Xlear Nasal Wash/ Spray  

Why wash your nose?

Because the immune system's first line of defense is trying to wash out the irritant. In the nose we sense this as congestion, increased mucous, or post nasal drip. Helping your immune system with this washing is a much better response than blocking it with antihistamines and decongestants, or turning it off with local steroids.

Because the Center for Disease Control says that hand-washing is the most effective way of reducing communicable disease. The bacteria don't infect our hands but when we put our hands to our face they get into our nose. It makes as much sense to wash our nose.

Because ear infections in children, and sinus and bronchial infections in adults, start from infection in the nose. Two bacteria, Streptococcus Pneumoniae and Haemophilus -Influenzae, cause most of these infections and kill more than 40,000 people annually in the U.S., including many children. Their primary home is in the nose.

Because a clean nose reduces the need for antibiotics. The current overuse of antibiotics for upper respiratory infections is the major cause of antibiotic resistance.

Because nasal irritants cause most allergies and are a major trigger of asthma.

Because the common cold, a major cause of time loss from work and school, starts in the nose. Even the flu virus enters the body through the nose.

Who should wash their nose?

Childhood seems to be where most problems start. Children and the people who deal with them, day care workers and primary grade teachers, should see the most benefit. People with chronic problems should benefit.

If the CDC is correct whoever washes their hands should wash their nose.

Xlear contains a saline solution with xylitol, a natural substance found in many foods and made by cells in the human body. Xylitol is used commercially to sweeten many gums. Many countries encourage the use of xylitol in gum because it reduces tooth decay.

 

Finnish physicians have done excellent studies showing that chewing 8 sticks of this gum every day reduces ear infections in children by 40%. They also showed that a 5% solution of xylitol on cells from the nose releases the attachment of more than half of the bacteria, noted above, that are the major cause of respiratory infections. It s like soap for your nose!

Attachment is what infection is all about. If bacteria aren t attached there is no infection. When you wash your hands you wash away bacteria. It s the same with the nose.

How often should the nose be washed?

It depends on how, bad the problem is. Most of the time adults can get by with two sprays in each nostril twice a day. If a person has symptoms of congestion,,you can use it every fifteen minutes until the congestion clears.

Children in day care who are more prone to ear infections, or those who have had recurrent ear infections, should have their noses sprayed before every diaper change. Day care providers and teachers working with small children are exposed to more of these bacteria and should use Xlear more often.

Recommended minimum dosage:
Children: 1 spray each nostril 3 times per day.
Adults: 1 spray each nostril 2 times per day.

How to use Xlear…
Using the spray is best with the head tilted forward and the spray aimed back, not up, the nose. The bottle makes a spray held upright, a stream (not recommended) if held horizontally, and drops if upside down. In a child who fights the spray, using a few drops is O.K. Make sure the child remains lying down for several seconds after putting drops in their nose so the solution can drain to the back of the nose where the more common problems are located.

Is it safe?
Two sprays in each nostril 2 times a day gives about 40 mg of xylitol. That is about 210 times less than the Finns used in their study, 250 times less than the average person makes in their own body every day. It is over 1000 times less than the safe IV dose, and less than a tenth of the xylitol in an average sized plum. But, as stated above, it is more than double the concentration found to release the harmful, infection causing bacteria.