Hi folks, I'm Liza's husband and Anna' and Rachel's Dad. Liza told me you guys were discussing sinus irrigation and asked me to give the recipe I recommend.
Saline for Sinus irrigation:
1 quart distilled H2O...
1 tsp baking soda- buffers the solution
2 tsp noniodized salt- canning, pickling, sea salt are noniodized.
Mix in a nonbreakable tupperware type container. This should last a few days.
You can use a bulb syringe or a one of many types of irrigators available at the drug store. Water pik makes an attachment that you can also use. If you use a bulb syringe make sure you replace it every few weeks.
Pour about 4 ounces in a cup and then transfer to the syringe, don't stick your syringe into the quart jug. You can tilt your head forward or backward or keep it straight when you squirt the solution in you one nostril. Don't try to "suck it in", this will open your vocal cords and may cause you to aspirate (choke). This is really very beneficial for those that have had sinus surgery (FESS). For those with allergies but without surgery it will still help keep the sinus passages somewhat clear of mucus and clean the nasal mucus membranes of allergens to some extent.
As far as gargling, a study was reported last yr that showed a 50% reduction on cold frequencies with just gargling plain water twice a day. This was in non cf patients.
I hope this helps. Be sure to ask your doctor if he/she thinks this can help you.
Saline for Sinus irrigation:
1 quart distilled H2O...
1 tsp baking soda- buffers the solution
2 tsp noniodized salt- canning, pickling, sea salt are noniodized.
Mix in a nonbreakable tupperware type container. This should last a few days.
You can use a bulb syringe or a one of many types of irrigators available at the drug store. Water pik makes an attachment that you can also use. If you use a bulb syringe make sure you replace it every few weeks.
Pour about 4 ounces in a cup and then transfer to the syringe, don't stick your syringe into the quart jug. You can tilt your head forward or backward or keep it straight when you squirt the solution in you one nostril. Don't try to "suck it in", this will open your vocal cords and may cause you to aspirate (choke). This is really very beneficial for those that have had sinus surgery (FESS). For those with allergies but without surgery it will still help keep the sinus passages somewhat clear of mucus and clean the nasal mucus membranes of allergens to some extent.
As far as gargling, a study was reported last yr that showed a 50% reduction on cold frequencies with just gargling plain water twice a day. This was in non cf patients.
I hope this helps. Be sure to ask your doctor if he/she thinks this can help you.