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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