Every year, more and more Americans use alternative or complementary medicines to help them stay healthy and treat specific ailments. In the past it was often difficult to determine if these methods worked. But because of a new federal policy directing agencies to expand their research about complementary and alternative medicine, studies have emerged that show some of the most popular alternative medicines aren’t as effective as people think.
Widely used remedies such as Echinacea, zinc, and kava, when evaluated in clinical trials, have been shown to be no more effective than a placebo in curing health ailments.
While these natural remedies have been called into question, not all ancient remedies have been. In fact, some have been scientifically proved to perform as expected.
Nasal washing to improve both nasal health and overall health is one ancient technique that modern science has confirmed to be effective. It is used to treat any type of nasal problem, from allergies to colds and chronic sinus infections.
“Nasal washing is an ancient remedy that really helps my patients,” said Dr. Diane Heatley, an ear, nose and throat physician based in Madison, Wis. “I have been recommending it for years.”
Nasal washing works by removing pollutants and bacteria from the nose and thins nasal mucus, allowing users to breathe more freely. Administered through a neti-pot (a small plastic container that resembles a genie’s lamp), nasal washing soothes the nose using a gentle flow of saline solution to cleanse the nasal passages.
Because the saline solution actually rinses out nasal debris, it works to decrease inflammation and even allergy-related blood immunoglobulin levels of allergy sufferers. This effectively decreases uncomfortable allergy symptoms without medication use.
“Nasal washing effectively treats cold and allergy symptoms,” said Dr. Heatley. “And because it is an all-natural treatment, there are no side effects, such as drowsiness, that many patients experience with over-the-counter drugs. When nasal washing is done regularly, patients often see a reduced need to take other medications.”
For more information about the studies supporting the use of nasal washing, visit www.sinucleanse.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE: For more information, contact Rebecca Eckhart at (312) 422-5948 or reckhart@laughlin.com. - ARA |
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