Saltpipe

Ever since my son was tiny, he’s had problems with feeling blocked and unable to breath through his nose and recently during the winters he has sinus pain- so much so that it’s become a way of life for him. When he was two or three he was plagued with constant ear infections and glue ear, and the doctors at my surgery could recommend nothing more than endless prescriptions for antibiotics. I didn’t want to give him antibiotics and so looked around for alternatives and was told that cranial osteopaths can cure glue ear. I tried three of four before finding one that really helped him. She also gave sensible advice such as giving him chicken soup when he’s not feeling well and to make sure he didn’t sit around with wet hair and to stay off dairy as much as possible as it’s mucous forming. He’s ten now and  although he’s grown out of ear infections and glue ear, her doesn’t often breathe through his nose, and often gets nosebleeds. Sometimes in the winter, it gets so bad, that he has to take days off school with sinus pain. A grown up friend described what it was like having sinus pain, the feeling of waking up feeling completely exhausted and leaden.

The other day someone offered me a Cisca Salt Pipe to try. It’s meant to work for all sorts of respiratory symptoms including hayfever and is 100% natural. Salt therapy is a well-established treatment.  For generations, people have visited Eastern and Central European salt mines and caves to cleanse their respiratory systems and relieve discomfort associated with allergies.  Sufferers would travel to the mines to simply sit and inhale airbourne salt particles.  Studies have shown this to be a highly effective natural and drug-free method of improving  respiratory function.

I was sent one in the shape of the elephant and my son Jude tried inhaling it  into the mouth and exhaling through the nose.  He also tried inhaling through each nostril. Although at first he was impatient to finish (you are meant to do it for 15 to 20 minutes )which is quite hard for a child, he did eventually settle down and breathe. The moisture of the moving air absorbs the microscopic particles of salt, allowing it to penetrate the entire respiratory tract.  It works by drawing excess fluid from the sinuses and cell lining, cleansing the nasal passages and opening the airways to relieve the main cause of congestion and irritation.  The salt has thinning effect on mucus.

He was loathe to admit that it worked, but did finally concede that he could breathe better although initially his sinuses hurt more he said. I am hoping it will work in the winter months when he is dogged by sinus pain.

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