FAQs

For a true nasal rinse (also known as wash, douche or lavage), you need a large volume of saline-at least 60 mL to 120 mL (2 to 4 fl oz)-in each nasal passage, delivered with low pressure or gravity method.  You need a total of 120 mL (4 fl oz) to 240 mL (8 fl oz) to wash both  sides of your nasal passages. When you squeeze the solution up into your nasal passage, the flow should continue upwards, go over the septum and flow down through the other nasal passage. This ensures that allergens, irritants, excess mucus and other materials in the path of the flow are removed from the nasal passage. Until this flow cycle occurs, you will not achieve a thorough cleansing job.

A large volume of saline solution creates a momentum that sweeps away allergens, excess mucus, pollutants, dust and animal dander in the path of the flow.

A low pressure will ensure that no discomfort is experienced in ears or sinuses.

Yes and no. In the same way that a small spray bottle will never be as effective as a garden hose at cleaning mud off a driveway, a nasal spray cannot duplicate the effectiveness of a volume rinse bottle at clearing your nasal passages of all mucus and nasal irritants. There are various spray products on the market and according to research, they are only moisturizers in most cases and cannot be considered as large volume nasal wash systems. This is due to fact that it is not possible to get a sufficient volume rinse using a spray system.

The exception is our new NasaMist® All-in-One spray, which has a special applicator tip - Dr. Mehta's LVLP (Large Volume Low Pressure™) nasal rinse adapter that provides a full LVLP nasal rinse. For a true large volume nasal rinse, you need from 60 mL to 120 mL (2 to 4 fl oz) in each nostril. With a few seconds of spray from the pressurized cans or a few sequential squeezes on spray bottles with micro tips or actuators, you may get a volume of 0.1 mL to 5 mL, at the most. We recommend sprays be used as Saline on the Go® between nasal washes or when you are experiencing discomfort from dryness and congestion. If you have questions about which method to use, please check with your doctor.

The SINUS RINSE™ easy-squeeze bottle is BPA-free and holds 240 mL (8 fl oz) of saline solution. It is designed to deliver a nasal rinse with sufficient volume and pressure to clean both nasal passages thoroughly. It allows you to control the pressure you use and reduce it if you have inflammation from illness or after sinus surgery. Published medical research shows that this is the most effective delivery system available for nasal irrigation. The bottle has printed instructions on it and also has a custom designed, rounded cap that comfortably fits different size nasal openings.

Our SINUS RINSE™ bottle with our packets is a patented system in USA and several countries. Each SINUS RINSE™ packet contains a preservative free mixture of sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate that is pH balanced and has a purity level 99% or higher. The packets are easy to dispense and contain enough mixture to make 240 mL (8 fl oz) of saline solution. Thus, you have a large volume available to perform a true nasal rinse. The solution made with the SINUS RINSE™ packet will not burn or sting because it is pH neutral. Moreover, the ingredients in each packet are identical, taking the guesswork out of preparing the solution and giving you the same solution each time you make it.

Nasal rinses can be done at any time of day. However, we recommend that you rinse at least one hour before leaving your home or going to bed in order to avoid the occasional, accidental drainage of the small amount of leftover solution or liquified mucus from the nasal passages, which may drip back or may come out of the nose if you were to lean forward.

Most users fi nd that rinsing twice a day is beneficial similar to brushing your teeth. In our opinion, rinsing 3-4 times or for special circumstances, even rinsing up to 6 times a day is safe. Please follow your physician's advice.

Commercially bottled water or properly maintained reverse osmosis system at home is good.

Rinsing your nasal passages with only plain water without our mixture will result in a severe burning sensation as plain water is not physiologic for your nasal lining, even if it is appropriate for drinking. Additionally, for your safety, do not use tap or faucet water for dissolving the mixture unless it has been previously boiled for five minutes or more, and then cooled to lukewarm or body temperature, as boiling sterilizes the water. Other choices are distilled, micro-filtered (through 0.2 micron), reverse osmosis filtered, or commercially bottled water. You can store boiled water in a clean container for seven days or more if refrigerated. Do not use non-chlorinated or non-ultra (0.2 micron) filtered well water unless it is boiled and then cooled to lukewarm or body temperature.

It can be warmed in the microwave, with the cap left loose to avoid spillage related to air pressure. The time needed to warm the solution can only be determined by trial and error. Try increments of 5 to 10 seconds to find the right temperature and approximate time of warming. Do not overheat, as this may damage the bottle, tube or scald your nasal passages. (It is safe to put both cap and tube in microwave.)

Under normal circumstances, you should not feel any burning or stinging when you use NeilMed® SINUS RINSE® packets. With our product, you should expect a soothing rinse and there should never be any burning. Causes of a burning sensation include:

1. Forgetting to put the saline mixture in the bottle.
2. Using more than three packets for the specified water quantity.
3. Using water that is too cold or too hot.
4. Not thoroughly dissolving the mixture in water by shaking or stirring, particularly for Neti Pot users.

If you follow these directions and still feel any burning and the problem continues, please discontinue nasal rinsing and call our office for advice, or write to: questions@neilmed.com.

Nasal rinsing is not recommended when you have an acute or new ear infection or ear discomfort of any kind. We advise that you consult your physician before starting the rinses or wait until symptoms subside. If symptoms recur, stop the rinses and consult your physician as soon as possible. Due to different levels of pain threshold, please use your judgment to decide when to restart rinsing.

Some people experience reflex or rebound congestion with exposure to saline. This condition is usually very transient. If symptoms continue, consider using a Hypertonic (double strength) solution, or use an over-the-counter decongestant for a day or two. This is usually a very benign and mild condition that should resolve with time, and unless severely symptomatic, there is no need to discontinue ongoing irrigation. It will most likely resolve on its own.

Please check with your physician as there are various options available. We will not give any recommendations.

Some physicians do recommend Hypertonic (double or triple the concentration) solutions in certain cases. They believe that a higher concentrated solution will draw the fluid and excessive mucus out of congested nasal and sinus openings. If you prefer higher salinity or Hypertonic solution, you can use 2 to 3 of our blue mixture packets in 240 mL (8 fl oz) of water OR use our green Hypertonic Refill Packet. Each NeilMed® Hypertonic packet will make 240 mL (8 fl oz) of Hypertonic solution or 480 mL (16 fl oz) of Isotonic solution.

All NeilMed® SINUS RINSE® products and Saline Sprays are suitable for use during pregnancy.

It should not do any harm, even if you have high blood pressure or a heart condition. If you follow our directions, tilting your head forward, the chances of solution reaching the back of the throat are very small.

Yes, this is very common, which is why we do not recommend rinsing your nasal passages right before going to bed. This happens in the first 15 to 20 minutes after using the rinse.

Workers who are exposed to large amounts of environmental or occupational dust from construction work, farming, mining and various other occupations may benefit from regular use of the nasal rinse procedure. You should rinse the nose as soon as possible after the exposure. The sooner the irritant is removed from the delicate membranes, the less likely it is that the membranes will become inflamed and congested.

Scuba divers during ascent and descent must equalize the pressure in the ears to avoid pain and other problems. Good nasal and sinus care can help control inflammation, which can improve any pressure discomfort felt in the sinuses and ears during or after diving. NeilMed® nasal irrigation methods by improving nasal and sinus inflammation helps significant number of scuba divers to have less or no pain in the ears and nasal passages and our user comments are quite encouraging.

We know that chronic rhinitis or chronic sinus symptoms will adversely affect the sense of smell and taste. Nasal rinses will symptomatically improve many nasal and sinus conditions. There are no medical publications at this time to show any correlation between rinses and sense of smell.

If bad breath is caused by chronic nasal and sinus infection, it willdefinitely help.