Monday September 21 6:08 PM EDT

Salt water nasal rinse may prevent colds

By E.J. Mundell

SAN FRANCISCO, Sep 21 (Reuters) -- Daily salt water 'irrigation' of the nasal passages may help protect against the common cold, researchers report.

Nasal irrigation treatment was ``effective'' in reducing overall incidence of colds among practitioners, according to Dr. Richard Ravizza of Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania. Ravizza presented the findings recently at the 50th Scientific Assembly of the American Academy of Family Physicians, held in San Francisco.

Ravizza told conference attendees that nasal irrigation has been a part of yoga health-oriented ``cleaning rituals'' for centuries.  In their study, Ravizza and Penn State colleague Dr. John Fornadley divided 294 college students into one of three subgroups. One subgroup performed daily nasal irrigation, one took a daily placebo pill, and the third group was left untreated. All participants were asked to keep a ``cold symptoms diary.''

The authors found that students who used the daily saline rinse experienced a significant reduction in the number of colds contracted compared with non-users. On average, those engaging in nasal irrigation had fewer colds over the study period, the authors say, compared with the placebo or untreated groups.

Ravizza told Reuters Health that no one is quite sure how nasal irrigation might work to protect the nose against viral infection. ``At a physical level, just cleaning it out, irrigating it, is probably helpful,'' he said. ``At a molecular level, at a cellular level, I have no idea.''

Of course, forcing water up one's nose is not for everyone. But Ravizza noted that, after an initial week-long adjustment period, ``50% of the subjects who formed the nasal irrigation group characterized (the procedure) as pleasant. Many said it was soothing, others said it was comforting.'' Of the remainder, 21% said they had ``neutral'' feelings regarding the procedure.
 

Ravizza said that most people who perform nasal irrigation require proper training. ``The key thing is to have good instruction,'' he said. He suggested that those interested in trying out the technique contact a local yoga center, or an organization like the Himalayan Institute.   For more information on cold prevention and sinus relief click here.   If you wish to order the SinuPulse Elite® Advanced Sinus Irrigation System  through our on-line order form click here.

Copyright © 1998 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.