There isn't a dosage required. You simply fill the pipe about half-way, with pink Himalayan salt. I use it while watching TV. Breathing in, the air passes through the salt, then exhale through your nose. I find it works really well to loosen mucus, making it easier to expel from my body. Very inexpensive, easy to use and portable.
The reason for my question about dosage is that 4ml of 7% sodium, nebbed once or twice a day, has kept my MAC infection from flaring up for almost 3 years, and kept me off antibiotics. Research has shown that 7% concentration is lethal to most mycobacteria.
I was wondering if there is a way to measure how much salt one gets from the pipe, because it might be easier than the neb. How much salt do you "consume" by inhaling in a typical week or month? Maybe I can calculate how it equates to the solution.
Thanks!
Sue
The reason for my question about dosage is that 4ml of 7% sodium, nebbed once or twice a day, has kept my MAC infection from flaring up for almost 3 years, and kept me off antibiotics. Research has shown that 7% concentration is lethal to most mycobacteria.
I was wondering if there is a way to measure how much salt one gets from the pipe, because it might be easier than the neb. How much salt do you "consume" by inhaling in a typical week or month? Maybe I can calculate how it equates to the solution.
Thanks!
Sue
I'm not sure. I'm fairly new to all this. I was only diagnosed this year. My doctor won't prescribe saline for my nebulizer. I tried the salt pipe and find that it works well for me. Maybe, you could find some more research on the web.
I am going to be doing some info seeking again - I'm thinking it be great if there was a way to get enough inhaled salt from a pipe into my lungs to continue to keep MAC/NTM away without having to be chained to the nebulizer and constantly chasing the 7% vials.
Anyone here up to trying to do the calculations about how much salt I would need to inhale to be the equivalent of 2 4ml vials of 7% saline per day?
Any information about how to source pharmaceutical grade salt?
Sue
I don't know for sure if it makes a difference, although I believe it does, but the salt in the pipe is mixed with air while the nebulized saline is mixed with sterile water. Seven per cent saline for the nebulizer is 93% water. Will inhaling salt mixed with air work to loosen sputum from the airways and maybe kill some bacteria?
I am going to be doing some info seeking again - I'm thinking it be great if there was a way to get enough inhaled salt from a pipe into my lungs to continue to keep MAC/NTM away without having to be chained to the nebulizer and constantly chasing the 7% vials.
Anyone here up to trying to do the calculations about how much salt I would need to inhale to be the equivalent of 2 4ml vials of 7% saline per day?
Any information about how to source pharmaceutical grade salt?
Sue
Hi Sue,
This discussion seems to have ended inconclusively several years ago. I have mild BE and have been doing daily lung clearance without nebulizer. I'm thinking about trying one of these salt inhalers. You have any advice? BTW, I could probably help with dosage calculation.
Many thanks,
Sarah
Hi Sue,
This discussion seems to have ended inconclusively several years ago. I have mild BE and have been doing daily lung clearance without nebulizer. I'm thinking about trying one of these salt inhalers. You have any advice? BTW, I could probably help with dosage calculation.
Many thanks,
Sarah
I wasn’t diagnosed when this discussion took place and salt inhalers/pipes are new to me. Like you, I have mild bronchiectasis, but was thought to have MAC until cultures from a bronch at Mayo were negative. They had started me on airway clearance 2x daily with albuterol (mild asthma), Aerobika and postural drainage. Once the cultures were back, they let me go to daily. Postural drainage caused reflux so stopped that.
Penn pulmonologist suggested 7% saline last fall to try to prevent the recurrent URI’s I get in winter. It seems to have helped.
Looking at the inhalers on Amazon, my biggest concern would be for the cleaning since we’re prone to unusual infections. I sterilize mine after use and the saline solution is sterile.
Could you get a nebulizer? I bought mine off Amazon and get saline there, too.
Hi Sue,
This discussion seems to have ended inconclusively several years ago. I have mild BE and have been doing daily lung clearance without nebulizer. I'm thinking about trying one of these salt inhalers. You have any advice? BTW, I could probably help with dosage calculation.
Many thanks,
Sarah
Here was an article published after this discussion took place: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32827399/
Once again, it seems like the results are inconclusive. I share the concern @pacathy has about sanitation. In addition to my concern about the inhaler, I worry about the purity of the salt itself. The hypertonic saline in vials is sterile, but the salt in an inhaler is not; additionally it may be contaminated by debris, heavy metals and other substances.
Finally, with an inhaler, there is no way to measure the amount of saline - it depends on the user, how deeply they breathe and the saline content of the salt itself.
If you have mild BE like I do, it may not be necessary to nebulize saline every day - I use 7% saline about twice a week, and step up to daily if I have an exacerbation of my BE or Asthma or a respiratory illness. But I do airway clearance daily - promoting the elimination of mus=cus either with exercise or my Aerobika.
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I bought mine on Amazon
The reason for my question about dosage is that 4ml of 7% sodium, nebbed once or twice a day, has kept my MAC infection from flaring up for almost 3 years, and kept me off antibiotics. Research has shown that 7% concentration is lethal to most mycobacteria.
I was wondering if there is a way to measure how much salt one gets from the pipe, because it might be easier than the neb. How much salt do you "consume" by inhaling in a typical week or month? Maybe I can calculate how it equates to the solution.
Thanks!
Sue
I'm interested too. I think this would be great while traveling.
I'm not sure. I'm fairly new to all this. I was only diagnosed this year. My doctor won't prescribe saline for my nebulizer. I tried the salt pipe and find that it works well for me. Maybe, you could find some more research on the web.
Never heard of a salt pipe, what is it and where do you purchase it?
I am going to be doing some info seeking again - I'm thinking it be great if there was a way to get enough inhaled salt from a pipe into my lungs to continue to keep MAC/NTM away without having to be chained to the nebulizer and constantly chasing the 7% vials.
Anyone here up to trying to do the calculations about how much salt I would need to inhale to be the equivalent of 2 4ml vials of 7% saline per day?
Any information about how to source pharmaceutical grade salt?
Sue
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1 ReactionI don't know for sure if it makes a difference, although I believe it does, but the salt in the pipe is mixed with air while the nebulized saline is mixed with sterile water. Seven per cent saline for the nebulizer is 93% water. Will inhaling salt mixed with air work to loosen sputum from the airways and maybe kill some bacteria?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHi Sue,
This discussion seems to have ended inconclusively several years ago. I have mild BE and have been doing daily lung clearance without nebulizer. I'm thinking about trying one of these salt inhalers. You have any advice? BTW, I could probably help with dosage calculation.
Many thanks,
Sarah
I wasn’t diagnosed when this discussion took place and salt inhalers/pipes are new to me. Like you, I have mild bronchiectasis, but was thought to have MAC until cultures from a bronch at Mayo were negative. They had started me on airway clearance 2x daily with albuterol (mild asthma), Aerobika and postural drainage. Once the cultures were back, they let me go to daily. Postural drainage caused reflux so stopped that.
Penn pulmonologist suggested 7% saline last fall to try to prevent the recurrent URI’s I get in winter. It seems to have helped.
Looking at the inhalers on Amazon, my biggest concern would be for the cleaning since we’re prone to unusual infections. I sterilize mine after use and the saline solution is sterile.
Could you get a nebulizer? I bought mine off Amazon and get saline there, too.
Here was an article published after this discussion took place:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32827399/
Once again, it seems like the results are inconclusive. I share the concern @pacathy has about sanitation. In addition to my concern about the inhaler, I worry about the purity of the salt itself. The hypertonic saline in vials is sterile, but the salt in an inhaler is not; additionally it may be contaminated by debris, heavy metals and other substances.
Finally, with an inhaler, there is no way to measure the amount of saline - it depends on the user, how deeply they breathe and the saline content of the salt itself.
If you have mild BE like I do, it may not be necessary to nebulize saline every day - I use 7% saline about twice a week, and step up to daily if I have an exacerbation of my BE or Asthma or a respiratory illness. But I do airway clearance daily - promoting the elimination of mus=cus either with exercise or my Aerobika.