The term ‘douching’ means showering and this is undertaken in the nose for cleaning purposes. Nasal douching is also called nasal rinsing or nasal irrigation. Why do I need to undertake nasal douching? Clean out your neti pot, bulb, or squeeze bottle with hot, soapy, and sterile water or run it through the dishwasher after each use. Allow it to dry completely. Ramalingam, S., et al. (2019). A pilot, open labelled, randomised controlled trial of hypertonic saline nasal irrigation and gargling for the common cold. Haffey T, et al. (2012). Paranasal sinus exostoses: An unusual complication of topical drug delivery using cold nasal irrigations. DOI:

Get positioned. Lean over the sink, looking down. Turn your head to one side so that one ear is toward the sink (as if you were listening for a sound coming from the drain) and the other is toward the ceiling. Fine-tune your position by thinking of how you want the water to flow. Imagine water flowing from the top nostril and spilling out of the bottom one. After you carefully remove your nose strip, you’ll want to complete your skin care routine with noncomedogenic products. Inhale fully and hold your breath for as long as is comfortable, by closing both nostrils. While holding your breath, let the air press gently in your nose. If congested, hold your breath longer. Neti pots that allow you to pour saline into your nostrils, as if you were pouring tea from a teapot. For chronic sinusitis, the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) commissioning guidance advises treatment with nasal corticosteroids or nasal irrigation. Again, antibiotic treatment is not recommended. If symptoms do not improve after three months, the RCS recommends referral to a specialist. What are the implications?The most common type of over-the-counter nasal spray is Fluticasone nasal spray, which is in a class of medications called corticosteroids. Corticosteroids improve your nasal issues by preventing the release of natural substances that can cause allergy symptoms. They should only be used for chronic allergies. alcohol or caffeine consumption (these can dry out your skin and lead to increased sebum production) Nasal irrigation is an inexpensive, easy way to relieve unpleasant symptoms related to common upper respiratory infections and allergies. Many people who try nasal irrigation feel better after just one use. Studies have shown that children and adults with allergies who use nasal irrigation have improved symptoms for up to three months. What are the side effects of nasal irrigation?

https://www.aad.org/media/news-releases/studies-show-combination-laser-therapy-effective-at-clearing-acne-reducing-oil-production Nasal irrigation seems to have a beneficial effect on sinusitis symptoms compared with when it is not given, though the study authors note that it was less effective than observed in previous studies. Meanwhile steam inhalation seems to give little benefit. It’s crucial to use sterile water for this step. This is due to the risk of a serious infection with a parasitic amoeba called Naegleria fowleri. Once this amoeba enters the sinuses, it makes its way to the brain and causes a fatal infection. Both nasal irrigation and steam inhalation are low cost treatments that people can administer in the comfort of their own home. With no difference in the rate of adverse effects, the apparent benefit of irrigation on the person’s quality of life suggests this may be the preferable option for GPs to recommend. To make a saline solution at home, a person can mix 3 teaspoons of iodine-free salt to 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Add 1 teaspoon of the salt and baking soda mixture to 1 cup of water.NICE recommends against prescribing antibiotics to otherwise healthy people who present with acute rhinosinusitis. Keep in mind that there’s a similar skepticism as to the efficacy of this method. More research needs to be done. If you have a cold, blow your nose with special care – inflamed mucous membranes are more sensitive. Use the recommended dosage on the nasal spray label. If you are using the spray as an adult, you will begin with a higher dose of the nasal spray and then decrease your dose as your symptoms improve. This is usually one spray in each nostril once a day, or one spray in each nostril twice a day (once in the morning, once at night) if your doctor recommends a higher dose for your symptoms. If you are giving the nasal spray to a child, begin the treatment with a lower dose and then increase the dose if the child’s symptoms do not get better. [5] X Research source Produced by the University of Southampton and Bazian on behalf of NIHR through the NIHR Dissemination Centre