naturopathydigest.com -- Nasal Irrigation

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Nasal Irrigation

By Hana R. Solomon, MD

The common wisdom behind nasal cleansing is simple: If the filter is not clean, it will not work. The nose is the body's filter – our great defender. Just as you clean the air filter in your car and the lint filter in your clothes dryer, function is improved when the body's filter is clean.

The exquisitely effective filtering system is the body's defense system. The nasal cavity is lined with hairs called cilia. These filter the impurities and irritants that are all around us, such as pollen, mold, dust, viruses, bacteria, smoke, pollution and chemicals. As a practicing physician for more than 20 years, I have been teaching the art and science of nasal washing to patients age 2 and older.
Exposure to irritants causes the nasal passages to malfunction. The amount and thickness of the mucus increases, membranes swell, the drainage system becomes plugged, and infection sets in. This results in symptoms such as congestion, post-nasal drip, cough, sore throat, sinus pressure, headache, fatigue, snoring and ear complaints.
Our environment is filled with dust, pollution, allergens and viral particles, overloading our filtering mechanism. Daily cleansing of the nose enhances filtering. I recommend regular nasal washing to maintain quality of life, decrease medication use and avoid the need for doctor visits.
Practitioners of yoga have used nasal cleansing, known as neti, for hundreds of years. The neti pot is the original nasal wash system, but many delivery systems are available, such as the syringe or squeeze bottle. The overall goal is to have a flow of warm, buffered saline water inserted into one nostril and exit the opposite one. The water drains out, flushing the nasal passages and the linings thoroughly.
The neti offers a gravity-controlled flow, while others offer control of both pressure and flow. The process washes out the irritants, thins the mucus and improves the filtering mechanism. If the solution pressure and flow are well-controlled, it sucks out the mucus from the sinus cavities, flushing them clean.
Studies support that nasal washing offers numerous benefits, including reduction of allergy problems, improved breathing, and elimination of post-nasal drip, sinusitis and chronic sinus infections. In addition, the common cold is avoided or the duration greatly shortened. Others have experienced an improved sense of smell and taste and deeper, more relaxed breathing. Snoring can be reduced, as well as sleep quality improved.
I have seen many who avoided ear tubes and sinus surgery. As the nose goes, the ears and sinus follow. There is more evidence each day that asthma is best controlled when the nose is clean and well functioning. Multiple studies prove this point.
With as many as 40-60 million Americans fighting sinusitis and tiring of antibiotics, antihistamines and decongestants, nasal irrigation is the natural alternative. It is no surprise that, with the assault of chemicals, fragrances, pollution, dust and pollen, our nostrils are under enormous stress. Even today's modern diet tends to favor foods that increase the body's production of mucus, thereby creating an imbalance and clogging up the nasal passages and sinuses.
Washing hands makes sense, brushing teeth makes sense, and nasal washing makes sense, too.

About the Author: Dr. Solomon attended medical school at the University of Missouri, graduating with a specialty in pediatrics. She is in private practice in Colombia, Mo. For comments and questions regarding this article, contact Dr. Solomon at drhana@nasopure.com.