23-5 Argentyn 23 Blog Wash Your Nose?
When your hands are dirty or have something on them, what do you do? Pretty obvious that we would say to wash them. When the inside of your nose gets dirty or has something in it, we should probably wash that too.
Seasonal Support for pollen and allergens can be as simple as starting with washing our noses. A nasal lavage or rinse is a simple way to support your body during this difficult time of year for people who experience discomfort from pollen and other environmental contaminants. One possibility is a Neti Pot, a container designed to rinse debris and mucous from your nasal cavity using a saltwater (saline) solution. By tipping your head side-ways while breathing through your mouth you can poor the Neti pot in the upper nostril and allow it to fill the sinuses and begin to come out the lower nostril. Repeat on the other side as necessary.
Another alternative to wash your nose would be a nasal spray. There are many possibilities of different nasal sprays on the market. Silver nasal sprays are a natural way to cope with the seasonal changes.
Within the context of washing your nose, a bioactive silver hydrosol nasal spray or nasal wash can help relieve congestion by thinning mucous in the nose and sinuses, cleansing the nasal passages from pollutants and irritants, and help to ease air flow allowing in turn for clearer breathing – simple cause and effect.
As a Naturopath, I would be remiss not to mention that ultimately you should look at the cause of the discomfort associated with nasal congestion. The body’s natural response to a foreign substance is inflammation and mucous to try to stop the invading substance from getting further in. With 70-80% of the immune response starting in the gut, seasonal support should begin with helping the gut. A diet rich in organic fruits and vegetables while eliminating processed foods and sugars is a great way to begin. A combination of aloe vera juice and bioactive silver hydrosol with a good probiotic will support your gut health, while not affecting the biodiversity of the gut microbiome.
Environmental contaminants responsible for seasonal discomfort are all around us and difficult to avoid, but by washing your nose and improving your diet you can support your body and reduce the discomfort associated with the changing seasons.