I recently received a trial of Afrin’s PureSea saline rinse for review. As with my prior reviews of the Neti Pot and Saline Rinse, I’ve tested out the odds and ends of this new product. This product is a nasal lavage device to help clear out your sinuses during a sinus infection.

The main difference between the Pure Sea rinse and its precursors is that this is a self-contained apparatus with sterilized saline. No mixing of solution packets, no heating of water, and no hassle of maintenance.

A 4oz bottle retails for $14.99, which is considerably more expensive than its competitors. It appears that the saline was purified from the Bay of Saint-Malo off the coast of France, which explains the increased manufacturing cost. The bottle itself is constructed from standard soft plastic, which is sealed at the top by a metal stopcock. The rinse includes a detachable plastic spigot that you can rinse after each use.

PureSea uses an active pressure mechanism to rinse your sinuses, much like the Sinus Rinse, by Ketan Mehta. You squeeze the bottle, and the saline squirts out the spout. The difference is that PureSea uses a narrow spout, approximately 0.5mm on my estimate. In contrast, Sinus Rinse has a relatively wide spout of maybe 5mm. With a smaller area, you get a higher velocity but a much smaller volume of flow. The higher velocity may be useful to help dislodge any dessicated mucus from your sinus, but may also be more uncomfortable.

It is clear from assessing the volume of PureSea that it is designed to clear your sinuses through a high velocity jet rather than high volume. The 4oz PureSea bottle is designed for multiple uses at qid dosing while each refill of a Neti pot (8oz) serves as a single use. Whichever modality you prefer is subjective, but I’ve found that a larger volume at a slow flow tends to be more effective in clearing nasal passages. In order for you to remove the mucus from your sinuses effectively, the mucus needs to be hydrated adequately.

Here are the key points to consider in your purchase:

Cost: The Afrin PureSea, at $14.99 for 4oz, is certainly much more expensive than the Neti Pot/Sinus Rinse. I used up the entire 4oz bottle in about 2-3 sessions.

Ease of use: While the PureSea was intended to minimize maintenance, there is a learning curve to use it effectively. It took me several tries in order to direct the saline into my nose, and I found the high velocity jet slightly irritating.

Convenience: The PureSea is compact, and requires little maintenance. Just attach the spout and use. When you’re finished, just disconnect the spout and rinse for next use. With the Neti Pot and Sinus Rinse bottles, you have to heat tap water, mix in the salt solution packets, and pour into the dispenser.

Effectiveness: I stand behind my belief that in order to clear out your mucus, you will need adequate flow through them. Quantity wins in this case. However, Schering-Plough succeeded in balancing the salt and mineral content in its PureSea formula. The solution did not sting my nasal passages, and I found the mixture soothing.

Overall: I’d have to side with the Neti Pot/Sinus Rinse bottle over the PureSea. It’s simply too expensive for daily use, and I’d imagine you’d cycle through at least 2 or 3 bottles if you are treating sinusitis. You may be able to alternate the PureSea and sinus rinsing for maximal effectively. However, in combination with a mucolytic agent, saline rinsing is generally effective for symptomatic relief of sinusitis.

Note: The aforementioned content is listed for educational purposes, and should not be construed as medical advice. Ophthosurgery.COM is not liable for any injury sustained from application of any content listed. Please consult your doctor for medical advice. If you or your company would like me to evaluate your medical product, please contact me for details.

medicine saline rinse, stuffy nose