Study: Saltwater Nasal Wash Helps Colds

Washing out the nose with salt water helped children with colds in a new study. About 400 children with colds or flu were divided into two groups. Both received standard treatment. One group also was given a nasal solution made from processed seawater. These children reported less stuffiness than the others. After recovery, they used the salty solution to prevent colds. In this time, they used fewer cold medicines than the other children, researchers said. They also missed fewer days of school. The study lasted 12 weeks in all. Results were published January 22 in the journal Archives of Otolaryngology.