SinuAir™ Formulated Saline Powder for Nasal Irrigation 

SinuAir™ is a formulated moisturizing and irrigation solution for the nose that is both effective and economical. Formulated to approximate the body's natural salinity and electrolyte composition, this unique formulation is reported in medical journals best for nasal cilia to prevent the nasal cilia from slowing due to infection, allergy, and contagion and more appropriate than regular saline.  SinuAir™ formulated saline powder incorporates a formula proven effective in clinical trials, is additive-free, and  highly economical. It is convenient and easy to use by just mixing with water.  Useful as both an isotonic or hypertonic solution.

Each SinuAir™package contains:  
200g of SinuAir™ powder for nasal solution  
Refillable spray bottle  
Double sided spoon on end has a 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon for adding to 4 ounces of water for spray.  The other end is a one teaspoon measuring spoon to add to a pint (16 oz or 500cc) of water for irrigation with the SinuPulse Elite™ Advanced Nasal/Sinus Irrigation System or Water Pik™ type appliance.
 

NOW AVAILABLE IN CONVENIENT PRE-MEASURED PACKAGES - Model SAPK30 Each package contains:   For order information shop our on-line catalog 30 pre-measured packages of SinuAir™ Formulated Saline Powder for a Nasal Moisturizer and Irrigation Solution Packages have foil moisture barrier Convenient for travel No measuring necessary

Why do I need SinuAir™
Saline nose drops are needed for most nasal and sinus conditions. They are recommended for dryness, crusting, and as an aid to normal nasal function. Saline sprays can also be used to prevent and treat nose bleeds. The nose is supposed to moisten inhaled air, helping to maintain a moist environment for the cilia in the sinuses. These cilia are the body's first line of defense against infection. The moist, mucous environment also forms a pathway for the good white cells to reach the bad bacteria that may attempt to infect the body through inhalation.

Any dryness, itching, or crusting in the nose means that a moisturizer is needed for the nose to do it's job. Saline  had always been considered  the most common, safe, and simple such moisturizer. Today we know that the preservatives that must be added to insure a long long shelf life can be harmful or irritating to the nose, especially when the nose is irritated already .  Here is a partial list of the additives found in saline nasal sprays:

It is important to avoid any of these preservatives that might irritate an already sore nose. So SinuAir™ was developed as a means of providing a solution for the dry irritated nose. 

However, the purpose of a saline type spray is to restore normal cilia function.  Professor Wilbert M Boek of University Hospital, Utrecht reported that solutions containing potassium chloride, calcium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, and salt were much better for restoring nasal/sinus cilia than those without these ingredients. SinuAir™ is a formula designed to restore cilia function and avoid the use of some of the preservatives that can harm the delicate nasal membranes.   

For use with the SinuPulse Elite™ Advanced Sinus Irrigation System or Water Pik™  Style Irrigator 
Experience has shown that when the SinuAir™ formula is used for sinus irrigation, patients get better clearing of sinus infection and post nasal drip. This is because there is no iodine, preservatives, or silica in the formula. The measuring spoon allows for accurate measure. Add one teaspoon of SinuAir™to a pint of water in the SinuPulse Elite™ Advanced Sinus Irrigation System or Water Pik™ basin. Stir, then use as directed to restore cilia and remove purulent material. 

Moisturizing Spray 
Using the white 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon, add 1/4 ounce SinuAir™ formula powder to four ounces of  water. Spray nose as needed. Change once a week. The spray bottle can be used as a spray, to irrigate directly, or just as drops. 

For kids or adults with colored discharge: 3 to 4x a day. 
For kids or adults with nose bleed 3 to 4 x a day 
For dry weather twice a day 
For smog days twice or 3x a day 
To prevent nose bleeds twice a day 
Use of spray bottle to irrigate: 

During the pollen season can use the spray bottle as an irrigator to remove pollen from the nose. Try this 3x a day after downtown smog or diesel exposure, irrigate to remove the particular matter. 

Costs
Spending four dollars or more plus tax for a penny's worth of saline solution must discourage a lot of people. With SinuAir™  you get 150 or more refills of solution, refilling once a week.  You simply use the 1/4 teaspoon and add to four ounces of water. You can even save the surplus for further use.  So its economic to use for irrigation with the spray bottle as well. 

Isotonic or Hypertonic Saline - Which is best for you?
Doctors recommend both - but which is right for you?  SinuAir™ unique formulation allows the user to adjust between the two methods as needed for greater individual comfort and control. For detailed information on which is right for you Click here.

Warm Saline   
Every doctor tells you to irrigate with warm saline. Warm solution helps bring more circulation to the area, and besides, it feels good. Yet, some solutions with additives can only be used at room temperature. 

Fresh 
For many customers once they have opened the store bought saline solution and carried it about for weeks, they no longer consider it to be fresh and toss it to buy a fresh bottle. Part of this has to do with the preservatives giving a "smell" kind of sensation. With SinuAir™ you know its fresh because you make it every week. 

Benzalkonium
The preservative Benzalkonium Sodium causes problems with nasal sprays. Around 1985, it was noted that the number and severity of cases of rhinitis medicamentosum was increasing with increased use of benzalkonium, an antibacterial preservative found in most over-the-counter prepared saline nasal spray products. Rhinitis medicamentosum means that the nose gets stuffy and congested after use of nose drops such as oxymetazoline (Afrin™). The more the nose drops are used, the more "rebound" when the drug wears off, that is, the worse the patient gets after the drops wear off, requiring more and more use of the drops. The drops become effectively addictive, and worse, the nose is always stuffy anytime the drug is not active in the nose.  Next, it was discovered that you could get rhinitis medicamentosum just form the Benzalkonium alone, as well as saline with Benzalkonium. So, it wasn't the nasal medication oxymetazoline that was responsible, but the Benzalkonium. The oxymetazoline did shrink the nose nicely, but the benzalkonim caused a rebound congestion. 

These additive problems are so important that the Dannemiller Memorial Educational Foundation gives special training to doctors on this subject. This training emphasizes that if you are allergic or have an infection, the additives can be more irritating than when you are "normal". 

Recent articles on the negative effects of Benzalkonium include:

Berg: Mucosa exposed to benzalkonium chloride showed squamus cell metaplasia ( the normal cells changed to undesirable cells). Benzalkonium chloride appears to be potentially toxic to the mucosa.

Steinsvag: benzalkonium chloride has toxic effects on human respiratory mucosa and human neutrophils. It destroyed mucosa and inhibited human neutrophil action.Benzalkonium chloride induces mucosal swelling, which explains why the presence of this preservative in a decongestant spray aggravates rhinitis medicamentosa.

For more information on obtaining SinuAir™  click here.

References:

Physiologic and hypertonic saline solutions impair ciliary activity in vitro. Boek WM. Laryngoscope, 109(3):396-9 1999 Mar
Physiological salt solution (0.9%) was found to slow cilia movement. Locke-Ringers solution with soda bicarbonate, potassium and calcium chloride, and salt was found best for cilia. "This solution is more appropriate than saline for nasal irrigator and nebulazation or sinus lavage." He reported complete ciliastasis with some hypertonic solutions, often within 5 minutes of exposure.

Benzalkonium chloride in a decongestant nasal spray aggravates rhinitis medicamentosa in healthy volunteers. Clin Exp Allergy.1995; 25:957-965
Benzalkonium chloride induces mucosal swelling, which explains why the presence of this preservative in a decongestant spray aggravates nasal/sinus symptoms

Effects of topical nasal steroids on human respiratory mucosa and human granulocytes in vitro. Steinsv¡ag S. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh), 116(6):868-75 1996
"It is concluded that benzalkonium chloride has toxic effects on human respiratory mucosa and human neutrophils in vitro."

Effect of topical corticosteroids and topical antihistaminics on ciliary epithelium of human nasal mucosa in vitro. Hofmann T. HNO, 46(2):146-51 1998 Feb
"An irreversible cessation of ciliary movement was observed in all cells exposed to nasal sprays containing benzalconium chloride....." "we recommend that this preservative should not be used anymore in topical nasal medications."

The effects of topical nasal steroids on rat respiratory mucosa in vivo, with special reference to benzalkonium chloride. Berg OH. Allergy, 52(6):627-32 1997 Jun
"In conclusion, benzalkonium chloride appears to be potentially toxic to the nasal mucosa."

A clinical trial of hypertonic saline nasal spray in subjects with the common cold or rhinosinusitis. Adam P. Arch Fam Med, 7(1):39-43 1998 Jan-Feb
Hypertonic saline does not improve nasal symptoms or illness duration in patients with the common cold or rhinosinusitis. Thirty two percent of users noted burning and wouldn't use the product again.