Saline Nasal Spray
Written on May 10, 2026
I refuse to use any kind of medicated nasal spray, even when it's the most effective nasal spray to use. These days, I rarely use any kind of nasal spray, but when I do, it's always a saline nasal spray of some kind.
I was once addicted to medicated nasal sprays, the kind you get over the counter without a prescription. It got so bad that my sinuses wouldn't open up without them. It took me months to wean myself off them.
Getting Saline Nasal Spray
If you live near the ocean, and spend some time swimming in it, you know your sinuses will clear right up while you're in the water. That's because of the salt, a key part of the human body (which comes out in our tears and perspiration).
If you look for it, you can find drug-free saline nasal spray in just about any drug store. Unfortunately, it costs about the same amount as the medicated kind of nasal spray.
Since saline is just another word that means salt water, it makes sense that saline nasal spray would clear up most sinus congestion problems. There's an easy way to prepare it and save a ton of money in the process if you consider how often you'll be using it.
The only issue is that you need an empty spray bottle or some way to put the liquid in your nostrils. You can use an old nasal spray bottle, or you can find empty ones in certain drug stores.
Preparation
There are only three things you need to prepare saline nasal spray: A spray bottle, table salt, and bottled water. You should avoid using tap water because it contains substances that could worsen your sinus condition.
This is what I do: I use an 8-ounce glass filled with bottled water and add a teaspoon of table salt. I stir the water until all the salt dissolves into it. Then I take the top off the empty spray bottle and fill it with that water. There's always leftover water.
Whether you choose to make it or get it at a drug store, it's entirely your choice. I recommend using saline instead of medication because you don't have to worry about becoming addicted to salt water.
Using the Spray
With the medicated nasal sprays, you have to be cautious of how much you use. Use too much for a congested nose, and you automatically develop post-nasal drip, going from one extreme to the other. I know because it happened to me.
With a saline nasal spray, you don't have to worry about it. Once your sinuses are clear, you're good to go. The extra salt water will drip from your sinuses automatically, and you can breathe easy. The only disadvantage, that I've found, is that you need to use it quite often.
Image by NIAID, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons