Physiological salt – indications, use, dosage [EXPLAINED]

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Saline is a solution that should be in every home medicine cabinet. It is used to compensate for chloride or sodium ion deficiencies in the body. Physiological salt is used not only in medicine, but also in the cosmetic and aesthetic medicine industry. What should you know about saline and how to use it?

What is saline? – pattern, composition and characteristics

Saline is one of the most popular solutions that we store in our home first aid kits. Saline is an aqueous solution of sodium chloride, which means that its chemical formula is written as NaCl. In Latin, saline is called natrium chloratum. Saline is an isotonic solution because it is present in the same concentration as in human body fluids. The concentration of saline it is therefore 9 per mille, i.e. 0,9 g / l. Sodium chloride, which is not a solution, is the basic ingredient of table salt, evaporated salt and road salt. In nature, sodium chloride also occurs as halite, a mineral that forms rock salt deposits.

Sodium chloride is the main source of sodium and chloride ions for the human body. Sodium ions play an important role in many physiological processes, including water management, maintaining constant blood pressure and the proper functioning of the nervous system. The sodium chloride aqueous solution is used in medicine as an infusion fluid, e.g. in drips.

You can read more about the properties of sodium chloride here: Sodium Chloride

Saline – indications

Saline is a medical device whose properties are directly related to the role of sodium and chlorine in the human body. Both elements, in the form of ions, are the most important components of the extracellular fluid. They allow you to quickly balance the electrolyte balance, preventing dehydration.

The leaflet attached to the saline contains the most important indications for the use of this preparation. In principle, the indications depend on the form in which the preparation is present. The most important indications are:

1. supplementation of sodium and chlorine ions, which occur as a result of electrolyte disturbances, e.g. after surgical operations, in states of dehydration
2. rinsing the eyes, nose, throat (local use)
3. inhalations
4. moisturizing the surface of the eyeball with the symptoms of the so-called dry eye syndrome.

If you want to know more about electrolytes, read: Electrolytes – make sure you don’t miss them

Saline – how to dose?

The dosage of physiological saline is determined individually – depending on the patient’s condition, age, body weight, and electrolyte concentration.

1. 1-4l / d intravenous injection at a rate of up to 500 ml / h.
2. In the case of eye drops: 3 drop 4-1 times a day.
3. For inhalation: 1 ampoule 2-4 times a day.

If you still have doubts about how to use saline in a given case, use the online consultation with your family doctor via the halodoctor.pl portal.

Saline – contraindications

Although saline is safe, not everyone can use this type of medical device. The use of sodium chloride with a concentration of 0,9% is not recommended in cases of:

1. deep electrolyte disturbances;
2. body fluid overload;
3. pulmonary edema;
4. kidney failure.

Physiological salt – application in medicine

Physiological salt is a preparation that is most often associated with medicine. This is due to the fact that saline is administered in the form of an irrigation drip, especially in cases of diarrhea, vomiting, burns or after surgical operations. Saline is indifferent to tissues, therefore it is often used to wash wounds or wash the skin. Some medications that are administered intravenously to patients are also mixed with saline. Sodium chloride solution is one of the preparations that are more often used in home treatment. Saline works well in cases of runny nose, cough, blocked sinuses or dry eyes.

1. Eye saline – wash the eyes with a sodium chloride solution to temporarily moisturize them or rinse them in case of getting into the eyes of foreign bodies. Saline is usually used by people who wear contact lenses, because it additionally dries the eyeball. It is also recommended to rinse the eyes with saline after waking up as it helps to remove eye irritating secretions. Saline is also good for conjunctivitis and other ophthalmic problems. Physiological salt does not irritate the eyes.
2. Saline for sinuses, runny nose and cough – sodium chloride solution is ideal as an inhalation and nebulizer preparation, especially in infections of the upper respiratory tract. Saline inhalations are also helpful for people who stay in air-conditioned and heated rooms for a long time.
3. Saline for the nose and ear – sodium chloride solution can be directly applied to the nose, which moisturizes the mucosa and cleans the nostrils. Saline can also be used to clean the ears, but then it is worth using an aerosol preparation.

Saline is most commonly used during inhalation. They are best done with a suitable inhaler. Try the Sanity Home Inhaler.

More information about inhalation can be found here: Inhalations – help with sinusitis

Physiological salt – use in cosmetics

Saline also found many supporters in cosmetology. Its undoubted advantage is that it does not irritate and does not cause allergic reactions. An interesting fact is that saline should be used instead of regular tap water, which can adversely affect the pH of the skin. Some people use saline to remove makeup, pointing out that it is an ideal replacement for micellar liquids. It is worth noting, however, that saline does not contain micelles or other additional ingredients, which may turn out to be ineffective when removing waterproof makeup. Saline is used in the same way as other face cleansing cosmetics. It is enough to soak a cotton pad and wipe the skin of the face until it is completely clean.

Saline is also a great ingredient that can be combined with herbal extracts to create a skin care product. Physiological salt combined with calendula or chamomile will create a cosmetic that will soothe skin irritations. Saline can be used to prepare face masks to help get rid of blackheads and acne.

Learn about other ways to cleanse your face, read: Facial cleansing

Physiological salt – application in aesthetic medicine

Saline is a solution that has been appreciated in beauty salons and aesthetic medicine. Sodium chloride solution is an important element of many cosmetic procedures, such as oxybrasion, microdermabrasion or peeling.

Saline was also used by the American physician Norman Rowe, who filled the tissues with this solution and enlarged the patients’ breasts for 24 hours. This procedure was supposed to be helpful for those women who could not decide whether they really want to undergo breast augmentation surgery.

More information about cosmetic treatments can be found here: Cosmetic treatments for the face

Saline drip in a drip

Saline is available in two different forms. One of them is saline in a bottle or in a drip. Bottles with physiological saline are available in pharmacies in half-liter packaging. Such a product, sterile of course, is most often used in hospitals as a drip and can be dispensed with a prescription. Saline, which can be purchased in an over-the-counter bottle, is intended for home use, e.g. for inhalation, and is not sterile.

You can find more interesting facts about drips here: New snobbery – lying under the drip

Saline in ampoules

Saline is much more often bought in a pharmacy in the so-called ampoules. The ampoules are usually 5 ml and 10 ml. Importantly, only 5 ml ampoules are available without a prescription. The sodium chloride solution available in ampoules is sterile, and after opening, its useful life does not exceed 16 hours. Saline in ampoules is used to rinse eyes. The price of one ampoule with saline is about 50 groszy.

Saline – warnings

You can find some notes and important warnings in the saline leaflet. When using saline, remember to:

1. exercise caution in patients with heart failure, heart disease, renal failure;
2. Before giving larger amounts of saline, warm them to body temperature.

Additionally, according to the leaflet, saline can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Saline – drug interactions

Other drugs containing chloride ions and sodium ions should not be used while administering saline.

Saline – possible side effects

The properties of saline can cause some side effects in some people. They may appear, among others side effects such as iatrogenic hypertonic hyperhydration, fever, headache, dizziness, nausea, inner restlessness.

If you use saline in the form of eye drops, you may experience mild eye irritation, but these effects are very rare.

Before use, read the leaflet, which contains indications, contraindications, data on side effects and dosage as well as information on the use of the medicinal product, or consult your doctor or pharmacist, as each drug used improperly is a threat to your life or health.