Nasal showers are becoming more and more popular and are now part of normal personal hygiene for many people. Especially allergy sufferers can benefit from their use. But it all depends on the right nasal douche and its correct use.
What is a nasal douche?
As Nasal douche is simply called a small device that is there to convey liquid into the nasal cavity. Usually an isotonic saline solution is used for this purpose.
A nasal douche and the required solution are easy to buy in stores, for example in the pharmacy. So there is nothing wrong with cleaning your nose at home. The nasal douche is considered a home remedy that is supposed to help with infections by eliminating pathogens.
In addition, the nasal douche has a positive effect on the well-being of pollen allergy sufferers, who can rinse out pollen and dirt with the help of a nasal douche.
Shapes, types & types
Who one Nasal douche should know that they come in different designs. The simplest variant is the rinsing jug made of glass, but there are also nasal showers made of plastic, for example, which consist of a plastic bottle with a nose attachment.
In the pharmacy you can get detailed advice about the differences and find out your personal preferences. As cheap and practical as the plastic versions may be, you should consider that plastic wears off quickly and then becomes a little rough and porous. Such surfaces are difficult to keep clean and allow germs and pathogens to settle rather than a smooth surface made of glass, for example.
So when buying a nasal douche, keep in mind that it should be easy to clean in order to keep your nose really clean. However, the nasal showers are all filled in the same way. Using a physiological saline solution is essential in order not to unnecessarily irritate the nasal mucosa.
0.9 grams of table salt per 100 milliliters of water is ideal. Solutions that are too high or too low in concentration are just as irritating to the mucous membrane as simple water. However, if you stick to the dosage, which is easiest to do by buying ready-made preparations, the nasal douche is easy and pleasant.
Structure, function & application
Regardless of which preparation you choose - one Nasal douche basically works very simply. The simplest version, which is also used, for example, by yoga practitioners who believe in the healing and cleansing effects of ritual nasal cleansing, is a simple little jug that is shaped so that it can be brought up to a nostril and bring in water.
However, the most traditional nasal douche is also just a little more complicated. It is usually made of plastic, consists of a cavity that can be filled with the solution and a small device that can be used to shoot the solution out.
Nasal showers are usually ergonomically designed so that they are intuitive and easy to use. The saline solution shoots into one nostril and flows out through the other. In doing so, it dissolves everything that is undesirable in the nose and can lead to symptoms: thick mucus, dirt, pollen, pathogens.
Medical & health benefits
Nasal showers enjoy great popularity and are at home in many bathrooms. The medical benefits seem clear: a clean nose means fewer potential pathogens.
Even with a persistent cold, the nasal douche can help to alleviate the symptoms. Allergy sufferers use the nasal douche to rid the nose of pollen.
However, people with irritated nasal mucous membranes should be careful not to make their situation worse. However, it is controversial whether the nasal douche should be used permanently.
Many doctors are of the opinion that a healthy, symptom-free person does not need to use a nasal douche and should avoid it. Because constant flushing can damage the nasal mucous membrane and thus lead to the infections that you actually want to avoid. Used in moderation, whenever it really makes sense, the nasal douche can be very useful. Then the nasal douche actually helps to stay healthy for a long time.
