How to prepare hypertonic saline:
Use the highest concentration of hypertonic saline you are happy with. To decide on the concentration, taste it. It should be salty, but not uncomfortably so. If uncomfortable to taste, dilute it to a lower concentration that you are comfortable with.
Always boil the water first (as water can have free living amoeba and hence it's important to be safe).
Add the salt, mix and wait for it to cool before using.
If you do not have a spoon that measures in grams:
1 slightly heaped tea spoon measure = approximately 5-6 g of sea salt
(it may vary depending on the manufacturer / type and batch of salt / water content, etc).
And 1 cup = approximately 200 ml.
So 100 ml = 1/2 a cup approx (apologies for stating the blindingly obvious!).
By the way, you could make it in bulk in a flask to use during the day. If so, please make fresh solution every day and make sure the flask is clean. You can calculate the concentration of salt needed depending on the concentration of hypertonic saline you prefer and the size of the flask.
As for the flask, please use a glass lined flask. Stainless steel flasks are no good for this as it will corrode with time (salt water and regular grade steel don't go together).
Always boil the water first (as water can have free living amoeba and hence it's important to be safe).
Add the salt, mix and wait for it to cool before using.
If you do not have a spoon that measures in grams:
1 slightly heaped tea spoon measure = approximately 5-6 g of sea salt
(it may vary depending on the manufacturer / type and batch of salt / water content, etc).
And 1 cup = approximately 200 ml.
So 100 ml = 1/2 a cup approx (apologies for stating the blindingly obvious!).
By the way, you could make it in bulk in a flask to use during the day. If so, please make fresh solution every day and make sure the flask is clean. You can calculate the concentration of salt needed depending on the concentration of hypertonic saline you prefer and the size of the flask.
As for the flask, please use a glass lined flask. Stainless steel flasks are no good for this as it will corrode with time (salt water and regular grade steel don't go together).
How to perform hypertonic saline nasal irrigation and gargling (HSNIG)
A heads up before you give it a try. The first time you perform HSNIG, it will feel odd. However, you may be surprised that it's not as bad as you imagine it to be.
Once you have done the procedure, blow your nose gently to remove any water that may have entered your sinuses. You may wish to bend over the sink to help drain the fluid.
After HSNIG, you should feel your symptoms subsiding for a few hours. And then, you will notice the symptoms return. That's when you need to repeat the procedure again.
So, how many times a day? You be the judge. It depends on how severe your symptoms are. If you start HSNIG as soon as you know you are getting a cold, you may not need to do it very many times. If on the other hand you wait for the cold to catch hold, the time for symptoms to return will be shorter and hence you will need to perform HSNIG more times per day. On average you may need to perform HSNIG 3-6 times a day, depending on how severe the symptoms are. But you could perform more times as needed. (Personally, I perform around 12 times the first day and as needed the next day which I feel helps settle the cold within a day or two). Continue with HSNIG until you are well.
In my experience, if you start HSNIG when you realise you are getting a cold, you may not even develop a runny nose, and it gets better very quickly indeed.
Is there a risk of transmission? This has been a question I have been asked recently. The results of the ELVIS study (35% reduction in transmission to household contacts) suggests otherwise. However, contamination of the sink and tap is something we need to be aware of. Hence, after performing HSNIG, it is a good idea to clean the sink, tap with soap and water to minimise any chance of transmission to others. Please wash your hands after cleaning the sink (updated 27/03/2020).
Once you have done the procedure, blow your nose gently to remove any water that may have entered your sinuses. You may wish to bend over the sink to help drain the fluid.
After HSNIG, you should feel your symptoms subsiding for a few hours. And then, you will notice the symptoms return. That's when you need to repeat the procedure again.
So, how many times a day? You be the judge. It depends on how severe your symptoms are. If you start HSNIG as soon as you know you are getting a cold, you may not need to do it very many times. If on the other hand you wait for the cold to catch hold, the time for symptoms to return will be shorter and hence you will need to perform HSNIG more times per day. On average you may need to perform HSNIG 3-6 times a day, depending on how severe the symptoms are. But you could perform more times as needed. (Personally, I perform around 12 times the first day and as needed the next day which I feel helps settle the cold within a day or two). Continue with HSNIG until you are well.
In my experience, if you start HSNIG when you realise you are getting a cold, you may not even develop a runny nose, and it gets better very quickly indeed.
Is there a risk of transmission? This has been a question I have been asked recently. The results of the ELVIS study (35% reduction in transmission to household contacts) suggests otherwise. However, contamination of the sink and tap is something we need to be aware of. Hence, after performing HSNIG, it is a good idea to clean the sink, tap with soap and water to minimise any chance of transmission to others. Please wash your hands after cleaning the sink (updated 27/03/2020).
