First, look at the bottom of a disposable plastic water bottle. You will see a little triangle with the number 1 inside. This identifies the plastic as ‘polyethylene terephthalate’ (PETE) which has been shown to be chemically stable if not exposed to excessive heat or reused. Therefore, it is okay to drink bottled water, but not to keep refilling the same container over and over again.

Now look at the bottom of your Nasopure bottle. You will see the number 4, identifying the plastic as ‘low density polyethylene’, or LDPE. This is a more stable form of plastic and has been shown to be safe.

The plastics to avoid are labeled #3, #6, and #7. You will find these plastics in baby bottles, in microwave containers and Styrofoam. Further information about the safety of plastics can be found in this article published by Mothering Magazine, and on Dr. Andrew Weil’s website

One reason Nasopure is made from a soft plastic is to avoid the dangers of breakable glass or ceramic in the bathroom where things tend to get wet and slippery. The plastic bottle is also more effective because it gives you control over pressure and flow. And warm water used in an LDPE bottle has not been shown to release toxins, even if we were to inadvertently swallow some of the wash solution.

We here at Nasopure have looked at the research about plastic safety and remain confident that the Nasopure nasal wash system is still the safest, most effective way to keep your nose clean. As always, I wish you well, Dr Hana

Chronic rhinosinusitis — washing nasal passages with saline can help

The latest findings from the Cochrane Library:

Spraying salty water (saline) into your nose can help reduce the symptoms of pain and congestion that accompany long-term infections of the nasal passages, a Cochrane Systematic Review has concluded. Between 5% and 15% of people experience persistent infection of the nasal passages (chronic rhinosinusitis). Many homoeopathic and yogic forms of healthcare recommend spraying saline into the nose to relieve symptoms, and it is now often recommended as part of a programme of treatment in conventional medicine. A team of Cochrane Researchers considered the data presented in eight separate randomised trials and 16 other studies, involving a total of 1659 patients, that examined the potential benefits of saline irrigation. "While there is no evidence that saline is a replacement for standard therapies, spraying or irrigating saline into the nose is likely to improve symptoms for people with persistent infections," says lead researcher Dr Richard Harvey who works at the University of Oxford and Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital in London. No one is really sure why saline reduces symptoms, but it could be because it softens mucus, making it easier to remove. The tiny hair-like process (cilia) that cover the surfaces of cells in the nose often fail to function properly and can’t beat to remove mucus, so the saline may help these cilia to work more efficiently. In addition, saline may simply help wash bacteria, viruses and allergic materials out of the nose."Doctors should consider recommending saline therapy as an adjunct for managing the symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis," says Harvey".

Contact: Jennifer Beal  jbeal@wiley.co.uk  44-012-437-70633  John Wiley & Sons, Inc.