The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Saline Rinse
Posted by Lezlie W (Los Angeles, Ca ) on 10/10/2011
★★★★★
The best cure for sinus infection is a nasal saline rinse. I would get sinus infections that made me super sick for two weeks. At one point they kept reappearing every 3 months. I finally got fed up and went on-line for a remedy. I found a reference to this and decided to try it. It worked pretty effectively and quickly. I used The neilmed brand aftvies scoping out all the options on the drug store shelves. I chose it because it seemed simple compared with the other methods. When I used it, it stopped my cold flu symptoms from putting me in that I need to stay in bed and rest all day state. Then I noticed my running nose and stuffy head went away too. I was still able to function daily as the symptoms declined with the use of the saline nasal rinses. Big difference from the way the infections knocked me out ANC made me feel. I'd say after three days of the washes you feel a big difference and after a week of the washes there's no signs of the infection. Since using this twice, once in the midst of a full blown infection and once at the onset, I haven't had a sinus infection since. It's been a year and a half.
Saline Rinse
Posted by Cara C. (London, Uk) on 03/27/2014
★★★★★
I have used a saline rinse daily for years and it works like a charm. Before I started on my daily ritual, I got sinus infections one after another. It was torture. Happily, I have had no sinus infections in 3 years! I use 1 teaspoon of sea salt in my saline bottle mixed with distilled warm water. Once a week I add a dash of hydrogen peroxide.
Saline Rinse
Posted by Gregg (Augusta, Ga) on 03/25/2013
★★★★★
Like everyone else on this site, I have really struggled with my sinuses. I found this site about 3 years ago and it has made a huge difference for me.
I started out by drinking ACV and it does work to relieve the pressure. I still use it from time to time during allergy season when I feel the pressure coming on.
For those of you who can't stand the taste, I simply put a shotglass full of ACV (2 - 3 ounces) into 4 or 5 ounces of dark purple grape juice. The grape juice kills most of the bad taste and allows it to go down quickly.
I found that ACV isn't a fix all. An allergist suggested that I look into 'nasal lavage' - which is basically doing a saline rinse. It sounds gross, but by regularly flushing out your sinuses you get rid of all of the pollen, dander, dust, etc that causes sinus problems to begin with.
I am very cheap, so here is my solution. I kept an empty dishwashing soap bottle (dawn, polmolive, etc). I fill it with warm tap water (about body temperature). I pour in some table salt and shake.
Either in the shower or over the sink, tilt your head to one side and squirt the water into the higher nostril. If your sinuses are fairly clear, the water should pour out of the lower nostril (along with all kinds of gunk). If your sinuses are blocked, the water will go in and may not immediately come out of the other nostril. That's ok. The warm water will loosen up much of the crud in there. Have some tissue paper handy and blow to get rid of the water and the gunk.
Tilt your head to the other side and repeat to clear out the other side. You may need to do it a couple of times in each nostril to get stuff really moving. You may also need to blow your nose several times over the course of the next few hours as the stuff continues to work loose.
This will clear a lot of what's in there initially. The trick is to do it regularly (every day during allergy season) so that it gets the junk out before you have sinus issues. I don't do it as religiously as before, but even so, I breathe better than ever and I haven't been sick in 2plus years. I hope that this helps - it's been a Godsend for me.
Saline Rinse
Posted by Kristin K (Santa Barbara, Ca, Usa) on 05/28/2010
★★★★★
The CURE for SINUS INFECTIONS: Saline Irrigation with Sea Salt and Warm Water applied directly into sinus cavity.
My story: I had bacterial sinus infections on and off for 4 years and this last winter is the first year I did not have bacterial sinus infections. I saw 3 ENT specialists and have tried everything from antiobiotics through saline irrigation (netti pot) using Hydrogen Peroxide or Apple Cider Vinegar. The last year I have been finally free of sinus infections by using Sea Salt and warm water only in my irrigation. What I found it its the technique of HOW you use the irrigation; not WHAT you put in the solution. For me the trick was using an irrigation system that got the warm salt water all the way up into my sinuses. I was using the netti pot while kneeling on the batrhoom floor and holding my head upside down to get the water up into my sinuses. Now I use a water squirting devise (a brand name) that is sold to spray a stream of water to clean teeth. A friend told me about using a water spraying teeth cleaning machine for sinus irrigation years ago and I finally tried it February of 2010 with excellent results. The technique of daily squirting the warm water directly into my sinuses has what kept me from chronic bacterial sinus infections that I had in the past. I had tried Hydrogen Peroxide, Vinegar, Baking Soda etc all with stringing and irritation. The electric water spraying device has worked the best hands down.
I am writing this because this site helped me so much in trying different ways to treat my bacterial sinus infections. I was very depressed and frustrated because the ENT specialists I saw only wanted to do surgery on me. One told me specifically that I could not clean out the bacteria with sinus irrigation when I asked him about it. I believe that I can clean out bacteria and what the ENT said is not true. The sad thing is that MDs do not make any money off of telling people to do sinus irrigation at home. I just wish I had started doing sinus irrigation years ago!
Good luck, keep at it and listen to your body.
Saline Rinse
Posted by Donna (Hyde Park, NY) on 12/10/2022
★★★★★
Husband has a Nasiline nose syringe...don't have a neti pot. I decided to try it with pink salt 1/4 t. in about 1 quart of water. I went back and forth between nozzles and one of the things that came out was what looked like a plug of dense mucous. Now I can breathe. First time for me and I am going to repeat several times today. I've had nasil congestion/cough for almost 4 weeks...WAY too long.
Saline Rinse
Posted by Annie Joan (Portage, Wi) on 01/23/2012
First, it is REALLY important to only use "pickling salt" because it has no preservatives or anything that could further irritate your nasal passages. I use the Niel Med squirt bottle. I use 1 teaspoon of pickling salt every time I do my sinus rinse and fill it with warm water- a little above room temperature. The salt will burn at first, but it is SO worth actually being able to breath again. I unknowingly lived in an apartment with mold for 3 years. Now I have esosinophilic pnemonia, rhinosinusitis, have had 3 surgeries (because of breathing/nasal problems) Use to be in the ER at least once a week. I used over 200 tissues a day because I couldn't blow my nose because it was swollen completely shut into the back of my throat. And since it was so swollen and irritated, it ran literally all day. I couldn't sleep because I had such severe apnea.
Finally I met my "lung man" and he perscribed Azelastine HCR and Fluticasone Propionate (nasal sprays, apparently the best known combination). Since I couldn't spray anything up my nose, I was put on a high dose of Prednisone to reduce swelling so I could use the nasal sprays. After I started using them, although I still get chronic sinus infections, I can actually breathe through my nose (usually).
So anyone with issues like mine, I STRONGLY suggest forgetting about ENT doctors and going to a polmunologist (lung doctor) that specializes in allergies. There is a reason you have problems like this. It isn't normal to go through these things.
Saline Rinse
Posted by Sinupetsa (Johannesburg, South Africa) on 12/14/2012
★★★★★
Saline rinse has worked for many people so far and would recommend it only if it will be done properly. By this, I mean that sterile water will be used.
Saline Rinse
Posted by Rita (Laurel Hill, NC) on 03/25/2006
★★★★★
I am one that has been put on antibiotics since i was little for sinus infections. I tried this (1/4 teaspoon salt and warm water)just a few minutes ago and I already have results. My head isn't hurting as bad. Almost instant relief with just trying it one time. I have been pumping myself full of medicines today and this is the most relief that I have had in 2 days. The only thing now is that my ear is stopped up. But I can deal with that. If and when the pain comes back I'll do it again. Thanks for the remedy..
Saline Rinse
Posted by Kathy (North Canton, Ohio) on 09/27/2018
Please make sure to use distilled or bottled water, don't use tap water.
Saline Rinse
Posted by Tanya (New Delhi, India) on 04/18/2010
did saline wash for 4-5 times and suddenly the pressure in the ear increased. what to do now?
Saline Rinse
Posted by Abraham (Atlanta, GA) on 10/13/2007
★★★★★
IT REALLY WORKS!
Upside down Sinus Flooding treatments have cured my Sinus infection problems.
My chronic Sinus infection ( sinusitis ) problems were cured by flooding my nasal passages with peroxide, baking soda and kosher salt after first using antibiotics to get rid of my Sinus infection. I don't believe that flooding is effective against established infection, but it is effective against the germs that cause infections.
Mixture:
*'3% Hydrogen peroxide: One part.
* Baking soda: One or two pinches.
* Kosher salt or sea salt: One pinch.
I buy a cheap, salt and pepper set. I use a drill to widen the holes in the tops, and I use them to add the baking soda and kosher salt to the mixture.
* Filtered water: Ten to forty times as much water as peroxide.
The Sinus Flooding process:
* I place a towel and a tissue nearby.
* I stand over my sink and point my forehead down into my sink.
* I forcefully spray the mixture into each nostril to force the antiseptic mixture around any swollen turbinates or polyps.
After my Nasal Passages fill up, additional spraying may cause the mixture to come out the other nostril.
I make sure that the container tip is firmly implanted in my nose so that it's difficult for the liquid to come back out of that nostril.
* If it stings, I wait for the stinging to subside and then repeat the forceful spraying, into each nostril, until the sprayer is empty.
* I keep my head down for a few minutes to let the mixture seep into all areas.
A lot of the mixture can foam out of my nostrils, down my forehead, and into the sink. A little messy. I keep my eyes closed so that it doesn't drain into my eyes.
* I lift and tilt my head upwards, while it's over the sink, and let my nose drain.
The discharge can look pretty bloody, foamy and nasty. Since my nasal membranes have healed, there is much less foam and NO blood.
* I then stand up and use the tissue to clean my forehead of foam and discharge.
* I don't blow my nose for a few minutes.
This allows the mixture a little longer to do its job with my head in an upright position..
Saline Rinse
Posted by Carol (Belcamp, MD) on 08/04/2006
★★★★★
MIX 1 TSP SALT AND 1 TSP BAKING SODA WITH 1 QT WATER AND AND DUESCH YOUR NOSE. WILL GET RID OF A SINUS INFECTION, TAKES A COUPLE OF TIMES. WAS GIVEN THIS CURE BY A DR AT WORK IN THE 60'S.
Saline Rinse
Posted by Sue (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia) on 07/12/2012
★★★★★
I just want to say that whilst traveling in China, without a neti pot or any kind of nasal spray or lavage equipment and no access to any pharmacy or medical clinic at the time, I successfully used a sterilised travel bottle, normally used as cabin bag 100ml toiletry bottle (like a little squirt bottle), as a make-shift saline rinse bottle.
I was suffering terribly with an acute case of sinusitis with heavy symptoms worsening day by day. I couldn't move I was in such pain in my head and body. I knew instinctively that I needed to do a rinse of some kind but had never done anything like it. I researched Earth Clinic and after reading other peoples testimonies about make-shift salt rinses, gained the courage to try a nasal rinse using whatever I had (travel bottle) and immediately gained relief. I continued it throughout the day with the symptoms improving every hour. Amazing results that honestly, I wasn't expecting to be so significant, so fast.
If you find yourself in unfavourable circumstances and need to use a travel bottle or squeeze bottle, it will be a little messy and it takes a bit of trial and error to work out the right squeeze action and angle of the head, but it still gets results and that's what matters!
I'm completely sold on the concept of a neti pot and will look to using this in my daily routines and also pack a plastic light-weight neti pot into my travel bag wherever I go! Thank you Earth Clinic, what a great resource to share globally.
Saline Rinse
Posted by Joanne (Victoria, Bc Canada) on 06/14/2012
★★★★★
I had a SEVERE sinus infection with raw throat for 3 weeks and had tried everything except anti-biotics because they have never worked. When I finally went to the doc he said most sinus infections are viral and therefore the drugs don't work. He said if it went longer than 10 days (when I virus has finished running its course) then a person could consider the drugs. I didn't want them. What worked? Three days using sinus rinse system from the pharmacy with their mixture of one part sea salt and one part baking soda added to filtered and BOILED water, which had been cooled, twice a day. I used this plus sprays of GSE, then Xylitol-based and the one the doctor recommended was the capsicum (cayenne) based homeopathic spray. It did help but the final nail in this vicious infections coffin was sinus rinse. Make sure you don't push too hard as I accidentally blew water into my ear canal and could hardly hear for two days. No fun! Anyway, I recommend Neilmed plastic bottle as it works great.. I treated the top with hydrogen peroxide on a tissue and left the bottom and top out to dry. I rinsed morning and night... Good luck and thanks SOO much to Earthclinic for giving us all this space to share such crucial information. Bless you guys!!
Saline Rinse
Posted by Jason (Fort Lauderdale, FL) on 06/30/2009
Hi, I tried using coconut oil in my nasal rinse by mixing a 1/8 of a tsp of coconut oil into 16 oz of water mixed with one of those salt & baking soda mixes. I was hoping this would help my with my chronic sinusitis. I do not recommend doing this because now my nasal passages have been even more blocked then before and I am losing sleep over it. Please let me know if there are any suggestions how to counter this unexpected development from the coconut oil? Thanks! Again, do not try mixing coconut oil with your nasal rinse solution. Coconut oil works well on the outside of your body and with food but not in your nose.
Saline Rinse
Posted by Joseph (Cary, Nc) on 03/10/2013
★★★★★
Here is a saline rinse you can do anytime for a sinus infection with no special equipment.
I put together the following kit for my bathroom. You can use whatever you have. The idea is to make the solution the same every time, not too strong. You can adjust the salt level to whatever works best for you:
ITEMS
1. Baking soda in a small rubbermaid container.
2. Salt in a small container (not the same container as the baking soda).
3. 4 oz drinking glass (plastic or glass).
4. 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon (or a spoon the holds about 1/2 of a teaspoon).
WHEN TO DO THE RINSE
I do the sinus rinse before bed and then after I first get up. It's amazing how much mucus this clears out in your sinuses.
MAKING THE SOLUTION
I run the tap to get hot water (don't do a sinus rinse with cold water)! Fill a 4 oz glass with water. Put in 1/2 teaspoon of salt and pinch of baking soda. Stir.
DOING THE SINUS RINSE
Deep breath a few time to get oxygen levels up before "snorting" the solution. Hold your left sinus shut with your finger. Put the glass to your nose against you right sinus. Bending over the sink slightly so you don't get wet. Breath in with your right sinus to create a vacuum and draw the salt water into you right sinus. Stop when it is pulled into the back of your throat! Put the glass down. Blow and spit out all the mucus and water out of your nose and back of your throat. Switch sides and do the same procedure for the left sinus. Do this twice on each side or until all the mucus is gone. You probably will have to blow your nose a few times to stop it dripping during the process or when you are done.
Saline Rinse
Posted by Cory (Lincoln, Ne) on 09/14/2011
★★★★★
I had never had a sinus infection until 4 days ago. I woke up one morning and the left side of my face felt like it was going to explode! I couldn't eat because my teeth hurt so bad, I couldn't even touch my left cheek bone without a lot of pain. I am a single mom with 3 kids all under the age of 7, I couldn't miss work and I don't have the money to go to the doctor. I tried apple cider vinegar it helped a little but I needed relief NOW!! I tried this rinse and it was AMAZING!!!! Everything cleared and now 2 days later I feel great! One thing I did that helped a lot was I slowly inhaled through my nose, so the solution would get all the way into my sinuses, below my eye, where it hurt the worst.
Saline Rinse
Posted by Moniluv (Orlando, FL) on 06/30/2009
Jason - use some peroxide and water. 50/50 in a nette pot, and that should clear up your sinus.
Saline Rinse
Posted by Thenewguyintown (Westwood, New Jersey, Usa) on 04/18/2010
Sounds like a perfectly normal response to me. You may want to consider using H202 in your ears. Check this site for further info
Saline Rinse
Posted by Jimmy (Beverly Hills, Ca, USA) on 12/12/2008
There is no need to worry about the sodium content of saline solution. It is used on small children all the time to clear congestion. If they do swallow some, it is in such a small quantity there is no need for concern. This is a ridiculous warning.
Saline Rinse
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 12/13/2008 490 posts
Hello Betty, If the saline you are afraid to use is called Normal Saline solution, throw all your fears away, because normal saline is isotonic (saline in normal saline is the same as in our blood) and not very likely to cause harm to you or your little ones. However I do recommend that you continue to give them water to drink, not normal saline.
Saline Rinse
Posted by Charlotte (Johannesburg, South Africa) on 06/18/2008
I read about adding baby shampoo into saline spray to cure sinus infections. What i want to find out is, Does it also work for infants or its only for the adults only. Why I am asking is because my nephew who is 6months old seems to be suffering from symptoms of a sinus infection.
Saline Rinse
Posted by Rose (India) on 09/14/2014
Is it true that saline rinse for clearing sinuses causes a puffy face because of salt? I've heard that salt leads to puffiness in the body.....
Saline Rinse
Posted by Maxwell (Phila, Pa) on 08/07/2013
Re: Sinus pain with smoke smell... I have been smelling smoke for a month or so with facial, head and ear pain. Been using neti pot with saline solution, dr sending me for a cat scan tomorrow. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Saline Rinse
Posted by Moosic (Tigard, Oregon) on 02/10/2015
My problem is a weird smell in just one nostril, since Thanksgiving. I can't identify the smell. My ENT said to use the saline solution, along with the substitute for Flonase, and if the problem persists, I may need a CT scan, and have surgery to remove tumors which "may" be in there. Not what I want to do!! Now...How much of the colloidal silver would you use for the nasal infection? Previously I used a Saline spray in a small bottle which was not helping. Now I have been using 1 teaspoon of sea salt in 16 ounces of water. Just today started adding a pinch of soda. I use a nasal irrigation bottle and cleanse each nostril with one cup of the solution. Do this 3X a day. Now I see the tip on colloidal silver. I have some Cellular Silver which probably is the same thing. Serving size is 6 squirts. Hope it helps.
Saline Rinse
Posted by Springtime (Or, Raliegh Hills) on 04/27/2013
★★★★★
Saw three ENT doctor all had different opinions about sinus infection two felt like no big deal "everyone has some type of bacteria, or ecoli or fungus in their nose it is deep in the nasal cavity that they worry abyut" one gave me antibiotic Clindamycin for 30 days. anyhow I just was tired of it! I went to Chinese Medicine who gave me herbs and it was suggested 1/4 tsp sea salt neti pot or nasal spray irrigation 4-5 times a day so I tried it it was easy, and it worked plus sea salt was once used for it's antibiotice type properties.
Saline Rinse
Posted by Melissa (Kings Park, Ny) on 01/06/2011
★★★★★
that was the greatest thing to ever happen to my nose! Best mixture! Ive been using the neti pot with a plain old saline solution for days with no relief. I broke out this mixture with a baby bulb and feel a million times better!
