Sinus rinse recipe

Rx: SALINE Nose RINSE Recipe

Mix 1 cup (8oz) of warm water with 1/4 tsp of table salt and 1/4 tsp of baking soda. Stir until dissolved.

Rinse each nostril two to four times a day with a bulb syringe.

Prepare a fresh batch of the rinse daily to avoid bacterial contamination.

A bulb syringe can usually be found in the baby products section of most supermarkets or drug stores. Some people also save an old spray bottle from a nasal saline product and then re-fill the bottle. If you do this, make sure the bottle is carefully cleaned.

A Waterpic® with a special nasal adaptor is the ultimate nasal rinse device if you find that regular rinses are beneficial.

Variations:

Some claim that by adding additional salt, there is an additional benefit on clearing congestion and shrinking the nasal membranes. This also makes the solution "saltier" and a little less palatable. Try up to 1/2 to 1 level tsp of salt, plus the 1/4 tsp baking soda.

Ipratropium bromide (Atrovent®) solution, often used in nebulizers, can be added. If OK with your doctor try adding 1-2 nebules (0.5 -1.0 mg) to the recipe.