Nasal Pillow Sealer Tests

[quietmorning]

I went to Kroger and picked up a set of Kids Silicone Ear Plugs in Pink. (Photographs better)

Here are the directions:
Take one ear plug, divide it into four equal parts. Each ear plug will make two sets of nasal pillow sealers. (The kids silicone ear plugs are about half the size of the adult ear plugs) and cut into 1/4's - (so this would be 1/8th of an adult sized plug).

Take two of the divided ear plugs and roll each into a round ball.

Take the first round ball and squish it flat between the fingers - and continue to do so until it is about the same diameter as the nasal pillow port - the full diameter, not just the opening. (Probably about a half an inch across).

Take the top of a Bic pen and press the top pointed end into the center of your silicone pancake. It should cut a nice round hole. I used my finger as the backing of the silicone to enable this.

Now stretch the pancake until the hole is large enough to fit over the port opening of the nasal pillow, pushing gently down around the pillow to ensure placement. Check the opening of the port to make sure the silicone is below the port. Then pushed the down and reform it until all the silicone is wrapped around the edge (see picture).

(Barrel Cozy by Karen at Pad A Cheek http://padacheek.com/ )

Repeat for the other port.

This took probably seven or eight minutes total. I did try making two little snakes to just wrap around the edge, but the 'snakes' kept falling off and wouldn't stay put.

No leaks. I had a very restless night last night. The seal is a very good one - the silicone is quite sticky. My nasal pillows did not collapse last night, nor were they soft this morning.

**Note** There are silicone ear plugs, soft silicone ear plugs and ultra soft silicone ear plugs. Stay away from the soft and ultra soft silicone ear plugs. There are no ingredients on the label, but with the results of the first test, the soft and the ultra soft may damage the silicone of the nasal pillow.

[avi123]

Herbs for Nasal Mucus Membranes:


Licorice

Licorice, also known as Glycyrrhiza glabra, is an herbal remedy that may be beneficial for your nasal mucus membranes. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine states that licorice, a member of the legume family, has been used to treat many health problems, including respiratory tract problems. Licorice has a sweet and nutritious taste and moistening tendencies. The root of the plant is used medicinally. According to Ed Smith, an herbalist and author of the book "Therapeutic Herb Manual," licorice is an expectorant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and demulcent that is soothing to your mucus membranes. Tilgner notes that licorice is best known for its ability to soothe irritated mucus membranes throughout your respiratory system.

Marshmallow

Marshmallow is an herb that may be effective in treating your nasal mucus membranes. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, marshmallow, also known as Althea officinalis, is a plant that grows throughout southern and western Europe, western Asia and certain parts of North America and has been used to help treat many health problems. Marshmallow, a member of the mallow family, has a nutritious, mucilaginous taste and moistening and cooling tendencies. The root of the plant is used for medicinal purposes. Dr. William A. Mitchell Jr., a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Plant Medicine in Practice," states that marshmallow is an excellent demulcent, or a substance that soothes and heals your mucus membranes by forming a protective coating over irritated or inflamed mucosa, including your nasal mucosa.



Yerba Santa

Yerba santa, also known as Eriodictyon californicum, is an herb that may be helpful for your nasal mucus membranes. According to Purdue University, yerba santa grows in the coastal ranges of the United States' Pacific Northwest, from central California north to Oregon. Yerba santa, a member of the waterleaf family, has a sweet, sticky taste and warming tendencies. The leaves of the medicine have been used for medicinal purposes. Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," states that yerba santa is an expectorant, bronchodilator and antimicrobial that is used to treat irritated mucus membranes throughout your respiratory tract. Yerba santa, notes Tilgner, may be especially helpful in treating colds, bronchitis, asthma and hay fever.

[quietmorning]

Licorice

Licorice, also known as Glycyrrhiza glabra, is an herbal remedy that may be beneficial for your nasal mucus membranes. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine states that licorice, a member of the legume family, has been used to treat many health problems, including respiratory tract problems. Licorice has a sweet and nutritious taste and moistening tendencies. The root of the plant is used medicinally. According to Ed Smith, an herbalist and author of the book "Therapeutic Herb Manual," licorice is an expectorant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and demulcent that is soothing to your mucus membranes. Tilgner notes that licorice is best known for its ability to soothe irritated mucus membranes throughout your respiratory system.

Marshmallow

Marshmallow is an herb that may be effective in treating your nasal mucus membranes. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, marshmallow, also known as Althea officinalis, is a plant that grows throughout southern and western Europe, western Asia and certain parts of North America and has been used to help treat many health problems. Marshmallow, a member of the mallow family, has a nutritious, mucilaginous taste and moistening and cooling tendencies. The root of the plant is used for medicinal purposes. Dr. William A. Mitchell Jr., a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Plant Medicine in Practice," states that marshmallow is an excellent demulcent, or a substance that soothes and heals your mucus membranes by forming a protective coating over irritated or inflamed mucosa, including your nasal mucosa.

Yerba Santa

Yerba santa, also known as Eriodictyon californicum, is an herb that may be helpful for your nasal mucus membranes. According to Purdue University, yerba santa grows in the coastal ranges of the United States' Pacific Northwest, from central California north to Oregon. Yerba santa, a member of the waterleaf family, has a sweet, sticky taste and warming tendencies. The leaves of the medicine have been used for medicinal purposes. Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," states that yerba santa is an expectorant, bronchodilator and antimicrobial that is used to treat irritated mucus membranes throughout your respiratory tract. Yerba santa, notes Tilgner, may be especially helpful in treating colds, bronchitis, asthma and hay fever.

Wow!! A double wammy of possible sealers AND great help for the sinuses!! THANKS!!

I'll add these to the list and will test them as soon as I receive them.

[quietmorning]

I just received a new mask to try out - so for the next three days, I won't test nasal pillow sealers. I'll start testing the nasal sealers again either Wednesday or Thursday night depending on how this new mask wears.

[quietmorning]

Herbs for Nasal Mucus Membranes:


Licorice

Marshmallow

Yerba Santa

(Edited for space)

Avi, I just picked up the Licorice and Marshmallow from our local health food store - very inexpensive. I purchased an ounce powder of each. They didn't have any Yerba Santa, so I just placed an order for an ounce powder - will probably have received within the week.

Since these are powders, I'm going to split the ounces to half ounce and test two ways. The first way with just some water added to it. . .or maybe some egg white? . . .not sure, yet. The other way, I'll put it into the honeycomb salve I am making - separately to test each. I think the value of each herb is significant enough to put within something that does work just in case using alone does not work.

Thank you for these. I'm looking forward to using them in each test.

[quietmorning]

I have everything to make the following:
Honey Comb Salve - Straight Honeycomb Salve - home made will post recipe
Honey Comb Salve with Licorice - Home made - will post recipe
Honey Comb Salve with Marshmallow - Home made - will post recipe

I'm still waiting for the Yerba Santa, but it should be here before the end of next week, hopefully - to make the Honey Comb Salve with Yerba Santa.

After I make the first batch of the straight, I'll post the recipe.
Then I'll make the other batches with the same recipe with the different herbs added.

I will continue down the list to test the other sealers until this is accomplished starting Friday night - as I'm testing my purchased machine tonight and want all the variables that I can control to be the same.
So the next test, until the honeycomb salves are made will be the KY Jelly.

Edit: decided to test these last as they are homemade.

[quietmorning]

I had a few other things I needed to test before I could come back to this - I am starting to test the remaining of the sealers starting tonight.
I think the next thing on the list is the KY jelly.

Thanks for your patience!

[jdm2857]

We're all waiting with bated breath.

[Dreamrobot]

Quietmorning,
You know the song " el yerberito"? It's a pretty tropical song, mentions a few natural medicine tricks.
Yerba santa is used for throat problems. You should play the song while prepping your balms
Dreamrobot

[quietmorning]

We're all waiting with bated breath.

[quietmorning]

Quietmorning,
You know the song " el yerberito"? It's a pretty tropical song, mentions a few natural medicine tricks.
Yerba santa is used for throat problems. You should play the song while prepping your balms
Dreamrobot

I'll have to look it up.

But this reminds me, I should have gotten my order or yerba santa by now . . .still waiting on it.

[quietmorning]

KY Jelly (Old style - tube)

I put a very thin layer on my nares - then immediately put my mask on (as I tried waiting a few minutes before and the jelly dried out to fast). This is a suction seal, and did very well all night until I turned early this morning. My mask leaked when I turned. So, this is a good suction sealer for the sleeper who doesn't move much at night. KY has expanded their jelly and I had a hard time finding the original, so I ended up buying a store brand. I did find the original KY on amazon, but it's fairly expensive. ($16 to $21). Kmart, WalMart and Target carry the brand KY - but only for online purchase, ranging from $3 to $14. I purchased the Walgreens store brand for $5. CVS's site is down this morning, so no information from them.

[quietmorning]

For those of you on auto - in thinking about the nasal pillows how they expand to fill the nares when the machine pushes the air through the tube. . . do you notice a difference in leaks when the pressure goes from a high pressure to a lower pressure? Does the nasal pillow relax and break seal?

[quietmorning]

Marine Sports Mask Seal: Purchased at Amazon.com for $8.90 (total with shipping - $5.95 without shipping). This is the Mustache Sealer for Scuba Diving Masks. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003C7 ... UTF8&psc=1. I really liked the stick form - though it was a little soft when I tried it. I think my room was warm. I was a little worried that I'd have the same result as the silicone grease I tried, but I didn't. I used a very thin layer - placing it on my nares with my finger. It is sticky - but not overly sticky. I had absolutely no leaks. There was no residue that 'melted' and dripped, nor was my mask slippery. This morning my nose did not have a layer of silicone on it, nor did my nasal pillows. I put the sealer on my eyebrow - wow. . .I only used a little bit and it completely flattened my eyebrow out. I can see how this stuff works as well as it does on mustaches! I simply wiped it off with a dry washcloth - the silicone came right off. I'm very impressed with this stuff.

[jdm2857]

This was the test I was waiting for.

I think I'll stop at the local dive shop and pick some up tomorrow.

And I think that you should add Icy Hot to your test list.