbonate : 3 parts xylitol — make up a small batch in an air-tight, wide-mouth container and shake VERY well to mix. Avoid sea and table salt.)
1/2 teaspoon Alkolol Nasal Wash (or a little more if you prefer)
4 drops Grapefruit Seed Extract
Shake well to dissolve.
How did you know to use ingredients other than salt soda and water
Wondering if anyone had tried Epsom salt? Would that work?
does the baking soda increase the saline solutions thickness??
I am going to get a squeeze bottle and try this. Back in late May, I all of a sudden felt a sharp, intense pain in my left cheek. My sinuses were already in full gear (chronic) but by the end of the day voices were muffled. I heard my voice in my sinuses and my ears. My ears, which for some time, already felt full started to hurt badly. Felt as if there was extreme pressure. Two days later, I went to the ER because of the pain. Glands in neck were also swollen. I had no fever. Doctor said there was no fluid behind my ears, ear pressure were normal. He said most likely a viral sinus infection causing Eustachian tube dysfunction . He just ordered some drops for eyes as he said they were red and looked irritated. Yet that happens if I get near anyone with perfume, after shave. ENT found no problems with my ears; talked about doing balloon plasty in both tubes because he thought my tubes were closed or that the saddle that holds the tube up weakened (both ears simultaneously?) I mentioned I broke my nose when young and a doctor told me the cartilage “up there” on the left side was spider webbed. ENT doc said no problem. But that didn’t reassure me. As of today, My ears hurt, feel full, feel as if pressure will cause them to explode. My sinuses burn, my teeth hurt, I have a headache and even the teeth in my lower jaw hurt. Praying that the lavage will work.