A simple salt water nasal spray or wash is a natural, non-medicated treatment for dry nasal passages or congestion that accompanies the common cold. Non-medicated saline sprays and drops are widely available at pharmacies, big-box stores and supermarkets, but it is easy to make your own at home. Make a fresh batch of nasal saline every time you need to irrigate your passages to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination.
Measure 8 oz. of warm water into a clean container. If your city's tap water has tested for large amounts of impurities, you can use boiled and cooled distilled water.
Add 1/4 tsp. of kosher salt to the water. If you do not have kosher salt, you can use pickling salt as a substitute. You can find both types of salt near the table salt in the grocery store.
Stir in 1/4 tsp. of baking soda to the saline mixture. Make sure all of the salt and baking soda have completely dissolved into the water.
Use the bulb syringe to collect some of the saline rinse. Tip your head back and insert the nasal saline your nose, one nostril at a time. Allow the salt water to penetrate and moisten the dry tissues in your nose.
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Writer Bio
Erica Roth has been a writer since 2007. She is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and was a college reference librarian for eight years. Roth earned a Bachelor of Arts in French literature from Brandeis University and Master of Library Science from Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science. Her articles appear on various websites.