Water up Your Nose? The Benefits of Nasal Irrigation

by Danielle Grilli

Yes, we’ve seen it sitting there on the top shelf of our local health food store (that teapot, Aladdin lamp looking gravy boat contraption on sale for $14.99 in the supplements section). Yes, we know it has its benefits, and yes, I’m sure everyone has run across one person or another who swears by it – but seriously - you want me to pour salt water up one side of my nose until it rains out the other? 

It seems counter-intuitive, wrong in a way, the neti pot, and really, one might ask him or herself, how effective can it possibly be?  Can this really help me?  Well yes, apparently, it can.

Nasal irrigation has been employed by yogis and practitioners of Ayurveda for centuries.  Used to clear out excess mucus, clean and moisturize the nasal cavity, Jala neti, which in Sanskrit means nasal cleansing with water, is thought to promote general wellness and, although nasal irrigation isn’t part of our daily regime in the western hemisphere, it is a common, daily, practice in many areas of South Asia and India.  But how effective is it really?  What do the researchers have to say about this?

To date there have been many, many clinical trials which have tested the efficacy of nasal irrigation.  As a result, there is good scientific evidence* that nasal irrigation can help treat allergies, respiratory disorders, sinusitis, pollen, pet dander, and mold allergies, allergies during pregnancy, and allergic rhinitis or hay fever. 

In one such systematic review which evaluated several randomized, controlled trials which assessed the efficacy of saline nasal irrigation as a treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis, it was found that, although saline is not as effective as an intranasal steroid, there is significant evidence that it is beneficial in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis, even when used as the only method of treatment. 

Another trial, performed by researchers at the Department of Immunology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos in Madrid, found that regular nasal irrigation with saline resulted in an anti-inflammatory effect in patients with grass allergies.  There are many more clinical trials which tout the benefits of irrigation for allergies.

That said, in addition to being an effective treatment for various allergic conditions, a study performed by Goemar Laboratoires which included 401 children ages 6 to 10 suggests that nasal irrigation may be a good treatment for the common cold as well.  In this study, researchers found that children's cold symptoms cleared up faster when given nasal irrigation with a saline solution of processed seawater.  They also found that daily nasal irrigation led to better overall health and decreased the chance of cold recurrence.

In the end, it seems that given all the positive scientific data, and the fact that this remedy has been used for hundreds of years, it might just be a good idea to shell out the $14.99 and pour saltwater up your nose everyday – no matter how counter-intuitive it may seem.   

References
1. rVita: Alternative Medicine
2. Šlapak I, et al "Efficacy of isotonic nasal wash (seawater) in the treatment and prevention of rhinitis in children" Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2008; 134: 67-74.
3. http://mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD006394/frame.html
4. Subiza J, Subiza J, Barjau M, and et al. Inhibition of the seasonal IgE increase to Dactylis glomerata by daily sodium chloride nasal-sinus irrigation during the grass pollen season. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1999;104(3 Pt 1):711-712.

* Good Scientific Evidence = Statistically significant evidence of benefit from 1-2 properly randomized trials, OR evidence of benefit from >1 properly conducted meta-analysis OR evidence of benefit from >1 cohort/case-control/non-randomized trials AND with supporting evidence in basic science, animal studies, or theory.

 

Comments

[Lisa Meguire]

I love neti-pots! I use it while im in the shower so I dont have to worry about making a mess. Then through out the day I used this nasal spray called sinus buster if I feel a headache comming on.

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Wow! Very interesting. I never realized how this worked. I heard about it but never gave it much thought. You have really opened up my eyes, err should I say nose?
Thanks so much,
Anne

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