Q: What kind of water solution is adequate for the nasal irrigation?
A: You can use normal saline, or prepare your own. In the United States, most doctors suggest using non-iodine salt which is similar to normal saline, or buffered salt; some doctors suggest using the salt which is similar to the Ringer’s solution. For normal saline water, add 9g of non-iodine salt into 1000cc of water. For buffered salt water, add 6g of non-iodine salt and 3g of baking soda into 1000cc of water.
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Q: Should I use the sterilized normal saline to flush the nose?
A: You can use the sterilized normal saline to flush the nose, however medical reports confirmed that the result is the same by using the sterilized saline or non-sterilized saline. The fact is there are many normal flora in the nasal cavity, the same as that you do not have to brush your teeth everyday with sterilized water because there are many normal flora in the oral cavity. Just be sure the hygienic quality of the water you used is adequate.
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Q: Is it a must to use the distilled water or is tap water OK?
A: Of course you can use distilled water, but it is not a must. You can use the tap water if the hygienic quality is adequate, or you can use the filtered water or boiled water.
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Q: What kind of salt is best for the nasal irrigation?
A: It’s better to use the non-iodized salt because the iodine affects the muco-ciliary movement on the nasal mucosa.
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Q: Is sea salt better for the nasal irrigation?
A: Medical research revealed that the clinical result is the same by using the sea salt or normal saline. However some professionals doubt that sea salt might induce some unknown side effects or allergic reaction.
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Q: Can I wash the nose by water only (without salt)?
A: No. We do not recommend to wash the nose by purely water without salt. Pure water is hypotonic to the nasal mucosa, it will damage the nasal mucosa and cause oedematous swelling of the nasal mucosa (water will enter into the nasal mucosa, while the ions in the nasal mucosa will move out of the nasal mucosa). You may feel sharp pain of the nose and headache immediately when flushing the nose with water only.
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Q: What temperature is the best for washing the nose?
A: It’s more comfortable to use warm saline of the similar temperature as nasal cavity (35°C-38°C or 95°F-101°F). Warm water over 42°C is not recommended by medical report.
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Q: Is hypertonic saline solution better for the nasal irrigation?
A: Many medical reports proved that hypertonic saline solution achieves better result than normal saline water for rhino-sinusitis or allergic rhinitis. However, since higher concentration is more irritative, we suggest starting from the regular concentration saline, then gradually increasing the salt concentration. For example, starters can mix one buffered salt packet in 500cc, and then gradually decrease the water amount from 500cc to 400cc to 350 cc to 300cc; and then try 2 buffered salt packets in 500cc of water. Usually adults can tolerate up to 2 packets in 500cc of warm water, some children can accept 1.5 packets in 500cc of warm water.
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Q: Can we use the same nasal tip for different family members?
A: We recommend each family member has his own nasal tip to avoid probable cross infection. That’s why we design different color nasal tips, so you can have your own tip, just like you have your own toothbrush.
Q: This irrigation looks scary… I mean… water flowing into the nose, wouldn’t it hurt?
A: Many people who have never tried this nasal irrigator often fear if the irrigation will have the uncomfortable feeling like choking in the water. The fact is, after trying this irrigation, most people describe it as the most comfortable instant solution to refresh their breathing. The principle of this irrigation is not to wash your nasal cavity with strong water spout, but the pulsatile warm saline wells up smoothly and softly to rinse and massage the nasal cavity. Therefore, by following the procedures correctly, you can enjoy the comfort and pleasure the irrigation brings to you.
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Q: Why do I feel headache sometimes when I use this irrigation?
A: The most common causes are:
- Water temperature: please use warm water. The initial water flowed out from the machine is usually cold, so allow the machine to run for a few second until warm water coming out.
- Salt concentration: too high or too low salt concentration would irritate the nasal cavity, especially when no salt is added in the warm water, or the salt is not dissolved well, or the salt is not enough.
- Pressure: please try a lower water pressure.
Q: Why does the upper part of my nose, in between my eyes, aches sometimes during sinus irrigation?
A: This is usually caused by rhino-sinusitis. Since the sinus ostium is obstructed and resists the saline from passing through, the flow would then pressures the para-nasal sinuses and makes you feel soreness and pain. In this case, we suggest you to pause irrigation, and use hot towel to compress the aching area; resume irrigation after 2 ~ 4 hours. If aching happens during each irrigation, we suggest you to consult your doctor for nasal cavity and para-nasal sinuses check-up.
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Q: Sometimes my ears are popped and blocked during irrigation, why?
A: The most common causes are:
- No spitting, swallowing, or talking during the irrigation. Because these actions would open Eustachian tube (the connection between nasopharynx and middle ear) when water flows from one nostril to the other through nasopharynx, allowing water the possibility to enter your ear. Therefore, please pause the irrigation when spitting, swallowing, or conversation.
If you blow your nose too hard after irrigation, the remaining water in the nose might be forced into the middle ear through the Eustachian tube as well. - If the nose is severely blocked that the saline cannot pass through, the pressure built up inside the nasal cavity will cause headache or even otalgia at the beginning of the irrigation. Stop the irrigation immediately, and compress the nose with warm towel for several minutes to relieve the nasal obstruction. Try nasal irrigation only when the nose is not completely blocked.
Q: Why do I feel tears welled up in my eyes during irrigation?
A: Normally, tears travel to the nasal cavity through a really narrow tube (naso-lacrimal duct); and tears welled up when the tube is blocked. Therefore, when the tube is partially obstructed due to rhinitis or stuffed nose, the additional pressure given by the irrigation would block the tube and cause the tears to well up. At this stage, irrigation can still be continued with a lower water pressure; however, if tear does come out continuously, then stop the irrigation and retry after 3 ~ 4 hours. If this issue occurs every time you use the irrigation, then we suggest you to consult your doctor to check if there is any abnormality of the sphincter inside naso-lacrimal duct.
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Q: Why does the water flow down to my throat instead of exiting from the other nostril during irrigation?
A: This is usually caused by:
- if your head is not bent downward correctly.
- Due to enlargement of the posterior part of the turbinatein one side of nasal cavity, the water cannot freely turn around through the nasopharynx. In this case we suggest you to irrigate from the other nostril (the side where the water can fluently come out of).
Q: The water pressure seems low; wouldn’t a higher pressure cleanse the nasal cavity better?
A: The principle of this irrigation is not to wash out the dirt with strong water spout, but to softly rinse and massage the sinus cavity with pulsatile water flow; hence high water pressure is not necessary. The pulsatile action provides far more superior cleaning result than non-pulsatile action. Moreover, if the water pressure is too high, it might damage the nasal mucus membrane.
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Q: How many times can I use the irrigation per day?
A: There is no specific limit on how many times you can use the irrigation per day; it varies from person to person. The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery suggested nasal irrigation 2 ~ 4 times daily for the post nasal drip and rhino-sinusitis patients. We suggest nasal irrigation twice per day for rhino-sinusitis and allergic rhinitis patients. Or you can wash your nose only after swimming or when exposed in polluted environment as preventive health care, or during the flu season to diminish the incidence of flu or cold attack.
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Q: Would frequent irrigation damage my nasal mucus membrane?
A: For traditional nasal irrigator, due to the poor design in water pressure and in-accurate spout direction, it is possible that the irrigation might damage the mucus membrane and even cause nasal bleeding. However, the pulsatile nasal irrigator that we suggested is designed to wash the nose by gentle, soft warm saline that is pulsed at the similar frequency of the sinus muco-ciliary movement; therefore, it would not damage the mucus membrane but to make it healthier.
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Q: After frequent usage of this irrigation, would I be dependent on and cannot stop using the irrigation?
A: Addiction and habit is different. Like washing hands with soap, nasal irrigation is a healthy habit to help keeping away or resolving nasal-related diseases and symptoms. Unless one has obsessive-compulsive psychological disorder, otherwise this is not an issue to worry about.
Q: Why is there water coming out from my nose 30 ~ 60 minutes after the irrigation?
A: Many people, even few otolaryngologists, doubt if nasal irrigator can rinse into the paranasal sinuses (it is true that many traditional nasal irrigator cannot completely rinse into the paranasal sinuses). This above question is a good evidence to prove that this pulsatile nasal irrigator can effectively rinse into the paranasal sinuses. The malfunction of muco-ciliary movement in the paranasal sinuses, and the entrance tumidity between paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity, are factors which disallow the water to freely leave the paranasal sinuses. Hence, the remained water comes out from paranasal sinuses only when your head is bent to some other positions after irrigation. When you face this situation, you can bend down the head and turn right or left to facilitate draining out the left over saline in the paranasl sinuses. Regular irrigation to quickly normalize the sinus muco-ciliary movement and dissolve the tumidity is suggested.
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Q: Why do I feel slight nasal congestion and hyponasality after irrigation sometimes?
A: It is because sometimes there is water left inside the paranasal sinuses after irrigation . The symptom will be resolved after the water drains out, usually about 30 ~ 60 minutes after irrigation.
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Q: I can’t hear clearly whenever I blow my nose right after the irrigation, why is that?
A: There is usually some water remaining inside your nasal cavity right after nasal irrigation. Blowing nose might cause the water to enter into middle cavity through Eustachian tube, and makes you feel your ear is stuffed (It is just like when one swims, the water in his ears makes him unable to hear well). Instead of blowing your nose with nostrils closed, we suggest you to take a deep breathe, and exhale via your nose (just like sneezing) to help draining out the left over diluted mucus. Many acute otitis media in adult is caused by improper nose blowing.
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Q: When irrigating the nose, some snot will come out. Can I blow my nose?
A: You can, but don’t blow it too hard. Gently blow your nose . The best way is to open your mouth and blow without pressing the nostrils (like the way of sneezing).
Q: Is the adult irrigator tip the same as the child’s irrigator tip?
A: No. The adult irrigator tip is designed for the saline water to enter and drain out from different nostrils. The child’s irrigator tip is designed for the saline water to enter and drains out from the same nostril. The purpose of the child’s irrigator tip is to allow children who are under the age of 10; especially ones in kindergarten, to easily adapt the irrigation; because it only rinses 2/3 of the nasal cavity and hence less sensitive. We suggest switching to adult irrigator tip once the child has adapted to the irrigation for better result.
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Q: What is the minimum age for using pulsatile nasal irrigation?
A: There is no restriction on age for using pulsatile nasal irrigation if the child is not afraid of saline irrigation, and is able to control their breathing well. In our clinical experience, the youngest child to use the pulsatile nasal irrigator is only 3 years old. For children who are 10 years or above may easily adapt the regular irrigator tip, while we suggest the younger children to use the child’s irrigator tip at first. And switch to the regular one only after they are familiar with the irrigation.
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Q: Is pulsatile nasal irrigator helpful for the kids suffering from nasal bleeding?
A: Most common cause of nasal bleeding is one or more of the following: pick the nose, rub the nose, insert the tissue paper into the nose, and blow the nose hard. Kid will have these activities after some irritation to the nose. You can eliminate the irritation to the nose by pulsatile nasal irrigation, so is helpful to prevent the nasal bleeding. !!! Be reminded not to use the pulsatile nasal irrigation the day of nasal bleeding. Because the pulsatile nasal irrigation will remove the blood clot in the nasal chamber effectively, however the blood clot is necessary for stopping the nasal bleeding. So it is recommended to use the pulsatile nasal irrigation only after the next whole day if nasal bleeding is suffered.
Maintenance:
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Q: How do I sterilize the irrigator tip?
A: Cleansing with running water after every usage is usually enough. If necessary, you can dip the color bulb of the irrigator tip into boiling water for sterilization. (the plastic handle part of the irrigator tip is not permitted to the boiling water)
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Q: How should I maintain the irrigator to avoid breakdown?
A: Remember to run the irrigator with clear warm water every time after using the irrigation; this is to rinse out the left over saline water inside the machine. The most common cause of breakdown is the cumulated salt inside the tube of the machine.
Q: What is the difference between Sanvic pulsatile nasal irrigator and other nasal irrigator?
A: Sanvic pulsatile nasal irrigator is designed by an otolaryngologist from the professional view point of nasal/sinus patho-physiology. The pulse frequency is designed to match the normal muco-ciliary movement inside the nose and paranasal sinuses, to help restore the important muco-ciliary movement inside the nasal cavity. Moreover, pulsatile nasal irrigator can rinse the nasal cavity cleaner and more comfortable than regular nasal irrigator due to its delicately designed water pulse.
Quality:
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Q: Is your pulsatile nasal irrigator a medical device?
A: Yes, our Sanvic pulsatile nasal/sinus irrigator is a medical apparatus, under the classification of class I medical apparatus–powered nasal irrigator. Class I medical apparatus means that this medical device is relatively safe, and can be used at home.
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Q: Did you pass any examination or requirement for sale of this medical device?
A: Yes, medical device should register and pass the requirement for sale in every country or district. We’ll help and provide the necessary documents for our partner to pass the requirement of sale in its country or district. Our existing exclusive distributor all passed and registered for the sale in their own countries or districts.
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Q: Do you provide different voltage machines or only one voltage machine?
A: Yes, we provide different voltage machines according to the regions, for example, 230 voltage machines for Europe, 120 voltage machines for USA, 110 voltage machines for Taiwan.
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Q: What certifications do you have for your machine?
A: We have passed the requirements and certifications for CE, UL, GMP, and FDA listing.
Q: What is the clinical application for your pulsatile nasal irrigator?
A: Our innovative Sanvic Pulsatile Nasal/Sinus Irrigator is the best tool recommended for the Maximal Medical Therapy of the chronic rhino-sinusitis or other rhinitis/sinusitis. The MMT is the most valuable therapy for the management of rhinitis/sinusitis, many unnecessary surgeries and medications can be avoided by the MMT. Top
Q: Can you briefly introduce the MMT? I have never heard it before.
A: The keypoint of MMT is that you should find the exact etiologies or causative factors of the disease, and find the way to correct it. For example, traditionally we treat chronic rhino-sinusitis by antibiotics because we think bacterial infection is the main etiology of the chronic rhino-sinusitis, we perform surgical treatment for the chronic rhino-sinusitis if antibiotics therapy in vain because we think the ostium of the sinuses are obstructed so the sinus secretions cannot flow out freely. But for MMT of chronic rhino-sinusitis, we treat the patient as a whole human, we should consider the patient’s GI condition to see if he was suffered from gastro-esophageal reflux, if he has allergic reaction to fungus, or mite or …etc, if the humidity of the environment is adequate, if he or his family, his friends are smokers,the general health condition, the food, exercise, water intake or loss, sleep, even the emotional factors should be considered. You can only have an excellent therapeutic result after detailed history taking and careful examination.
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Q: What is the benefit of pulsatile nasal irrigator clinically?
A: Pulsatile nasal/sinus irrigator can effectively remove the mucopurulent discharges in the nasal/sinus cavities, remove the pathologic biofilms, facilitate the recovery of the originally self-protective muco-ciliary movement of sinuses. That’s why it plays the cardinal role in the successful MMT for various rhinitis/sinusitis.