does nasal irrigation work to stop sinus headaches?
He said to do this whenver I had a cold or stuffed sinuses. I would assume that it would work for sinus headaches also. He just said scoop some up in the palms of your hands, and kind of snort it up into the sinus passages and snort it back out. It does clean out the passages pretty well. Sources: my experience.
I use irrigation when my sinuses are draining. The easiest way I’ve found is with a waterpik. There is a special attachment. I finally just bought a travel waterpik for that purpose. Here’s how from about.com: Those who suffer from chronic sinusitis or from nasal allergies may want to try one of the most effective methods for clearing out sticky, persistent mucus that clogs sinuses — nasal irrigation. Why It Helps Nasal irrigation is a procedure that uses a saline solution to cleanse the nasal passages. It helps do the following: • Clear out sticky, persistent mucus. • Temporarily reduce symptoms of post nasal drainage. • Help reduce nasal congestion. • Cleanse and rid the nostrils of pollen and other irritants or contaminants. • Relieve nasal dryness. • Improve breathing. • Reduce cough caused by post nasal drip. The Saline Solution A saline solution for irrigation is easy to make. To make an isotonic solution (one similar to the salt content of your bodily fluids), mix 1/4-teaspoon
Nasal irrigation with a saline solution will sanitize the sinus cavities and, in time, clear out the infection that is causing the draining. By clearing out the sinus cavities it wil relieve the pressure causing the sinus headaches. How to do it. Tilt head back and toward your right shoulder. Slowly drip saline solution into left nostril. Roll head back toward left shoulder. Drip saline into right nostril. Tilt head straight back, then forward. Blow nose. Repeat until sinuses clear. Do as often as possible until infection is cleared and drainage stops.
My doctor recommended this to me several years ago because of allergies, and it never did anything to stop them. I would get some pretty bad headaches, but this remedy didn’t help. However, instead of saline, he recommended a mixture of water and baking soda. On the other hand, my mom swears by nasal irrigation as a treatment. She would get headaches, too, and she claims it really helps her. But her’s weren’t due to allergies, so perhaps whatever is causing your sinus problems will affect how useful it is for you. It can’t hurt to try it, though it can be a bit unpleasant until you’re used to it. I mean, it’s kind of hard to get the water down your nose and out your mouth… it’s just not natural. Here’s how to do it: How To Irrigate Your Sinuses This is the trickiest part. Even though it is easy, it is awkward until you get used to it. Once you have the solution in a container: * Lower your head over a sink. * Turn your neck so your left nostril is down. * Keep your nose slightly high
