What is Breathe·EaseXL used for?
Saline nose drops are needed for
most nasal and sinus conditions and are recommended for dryness,
crusting, and as an aid to normal nasal function. Saline rinses
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. So it is important to
avoid any of these preservatives that might irritate an already
sore nose. So Breathe·EaseXL was developed as a means of
providing a solution for the dry irritated nose free of irritating
preservatives.
The purpose of saline type sprays
or rinses is to restore normal cilia function. Professor Wilbert
M Boek of University Hospital, Utrecht reported that certain
solutions containing potassium chloride, calcium chloride,
sodium bicarbonate, and salt were much better for restoring
nasal/sinus cilia than those without these ingredients. Clinical
experience has borne this out. Breathe·EaseXL is a formula
based on Professor Boek's findings. He showed that a product
called Locke-Ringer's solution, used in the hospital for intravenous
administration to patients needing fluids did a better job
of restoring cilia function than physiologic saline. Plus
he cautioned against the use of some of the preservatives
that can harm the delicate nasal membranes.
Breathe·EaseXL is especially designed
for use by the child. The incidence of children with sinusitis
is increasing at an alarming rate. Many of these children
could be helped by regular use of moisturizer solution.
Lavage® Nasal Wash Bottle
For years we have advocated using
pulsatile irrigation for chronic sinusitis, nasal congestion
and after exposure to excess dust, diesel fumes, certain industrial
chemicals. What was needed was a portable system that would
remove the foreign products from the nose and help restore
the ciliary function. The Lavage® Nasal Wash includes every
thing needed for a proper nasal irrigation (lavage) technique
and can be used by children as well as adults. This Lavage
unit is very easy to use, inexpensive and durable. One package
can be used for about 80 treatments, unlike the other nasal
wash devices that are used once and need to be replaced. Key
features of the Lavage bottle include:
- Designed for easy use and pressure
control.
- Unique bottle design allows for
upright use.
- Hypo allergenic.
- Bottle is designed for easy visual
inspection and hygiene.
- Form fitting nasal cap for comfort
and to properly seal the nostril.
- Measurements on bottle for accurate
mixing of irrigating solutions.
- Measuring spoon for precise measurements
and may be used to mix the solution.
For use with the Grossan Sinus Irrigator
Experience has shown that when the
Breathe·EaseXL formula is used for Grossan 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 Breathe·EaseXL to a pint of water
in the Water Pik basin. Stir, then use as directed to restore
cilia and remove purulent material.
Calibrated Measurement
Many worry about mixing the right amounts
of saline. One teaspoon can vary enormously, as much as 40 %
in one study. Here the teaspoon is exactly measured so there
is no mistake.
For use with the Grossan
Sinus Irrigator you get over 60 day's supply. With this special
formula, and because there are no preservatives, silica, or
iodine, many patients require less days of irrigation.
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 Breathe·Ease
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".
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.
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