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. Read more…

medicine saline rinse, stuffy nose

Some 30 million people in the US suffer from chronic sinusitis; a handful more are blessed with an acute episode around this time of year. If you’ve had a nose full of snot at some point in your life, then you know what I’m talking about.  I’ve been having a bad cold that’s been kicking my butt over the last few weeks, and I’ve been rinsing my nostrils with two interesting devices that have been helpful in relieving my symptoms.

Left: sinus rinse bottle; Right: Neti Pot;

These two rinses are made by the same company, and you can find them at the pharmacy department at most department stores. Each one holds about 8oz of water.  The company that manufacturers the bottles also sells “sinus rinse” packets that you mix into the water. These packets contain a mix of salt and baking soda in some “secret proportion”. I’ve found that 1/2 tsp of sea salt (or any non-iodinized salt) plus a pinch of baking soda works just nicely in 8oz warm water.

nasal rinse; external pressure causes the solution to rise up the tube and through the spout

The sinus rinse bottle is a positive pressure system that forces the rinse through your nostrils as you squeeze the bottle.  The Neti pot (shaped like a watering pot) flows into your nostrils passively with gravity as you tilt the spout into your nose.  Both are meant to flush the mucus buildup that forms when you’re sick.

I think both of the devices work well in relieving congestion.  The rinse bottle delivers extra pressure through your nose, which is helpful in moving along the more persistent of the mucus. It also may also cause more discomfort–it takes some time to get used to having water flowing through your nose. The end result is a happier,  less congested nose.  Nasal rinsing is a relatively harmless means to clean out your stuffy nose, and you can use it several times a day.

* Note. The above statements reflect my personal opinion about the topic. While I am a physician, you should discuss with your situation with your doctor before attempting any new medical regimen.

medicine congestion, neti pot, saline rinse, sinus rinse, sinusitis, stuffy nose