Have you washed your nose today?

Nasal irrigation or nasal lavage or nasal douche is the personal hygiene practice in which the nasal cavity is washed to flush out excess mucus and debris from the nose and sinuses.

Nasal cleansing began as an ayurvedic medicine technique in ancient India. The practice is generally well-tolerated and beneficial with only minor side effects.

Nasal irrigation in a wider sense can also refer to the use of saline nasal spray or nebulizers to moisten the mucus membranes.

Although there is an increasing number of nasal irrigation kits available in health food stores and online, this is a description of how to make it yourself. You will need a neti pot or a nasal bulb syringe.

Ingredients

1/2 teaspoon of non-iodized salt (e.g. kosher, canning, pickling, or sea salt)

8 ounces of filtered room temperature water

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

Instructions

1. Mix the ingredients together in a clean container.

2. Stand over the bathroom sink. If using a bulb syringe, tilt your head down and place the syringe into one nostril. Give it a gentle squeeze so that the water comes out the other nostril.

If using a neti pot, tilt your head sideways and place the spout into a nostril. Tilt the pot so water out the other nostril.

There may be some mucous in the water that comes out. It is usually done until there is no more mucous in the water.

3. Repeat for the other nostril.

4. Gargle with water.