Use of Dead Sea salt solution for chronic rhinitis and rhinosinusitis

Abstract

Introduction Many otolaryngologists use nasal saline irrigations and sprays for patients with chronic rhinitis and rhinosinusitis as a mainstay to treat and irrigate purulent secretions from the nasal cavity. The Dead Sea is the world’s most saline lake. Its 30% salt composition has proportionately more calcium, magnesium, bromine, and potassium, and less sodium sulfate and carbonate than any other ocean. The dominant cation, magnesium, has been effective in the treatment of inflammatory cutaneous lesions, inhibits histamine effects, and stabilizes eosinophils. This article examines the value of a nasal irrigating solution and spray from the Dead Sea. Purpose To determine the effectiveness of Dead Sea salt solution (Oasis nasal spray/irrigation; Master Solutions, Tulsa, OK) on the symptomatic treatment of purulent rhinitis and rhinosinusitis by measuring the quality of life and sinus-specific symptoms. Methods A total of 31 patients were selected because of refractive purulent rhinosinusitis that persisted after medical or surgical treatment. A relatively new irrigating solution and nasal wash containing Dead Sea salt as their major components (Oasis) were used as an irrigation in the morning, and spray midday and evening. The Medical Outcomes Short Form 36 (SF-36) and Chronic Sinusitis Survey were used to measure quality of life. Of the 31 patients, 26 returned the survey instruments. Data were analyzed using STATISTICA (StatSoft, Inc, Tulsa, OK). Results The means before treatment were 20.08 for chronic sinusitis and 75.88 for quality of life, and after treatment significantly reduced to 13.37 and 45.65, respectively. Conclusions Dead Sea Salt is an effective irrigation and spray in the treatment of purulent rhinosinusitis, improving quality of life and rhinosinusitis symptoms. It may have its effectiveness because of the different cation composition from normal or hypertonic saline.