Sodium-Salt Solution for Nose: A Home Apothecary That WorksWhen the nose is stuffy and it is difficult to breathe, the first thing that comes to mind is to buy a spray at the pharmacy. But there is a cheaper, simpler, and equally effective method: rinsing the nose with a solution of baking soda and sea salt. This method is known even from those times when pharmacies were rare, and grandmothers treated colds with makeshift means. Today, in the era of allergies, polluted air, and viral epidemics, rinsing the nose has become not just a folk recipe, but an approved medical procedure. The main thing is to know the correct proportions and technique to avoid burns to the mucous membrane instead of benefiting from it.Why Rinse the Nose at AllThe nose is not just an organ of smell. It is the first barrier on the way of bacteria, viruses, and dust. The mucous membrane of the nose is covered with microscopic cilia that constantly move, pushing out contaminants. But when the air is too dry and contains many allergens, the cilia stop coping. The mucus thickens, the nose gets stuffed up, and microbes get an ideal environment for reproduction. Rinsing helps mechanically clean the mucous membrane, moisten it, restore the movement of the cilia, and ease breathing. And if you add salt and baking soda to the water, the process becomes even more effective.Why Baking Soda and Sea SaltCommon table salt will also do, but sea salt is better. It contains trace elements (iodine, magnesium, potassium, calcium) that additionally nourish the mucous membrane and exert a mild anti-inflammatory effect. Moreover, sea salt is softer, it does not irritate the mucous membrane as much as refined table salt.Baking soda is added not for taste. It has a weak antibacterial effect, helps to liquefy thick mucus, and creates a light alkaline medium on the mucous membrane, in which viruses and bacteria feel worse. In addition, baking soda neutralizes excess acid, which often appears during inflammation, and re ... Read more