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Consult your doctor before use

Sodium chloride dispenser to make a solution similar to saline solution for those who do not have a scale or want a more practical solution.The most common saline solutions have a sodium chloride concentration of 0.9% (isotonic). For a volume of 500 ml (16.9 oz), 4.5g of salt is therefore required.

Since this tool is not committed to extreme precision, and nasal rinse solutions can have a concentration of up to 3% (hypertonic, more than 3 times the usual concentration), this dispenser has a gap that can fit more than 4.5g. This will depend on a number of factors, such as the grain size of the salt, the amount of moisture contained in the salt and whether the salt is more or less compacted. You can also calibrate the dispenser using a scale.

In a series of 18 measurements with the dispenser full or almost full, I obtained the following salt weights (in grams), in ascending order: 4.05; 4.37; 4.41; 4.49; 4.56; 4.57; 4.59; 4.65; 4.66; 4.68; 4.7; 4.71; 4.73; 4.78; 4.8; 4.87; 4.89; 5.01;

Mean: 4.64

Median: 4.67

Standard deviation: 0.22

Therefore, in 500 ml, 1 to 3 measures may be reasonably adequate to make an effective nasal rinse solution.

Questions:

Is it safe to use homemade saline?
Yes, medical associations and organizations recommend the use of homemade saline.

Is the final saline sterile?
No, unlike commercial saline, which is usually sterile, homemade saline is not. However, only very specific microorganisms can live well and reproduce in an environment with a lot of salt. It should also be remembered that the nasal cavity is not a sterile environment, but rather a contaminated one. Finally, as previously answered, several organizations recommend the use of homemade saline.

Which salt should I use?
They usually recommend using sodium chloride without other contaminants, and one of the arguments is that table salt may contain other substances that could irritate the nose, such as iodine or others. High-purity sodium chloride can be easily found for purchase and is not expensive. In my personal use, however, I use table salt and have no problems with nasal irritation. Some organizations also recommend using sodium bicarbonate, which is not part of the composition of commercial saline solutions. Consult your doctor.

What water should I use?
It is recommended to use filtered warm water.

References:

• https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditions-library/allergies/saline-sinus-rinse-recipe

• https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/risks-and-rewards-of-nasal-rinses-what-you-need-to-know

• https://blogs.bcm.edu/2014/08/20/saline-irrigation-offers-natural-option-for-sinus-infection-allergy-relief/

• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/24286-nasal-irrigation

• https://www.elsevier.es/en-revista-allergologia-et-immunopathologia-105-articulo-role-nasal-saline-irrigation-in-S0301054620300264

• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33068371/