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Nasal irrigation & decongestion
The use of nasal irrigation dates back centuries to yogic
and ayurvedic traditions where hypertonic saline solutions
were used for nasal irrigation for purification purposes
as part of the preparation process. Western medicine has
adopted this practice since the 19th century where nasal
irrigation has been recommended for the treatment of sinonasal pathology.
Nasal irrigation and thus cleansing -performed using a
neti pot (neti in Sanskrit means "nasal cleansing"),
nebulizers or most commonly nasal sprays- is being used
extensively in modern medicine to flush out dust, debris,
pollutants, allergens, germs and excess mucus from the
nose and sinuses which can lead to sinonasal blockage and
infection.
Whereas nasal irrigation can be carried out using ordinary
tap water, this is generally felt to be uncomfortable
because it irritates the mucous membranes. Therefore an
isotonic or hypertonic salt water solution is normally
used.
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