Buffered solution is better than normal saline
Michel O. Nasal irrigation in case of rhinosinusitis. Laryngorhinootologie. 85(6):448-58, 2006
“Buffered solutions bring a more pleasant feeling during rinsing, which explains also the beneficial effect of natural brine solutions. In children, nasal irrigation can save antibiotics and reduce decongestant to nil. Important is the hygienic application in order not to introduce additional pathogenic germs into the nasal system.”
Hauptman G, Ryan MW. The effect of saline solutions on nasal patency and mucociliary clearance in rhinosinusitis patients. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 137(5):815-21, 2007
“CONCLUSIONS: Buffered physiological and buffered hypertonic saline nasal sprays both improve mucociliary clearance, which is beneficial for treatment of rhinosinusitis. Additionally, buffered physiological saline improves nasal airway patency, whereas buffered hypertonic saline has no effect. Both solutions provide symptomatic relief, but buffered hypertonic saline is more irritating.”
Talbot AR, Herr MH, Parsons DS. Mucociliary clearance and buffered hypertonic saline solution. Laryngoscope 107:500-503, 1997
“The outcome showed buffered hypertonic saline nasal irrigation to improve mucociliary transit times of saccharin, while buffered normal saline had no such effect.”
Manning SC: Pediatric Sinusitis. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 26,4:623-637, 1993.
“A gentle squirt of saline into each nostril once or twice daily can improve nasal function by mechanically removing sensitizing agents, by enhancing mucociliary transport via increased relative humidity, and by improving sinus drainage and ventilation via a mild vasoconstrictive effect. Compliance can be enhanced by using prepared pH-neutral solutions and by emphasizing to the parents that saline lavage represents a long-term hygiene strategy aimed at prevention of sinusitis, analogous to tooth brushing to prevent cavities.”
Süslü N, Bajin MD, Süslü AE, Oğretmenoğlu O. Effects of buffered 2.3%, buffered 0.9%, and non-buffered 0.9% irrigation solutions on nasal mucosa after septoplasty.
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2008.
“A prospective randomized study was designed to compare the effect of different irrigation solutions on mucociliary clearance and nasal patency and to compare the limitations of the used solutions, such as nasal burning by a visual analog scale. On the 20th day, there was a significant difference in saccharine clearance time between the hypertonic buffered seawater group and non-buffered isotonic saline (P = 0.003). Buffered hypertonic seawater improved nasal airway patency more than non-buffered”.
Carbon Dioxide released from Sodium bicarbonate reliefs allergic rhinitis:
Casale TB, Romero FA, Spierings EL. Intranasal noninhaled carbon dioxide for the symptomatic treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 121(1):105-9, 2008.
“CONCLUSION: Two 60-second intranasal CO2 treatments resulted in rapid (10 minutes) and sustained (24 hours) relief of seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms”.
Aloe vera: In addition to its well-known moisturizing and wound healing activities that helps prevent dryness of the nose, aloe vera may also provide additional multiple benefits to the nose, as demonstrated in recent research articles:
