Nasal rinse "tricks"

For those of you, like me, that use nasal rinses I have recently found a slightly stronger Neilmed solution (2 packets in 12 ozs water) helps with moderate congestion (allergies not viral). It works very well when applied through a Waterpik with a Sinupulse adapter.

I still rinse first thing each morning and use Veramyst cortico steroid.

Anyone else experimented with saline concentrations?

It makes sense, the stuff I blow out of my nose in the morning is quite salty, and the quantity increases
with the amount of dust/pollen in the air. If the natural supply is insufficient, many find relief with a rinse.
Most seem to prefer a smaller amount, but use whatever works.

Do you know about the trick of making a buffering solution? I use half baking soda, half non-iodized salt in my neti pot. I premix and stick a measuring measuring spoon with the mix, which I keep in an empty spice jar. A more hypertonic solution is useful when one has a cold.

PS I think the Neilmed packets are a huge ripoff. I believe they simply contain the same thing as my homemade mix of salt and bicarb. I see that they have isotonic and hypertonic variations. Of course the same effect can be achieved by using a larger amount of the homemade mix (e.g. heaping versus level measuring spoon).

According to the contents labels, they are.

I forgot to note earlier that I also learned about Alkalol on these boards. A little bit of that goes a long way.

Drowsy Dancer wrote:PS I think the Neilmed packets are a huge ripoff. I believe they simply contain the same thing as my homemade mix of salt and bicarb.

ssh! you're dissing englandsf's sponsor!

palerider wrote:

Drowsy Dancer wrote:PS I think the Neilmed packets are a huge ripoff. I believe they simply contain the same thing as my homemade mix of salt and bicarb.

ssh! you're dissing englandsf's sponsor!

When I go to the store today imma do a price check on a box of salt plus a box of baking soda, versus a box of Neilmed packets.

Drowsy Dancer wrote:

palerider wrote:

Drowsy Dancer wrote:PS I think the Neilmed packets are a huge ripoff. I believe they simply contain the same thing as my homemade mix of salt and bicarb.

ssh! you're dissing englandsf's sponsor!

When I go to the store today imma do a price check on a box of salt plus a box of baking soda, versus a box of Neilmed packets.

well, yeah, and you gotta figure out how many doses you get outta that box of salt and baking soda. and how many boxes of packets it equals.

DD - they do indeed but I like having them so conveniently available and when I travel. They must love lazy customers...

palerider wrote:

Drowsy Dancer wrote:

palerider wrote:

Drowsy Dancer wrote:PS I think the Neilmed packets are a huge ripoff. I believe they simply contain the same thing as my homemade mix of salt and bicarb.

ssh! you're dissing englandsf's sponsor!

When I go to the store today imma do a price check on a box of salt plus a box of baking soda, versus a box of Neilmed packets.

well, yeah, and you gotta figure out how many doses you get outta that box of salt and baking soda. and how many boxes of packets it equals.

The Neilmed packaging is highly likely to specify the total weight of product contained in the box. I'm going to do a per-ounce comparison.

ETA: the packaging does NOT specify. I had to call the company. Each packet contains 2.16 grams, so I will also have to do a gram-to-ounce, or ounce-to-gram conversion, which I don't have time to do until after dance class. Ta!

Drowsy Dancer wrote:Drowsy Dancer wrote:PS I think the Neilmed packets are a huge ripoff. I believe they simply contain the same thing as my homemade mix of salt and bicarb.

What is your mixing ratio for the salt and baking soda?

squid13 wrote:

Drowsy Dancer wrote:Drowsy Dancer wrote:PS I think the Neilmed packets are a huge ripoff. I believe they simply contain the same thing as my homemade mix of salt and bicarb.

What is your mixing ratio for the salt and baking soda?

1:1

and water to salt-bakingsoda?

palerider wrote:and water to salt-bakingsoda?

I use a rolled-up $20 bill.

poppi2 wrote:

palerider wrote:and water to salt-bakingsoda?

I use a rolled-up $20 bill.

I'm sure that's supposed to be "funny" in some fashion.