Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPurposeRecipeHow to UseSide Effects
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Purpose
Recipe
How to Use
Side Effects
Saline rinses are widely available over the counter at drugstores and online, or you can use a nasal and sinus rinse recipe (like the one found in this article) to make your own at home. These rinses are a drug-free way to treat and preventsinus infectionsandallergic rhinitis(runny nose).
By rinsing the nasal passages with a salt-water solution, you can help rid the nose of allergens and thin out mucus. Sinus rinses can also prevent blockages and keep your sinuses clear.
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Purpose of a Saline Rinse
Saline rinses help to prevent the crusting of secretions in the nasal passages, which may otherwise block the sinuses from draining. If the sinus drainage sites become blocked, which could also occur with swelling from allergies or irritants, a sinus infection may develop.
Saline rinses also serve to reduce tissue swelling in the nasal passages and improve the clearance of mucus.
Various nasal saline rinse kits are available commercially, including theSinus Rinsebrand, which contains pre-mixed salt packages. You can also make a rinse at home.
How to Flush Your Sinuses
Nasal and Sinus Rinse Recipe
This saline sinus rinse recipe is from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (revised for a single use):
What You Need
Instructions
Tips
Using a Saline Rinse
The two most common ways to performnasal saline rinsesare with a gravity-driven device, such as a neti pot, or with a pressure-driven device, such as a squeeze bottle. A nasal bulb syringe can also be used.
To complete your rinse:
Saline irrigationmay need to be performed on a daily (or multiple times per day) basis for people with severe symptoms, or less often, as symptoms improve.
How to Use a Neti Pot Correctly
Do not perform sinus rinses within at least 60 minutes of your bedtime. The saline will drain down the back of the throat and could cause a cough.
Whileneti potsare typically considered safe, serious illnesses can occur.Streptococcus pneumoniaemeningitis has been linked to the use of over-the-counter sinus rinses, even when prepared with distilled water.
There were two deaths in the United States related to brain infection with the amoebaNaegleria fowlerifrom people who used tap water in neti pots fornasal irrigation.Cleaning the device properly is also key to preventing contamination.
Summary
Nasal and sinus rinses may be used to relieve symptoms, like a runny nose or crusty blockage, that are related to allergies or infection. These rinses are generally safe to use as instructed.
Both over-the-counter products and home remedies can be used, provided that you never use tap water. Be sure the water you use is sterile and has either been boiled or packaged as distilled.
Different devices also can be used to perform nasal and sinus rinses, including neti pots, bulb syringes, and rinse bottles. You can try different products to see what works best for you.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Peters AT, Spector S, Hsu J, et al.Diagnosis and management of rhinosinusitis: a practice parameter update.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol.2014;113(4):347-85. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2014.07.025American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Saline sinus rinse recipe.Winegarner JH, Wittkopp J.Streptococcus pneumoniaemeningitis associated with over-the-counter sinus irrigation.Cureus. 2020;12(5):e8258. doi:10.7759/cureus.8258Yoder JS, Straif-Bourgeois S, Roy SL, et al.Primary amebic meningoencephalitis deaths associated with sinus irrigation using contaminated tap water.Clin Infect Dis. 2012;55(9):e79-e85. doi:10.1093/cid/cis626
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Peters AT, Spector S, Hsu J, et al.Diagnosis and management of rhinosinusitis: a practice parameter update.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol.2014;113(4):347-85. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2014.07.025American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Saline sinus rinse recipe.Winegarner JH, Wittkopp J.Streptococcus pneumoniaemeningitis associated with over-the-counter sinus irrigation.Cureus. 2020;12(5):e8258. doi:10.7759/cureus.8258Yoder JS, Straif-Bourgeois S, Roy SL, et al.Primary amebic meningoencephalitis deaths associated with sinus irrigation using contaminated tap water.Clin Infect Dis. 2012;55(9):e79-e85. doi:10.1093/cid/cis626
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Peters AT, Spector S, Hsu J, et al.Diagnosis and management of rhinosinusitis: a practice parameter update.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol.2014;113(4):347-85. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2014.07.025American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Saline sinus rinse recipe.Winegarner JH, Wittkopp J.Streptococcus pneumoniaemeningitis associated with over-the-counter sinus irrigation.Cureus. 2020;12(5):e8258. doi:10.7759/cureus.8258Yoder JS, Straif-Bourgeois S, Roy SL, et al.Primary amebic meningoencephalitis deaths associated with sinus irrigation using contaminated tap water.Clin Infect Dis. 2012;55(9):e79-e85. doi:10.1093/cid/cis626
Peters AT, Spector S, Hsu J, et al.Diagnosis and management of rhinosinusitis: a practice parameter update.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol.2014;113(4):347-85. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2014.07.025
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Saline sinus rinse recipe.
Winegarner JH, Wittkopp J.Streptococcus pneumoniaemeningitis associated with over-the-counter sinus irrigation.Cureus. 2020;12(5):e8258. doi:10.7759/cureus.8258
Yoder JS, Straif-Bourgeois S, Roy SL, et al.Primary amebic meningoencephalitis deaths associated with sinus irrigation using contaminated tap water.Clin Infect Dis. 2012;55(9):e79-e85. doi:10.1093/cid/cis626
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