Natural DIY Nasal Antiseptic
This DIY natural nasal antiseptic is an inexpensive, homemade concentrate. Once diluted, it’s a highly effective, soothing solution to use in a neti pot or nasal spray bottle, or just as a gargle. It eases and often clears a sinus infection or sore throat, keeping mucous passages clear and combatting infection. It is antibiotic, antifungal and completely natural. Whether or not you are taking antibiotics, or seem to be developing a bacterial or fungal sinus infection, this will provide a great deal of symptomatic and infection relief. It aids a faster recovery, and helps prevent a post-antibiotic fungal sinus infection that sometimes happens.
HOW IT WORKS
Salt is a mild antiseptic. It’s also soothing to sensitive mucous membranes than plain water because it adjusts the salinity to be similar to the body’s. Pure Glycerin is a natural, sweet tasting preservative and antibiotic when used in concentrations of 15% or more. Grapefruit seed extract is a powerful antifungal and helps break up mucous. You can obtain pure glycerin and grapefruit seed extract online or at many health food stores, and some pharmacies. (Read the labels to ensure there’s no additives.) Make a batch of this natural DIY nasal antiseptic concentrate today to have it around for allergy and flu season, or to clear throats and sinuses after a day in the garden, a trek down a dusty road, or a moldy cleaning day!
NATURAL DIY NASAL ANTISEPTIC CONCENTRATE
1 c. Water
¼ c. Pickling or Kosher salt (pure Sodium Chloride = NaCl, not sea salt or having other additives)
¼ c. Pure Glycerin (no additives)
1 ½ t. Pure Grapefruit Seed Extract
Boil water in a heat proof stainless or glass container (e.g. pint mason jar or pyrex pint cup.) Add the salt and stir until completely dissolved. Stir in glycerin and grapefruit seed extract until well mixed. When cool, transfer to a glass bottle with a small cap (like a cleaned recycled sauce jar) or other easy to pour dispenser.
Do not store in plastic, since the grapefruit seed extract may break it down. It should keep for a year or so at room temp out of sunlight, or refrigerated. Put a make date on it and toss out and remix the concentrate if it gets old or discolored.
TO USE
Shake the concentrate well to get any orangish floating grapefruit seed extract back into suspension. Mix 1 ½ teaspoons of concentrate in 1 c. warm water, or 1 tablespoon per 2 c. water. Use as a nasal wash, spray, or sore throat gargle. Fill a neti pot once for each nostril. Blow your nose well between applications. Repeat as needed to relieve sinus pressure and ease sore throats. You can also fill a nasal spray bottle to help ease a throat or clear sinuses during the night if you don’t want to get out of bed.
Use the dilution within a day or toss it out and remix from concentrate.
This author does not provide medical diagnosis or advice. Please consult your medical practitioner if you need medical assistance.
