DIY: Soothing Saline Rinse 

Happy Monday, DIYers! It’s the salt sisters, here. Just by looking at our brand name, you probably already guessed that our company is based in Los Angeles. Read a little more about us, and you’ll find out we’ve been here for a long time. We were born and raised in the South Bay, and we’ve stayed for so many reasons; the sea, the sunsets, and the amazing mindset of health and green-living make it easy to love southern California. 

One thing we don’t love, however, is wildfires. Across the state, dry conditions have caused raging wildfires that have threatened homes and made national news. We’re so thankful that our warehouse is a safe distance from the fires, but our noses aren’t thrilled. The poor air quality across the state can cause allergy flareups and trigger asthma, and we wanted to share our favorite, natural solution: saline rinses! 

Salt rinses can improve allergies, coughs, and congestion by clearing the sinuses of harmful allergens, like pollen, dust, or (if you’re in LA!) smoke. Whether you’re dealing with fire-fueled haze or just combating seasonal allergies, salt rinses can help. 

To start, you’ll need: 

1. 3 teaspoons finely ground Kashmir Pink™ Himalayan Salt
2. 1 teaspoon baking soda
3. 1 cup of lukewarm distilled (or boiled) water
4. A neti pot or nasal bulb

First, mix together the baking soda and salt. Then, add in the cup of warm water. Try testing the temperature on the inside of your wrist to be sure it’s not too hot for your sensitive nasal passages. 

Next, fill the neti pot or bulb with the salt solution. To use it, just lean over the sink, tilt your head downward and to the left, and gently squeeze about half of the solution into your right nostril. Breathe through your mouth, and the salt rinse should come out your other nostril. Repeat on the other side. 

It can feel a little strange at first, but shouldn’t be painful. After the rinse, blowing your nose gently can help clear up your sinuses further. 

If you’re so congested that you can’t breathe through your nose at all, wait until your sinuses aren’t as swollen before trying a salt rinse. Salt rinses also can’t replace prescription allergy or asthma medication. They CAN, however, help your usual medication to work faster and more effectively!

We hope today’s DIY helped a few of our So-Cal neighbors feel better after the fires. Our hearts go out to those who have been affected. If anyone would like to help families and wildlife injured or displaced by the fires, the Alma California Wildfires 2019 Fund will welcome your contribution!