Why is Pulsatile Nasal-Sinus Irrigation Preferred?

Since 37 million persons have sinus problems andmovement.
Forty Million have nasal allergy, there are a lot ofAfter sinus surgery, the cilia may take too long to
persons trying to get well. One methodrecover and the patient keeps getting clogged
recommended is irrigation with saline.nose and colored discharge. Post op Nasal and
Unfortunately, everyone uses the term nasalSinus Infection Syndrome -PONSIS can occur
irrigation or sinus irrigation loosely. It can apply tobecause the cilia are not recovered enough to
squeeze bottles with flowback, tea pots withmove bacteria out of the nose. Pulsatile irrigation
variable pressures, syringes with pressure highis ideal here.
enough to force through any blockage, just plainThe toxins of bacteria are designed to impair
sniffing from the hand, or it can refer to pulsatilenasal cilia. If someone is using an irrigator that has
irrigation. Today we have an increase in bacteriaflowback, often this makes the device
that are resistant to many antibiotics. Thereforecontaminated, so the patient continues to have
having a Nasal Sinus Irrigation system to clear anasal/sinus symptoms.
sinus infection is very important to your sinusThe advantages of pulsatile irrigation include:
health.1. No flowback
What is pulsatile irrigation? This is nasal sinus2. Pulse rate is designed to restore nasal cilia
irrigation with a device that puts a pulse wave into3. It uses a low comfortable pressure. The wave
a flow of saline. Like other methods, the flowaction vibrates and removes foreign material, so a
goes in one nostril and out the other. The rate oflow pressure is enough
pulsation is very important. The rate that, for4. Kids of five use it because the low pressure is
example, the Hydro Pulse uses is one designed tocomfortable
stimulate nasal cilia. The wave movement back5. In most instances, pulsatile irrigation can be
and forth of the saline stream as it goes throughstopped as soon as the cilia have returned. When
the nose matches the normal speed andthe cilia are normal, they handle infection naturally.
movement of healthy cilia. To visualize pulsatile6. The pulse action is effective for sticky things
irrigation, think of waves at the beach. That islike biofilm, that resist even forceful irrigation.
how the pulsatile irrigation looks in very slow7. Once a comfortable pressure/flow is
motion.established, the pressure remains constant at that
Why is this important? In health, bacteria, dust,setting throughout the irrigation. Thus pressures
pollen and viruses get trapped in the layer ofthat are too high or too low are avoided. This
mucus that covers the nasal membranes. Theadds to the comfort.
trapped bacteria are moved quickly out of the8. Pulsatile irrigation works for postnasal drip. In
nose, before they have a chance to multiply, bypostnasal drip the cilia move slowly, the mucus
cilia that act like tiny oars.thickens, and bacteria multiply. These can be odor
If the nasal cilia move normally, they move thecausing bacteria or bacteria that effect the throat
cover of mucus out of the nose, to the back ofand voice.
the throat, where it is swallowed into the9. Pulsatile irrigation can be helpful for snoring. With
stomach. The stomach acid takes out thethe nasal pulsatile irrigator the nasal congestion and
bacteria.postnasal drainage is cleared. Edematous throat
However, if the nasal cilia are impaired, if theytissue can be aided by using the throat pulsatile
move too slowly, then the mucus blanket remainsirrigator attachment. This massages the throat
in place, the bacteria multiply and a sinus infectiontissue, brings healing blood to the area and
can develop. A best way to avoid this is bymassages away swollen tissue.
pulsatile nasal sinus irrigation that restores good10. When the nasal pulsatile irrigation is used for a
cilia movement.stuffy nose, the massage action quickly opens
What can impair cilia movement? Chlorine as in athe nasal passages.
swimming pool, diesel fumes, bad smog, chromium11. When the pulsating stream goes through the
dust, formaldehyde fumes, paint solvents andnose it acts as a massage to the nose. This
sprays, and any volatile chemical.opens clogged membranes quickly.
The regular squeeze bottles and teapots help byThe disadvantage of pulsatile irrigation.
rinsing away thick mucus. But these provide anThe device costs more than the squeeze bottles
irregular pressure and do not rhythmically pulse towith flowback.
restore cilia.This requires an electric outlet and a sink.
Thus, the best way to restore good ciliaI learned this method from the Yoga Master,
movement is by a pulse wave that is at a rate "inIndra Devi. She could sniff and expel saline at a
synch" to restore normal cilia movement.rate "in harmony" to the normal cilia rate. I
Poor cilia movement can be seen in personsrealized what she was doing was keeping the
irrigating with prepared saline solutions that containnasal cilia moving at a correct rate. Fortunately
benzalkonium, a popular preservative.with pulsatile devices any person can benefit by
Unfortunately this can be a cause of poor ciliathis technique.