Pulsatile Nasal Irrigation Found To Prevent Allergic Response


Madrid, Spain (Sept. 1, 1999) - Researchers at the Dept. of Immunology of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, have determined that daily pulsatile irrigation of the nose reduces or removes the response or "factor" from the pollen IgE, a common pollen which produces seasonal allergies. Pulsatile irrigation is a simple, inexpensive, at-home treatment where a patient washes out their own nose. This research suggests that regular irrigation actually prevents the seasonal pollen allergy response of the body, which means avoiding the suffering due to allergies for those with seasonal allergies.

Drs. Jose and Javier Subiza, in their clinical studies of allergic response, tested a sample of subjects with allergies to IgE, a pollen present during the grass pollen season. During this season, the sample who performed pulsatile irrigation daily were checked for allergic response factors in the nose and in the blood, and they were checked for inflammation in the nose. The patients who irrigated show a significant reduction in the allergic factors of IgE in the nose and in the blood, along with a reduction in inflammation. The observations show that the pollen had been washed out of the nose, actually preventing the allergic response.

People have washed out their nasal passages for centuries using salt water for health benefits. Although everyone reacts violently to plain water in the nose, properly prepared saline, or water with a saltiness to match that of the nose, causes no irritation. A simple washing of your nose with saline does have some benefits verified by medical research, but pulsatile irrigation is different. It has been shown to actually improve the function of the body's own machinery for removing foreign materials, the nasal cilia. In pulsatile irrigation, water is gently pumped into the nasal passages, not in a smooth stream, but in a pulsing one. This action is believed to stimulate the "sweeping" or "waving back and forth" motion of the nasal cilia. Tests show that the cilia work better after irrigation.

The pulsatile irrigation treatment requires only the use of a small device at home. The treatment may entirely replace the use of drugs, their side effects, and avoids their great cost. For comparison, two months of Claritin® costs around US$155. Patient response to the treatment was reported as positive.

The research was reported in the September issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.


Drs. Jose and Javier Subiza are widely recognized clinical allergy experts from Madrid. Their excellent work will be of great help to allergy sufferers.

It should be emphasized that pulsatile nasal irrigation is a completely natural, safe, drug-free treatment which can be performed without recurring visits to the doctor's office. Click here for more about pulsatile irrigation.


Nasal Allergy Links

  • What to do about Allergies or Hay Fever
  • Chicken Soup for Asthma and Allergies (check out the full article in the November 1998 issue of Coping with Asthma and Allergies)
  • Allergies - I have had every treatment, taken every drug, and nothing works; now what do I do?


    Back to The On-Line ENT-Consultant Home Page

     

    Last Update 2006 March 6

    Murray Grossan M.D.
    ENTconsult@aol.com