Sinus Rinsing
Sinus rinsing, or nasal douching, is a simple procedure that requires you to ‘sniff’ a saline solution into your nostrils to remove any debris, helping to keep the nose and sinuses clean, healthy and moist.
It can also help reduce inflammation to make breathing – and potentially smelling – easier.
If you suffer from seasonal or persistent rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal lining), your medical practitioner may ask you to carry out nasal douching to clean the nostrils, clear away irritating allergens and debris and prevent infection of the lining.
Who can it help?
Sinus rinsing is particularly effective for anyone with a sinonasal disorder or allergy as it can help reduce the swelling and inflammation that these conditions cause. That said, we recommend it to anyone. Many of us live in polluted towns and cities and spend lots of time in centrally heated or air conditioned homes or offices. The germs, stuffy air and general dirt caused by these environmental factors can cause the nose and sinuses to be bunged up and potentially make breathing difficult, regardless of any loss of smell. Sinus rinsing is a safe, easy and cheap way of combating this.
Sinus rinsing is also highly recommended if you are smell training – make sure you leave at least ten minutes after sinus rinsing before doing the training.
How to do it
For full instructions on sinus rinsing, read EUFOREA’s Your Guide to Nasal Saline Rinsing. This leaflet includes links to some short instructional videos for patients to guide you through every step of the process.
Click here to read or download the guide.
We would like to thank EUFOREA (The European Forum for Research and Education in Allergy and Airway Diseases) for giving us permission to share these resources on our website.