Nasal Irrigation for Sinus Infection Treatment

Nasal irrigation, sinus irrigation or saline sinus flush has proven to be an excellent natural cure and effective home remedy for sinus infection.

Nasal irrigation with the use of a plastic syringe

This method is very suitable for first- timers. Most people are unaccustomed to having water running through their sinuses, let alone in large volumes! The use of the syringe allows the individual to control the volume of water through the nasal cavities.

The steps to perform nasal irrigation for sinus infection treatment are as follows:

1. Mix 1 teaspoonful of the powder into a small cup of water and stir the mixture. Fill up the syringe with the sodium bicarbonate solution by pulling back the plunger of the syringe after immersing it into the solution.

2. Lower your head into the basin and tilt your head to the side and slightly down toward the basin. Ideally, the chin and the forehead should be level with each other.

3. Place the opening of syringe into the upper nostril creating a complete seal and inject the saline solution so that it flows into that nostril, through the nasal passages, and out the lower nostril.

Ideally, you should hold your breath while doing this to prevent accidental breathing in of the solution.

4. Expel the remaining saline solution and mucus trapped in the nasal passages by blowing them out of the nostrils. For best results, it would be better to keep one nostril shut and blow out the contents through the other. If your nostrils are blocked, you should not forcefully blow out the water. Do so gently.

5. Repeat the entire process by tilting the head to the other side and inserting the syringe through the other nostril.

6. When the saline solution is almost used up, use the remaining amount and gargle the throat for a minute or so, as you would with a mouth wash. Spit out the contents when it is done.

If you are having a nasal congestion caused by an allergy or infection, it is important that the seal formed by the syringe and the nostril remains tight. Otherwise, when the saline solution is injected, the solution instead of passing through the nasal passages, gets expired out through the same nostril that the syringe is inserted.

To do this successfully, you need to exert a little more pressure on the plunger so that the saline solution can pass through the nasal passages and then out through the other nostril. That is it. It is that simple!

Nasal irrigation with a neti pot

A neti pot is often used for nasal irrigation for sinus infection treatment because it is designed to allow more water to pass through the sinus passages than a syringe would. It is built in such a way that the spout of the neti pot is able to comfortably insert snugly into the nostril.

The procedure for performing nasal irrigation with the neti pot is almost exactly the same. The only difference is that you allow half of the pot of water to run through one of your nostrils first before doing the same with the other nostril.

When you buy a neti pot, it will come with simple instructions on how to use it effectively. Whichever way you like, nasal irrigation is indeed the best way to keep your sinuses healthy and clean.

Watch a video on how nasal irrigation with a neti pot is being done:

What you need to do after Nasal Irrigation

In order to dispel any remaining solution that is still retained in the sinus cavities, you need to bend forward so that your nose is pointing to the floor and exhale through your nostrils. Be extra careful if you suffer from any form of dizziness, giddiness or high blood pressure. If you are having a nosebleed or have had a recent surgery in the nasal areas, do not perform nasal irrigation!!.

Nasal irrigation for sinus infection treatment should be done everyday and as often as you wish, irrespective of whether you have a sinus infection or not. You will find that you do not succumb to the common cold and viral influenza that easily over time!