Salt proportions

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ansalc@gmail.com - 25 Aug 2006 20:13 GMT

I have been making my irrigation salt mix for years, 50% Sodium
Bicarbonate, 50% Sodium Chloride.

I have now bought Calcium Chloride and Potassium Chloride and Xylitol.

Which proportions should I use?

I believe the last three ingredients should be use in small
proportions, but how small?

Thanks,

Antonio

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Susan - 25 Aug 2006 20:20 GMT

> I have been making my irrigation salt mix for years, 50% Sodium
> Bicarbonate, 50% Sodium Chloride.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> I believe the last three ingredients should be use in small
> proportions, but how small?

I use almost all kosher salt, 2 cups, to which I add about 2 TBS of
calcium chloride, 2 tsp. of baking soda, and 2 TBS of xylitol

Or thereabouts, I think. I don't measure.

Susan

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MS - 25 Aug 2006 22:32 GMT

I don't think anyone has published an exact formula. People just experiment.

I've used all those myself, although I could not really say whether it
worked any better than just salt and baking soda, or only salt.

I find that too much of the calcium chloride creates a mineral buildup in
the waterpik tank, so I kept that amount smaller than the others. I think
you could use a larger amount of the potassium.

If you end up with a smaller percentage of salt than before, you might have
to use a larger amount of the mixture in the water, to get the same degree
of salinity. I often use taste. If the mixed (liquid) solution doesn't taste
salty enough, I add some more dry mixture.

>I have been making my irrigation salt mix for years, 50% Sodium
> Bicarbonate, 50% Sodium Chloride.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Antonio

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august - 26 Aug 2006 06:43 GMT

>I have been making my irrigation salt mix for years, 50% Sodium
> Bicarbonate, 50% Sodium Chloride.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Antonio

For me, I start with a gallon of distilled water, add 6 tablespoons of
Kosher salt, 2 tablespoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon of potassium chloride and
1 teaspoon of Xylitol. If I had pure calcium chloride, I'd add a teaspoon
of that also. shaken and not stirred, AW

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judy.n - 26 Aug 2006 14:53 GMT

A recent article on irrigation in a family practice journal resulted in
some good comments from ENT's and one from Pittsburgh admitted that
there is no "perfect" mixture, she starts with hypertonic saline and
lets patients experiment.
Personally, since I have had a pseudomonas infection, rather than
sodium bicarb, I add a tsp of white vinegar/quart to acidify the
irrigation and make my nose less friendly to pseudomonas. Too much
vinegar is way too irritating.
Here's the link the the ENT comments:
http://www.annfammed.org/cgi/eletters/4/4/295
I use a tsp of kosher salt/cup of boiled water.
Judy

> >I have been making my irrigation salt mix for years, 50% Sodium
> > Bicarbonate, 50% Sodium Chloride.
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> 1 teaspoon of Xylitol. If I had pure calcium chloride, I'd add a teaspoon
> of that also. shaken and not stirred, AW

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MS - 26 Aug 2006 21:41 GMT

In other words, ansalc, there is no answer to your question: "what are the
correct proportions.....?". Just experiment, see if it's comfortable in your
nose and throat, etc.

I don't think there's any real evidence that using all those things is
better than using plain salt, or salt and baking soda, and most ENTS and
allergists I've been to only recommend salt or salt and baking soda.
However, I sometimes have used all the items you mention, after reading
about it here, just in case it might help. There's no exact formula though.
Sorry.

>A recent article on irrigation in a family practice journal resulted in
> some good comments from ENT's and one from Pittsburgh admitted that
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>> teaspoon
>> of that also. shaken and not stirred, AW

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