Xlear Nasal Wash, 1.5 oz

• Xlear contains more then twice the xylitol the Finns found effective in releasing the bacteria. The spray is well tolerated and leaves you only with a clean nose and sweet taste.

Why wash your nose?

• Because the immune system's first line of defense is trying to wash out the irritant.  In the nose we sense this as congestion, increased mucus, or post nasal drip.  Helping your immune system with this washing is a much better response than blocking it with antihistamines and decongestants, or turning it off with local steroids.
• Because the Center for Disease Control says that hand-washing is the most effective way of reducing communicable disease.  The bacteria doesn't infect our hands but when we put our hands to our face they get into our nose.  It makes as much sense to wash our nose.
• Because ear infections in children, and sinus and bronchial infections in adults, start from infection in the nose.  Two bacteria, Streptococcus Pneumoniae and Haemophilus -Influenzae, cause most of these infections and kill more than 40,000 people annually in the U.S., including many children. Their primary home is in the nose.
• Because a clean nose reduces the need for antibiotics.  The current overuse of antibiotics for upper respiratory infections is the major cause of antibiotic resistance.
• Because nasal irritants cause most allergies and are a major trigger of asthma.
• Because the common cold, a major cause of time loss from work and school, starts in the nose.  Even the flu virus enters the body through the nose.

Who should wash their nose?

• Childhood seems to be where most problems start.  Children and the people who deal with them, day care workers and primary grade teachers, should see the most benefit.  People with chronic problems should benefit.
• If the CDC is correct whoever washes their hands should wash their nose.
• Xlear contains a saline solution with xylitol, a natural substance found in many foods and made by cells in the human body.  Xylitol is used commercially to sweeten many gums.  Many countries encourage the use of xylitol in gum because it reduces tooth decay.
• Finnish physicians have done excellent studies showing that chewing 8 pieces of this gum every day reduces ear infections in children by 40%.  They also showed that a 5% solution of xylitol on cells from the nose releases the attachment of more than half of the bacteria, noted above, that are the major cause of respiratory infections. It's like soap for your nose! 
• Attachment is what infection is all about. If bacteria aren't attached there is no infection.  When you wash your hands you wash away bacteria.  It's the same with the nose.