Hydrogen Saline Nose Rinse Helps Allergic Rhinitis Patients
Changes of nasal nitric oxide in the treatment of allergic rhinitis with hydrogen-rich saline lavage of nasal cavity
Research hubs: Respiratory System
- Evidence type
- Controlled trial (non-randomized) · Human study
- Authors
- Ling Jin, Kai Fan, Xi Zhang, Yihua Zhao, Qin Ge, Yang Wang, Shaoqing Yu
- Journal
- Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology, Head, and Neck Surgery
- Year
- 2020
- PMID
- 32791592
- Study Type
- Human
- Participants
- 20
- Delivery
- Saline (Dissolved)
- Dose
- nasal cavity lavage with hydrogen-rich normal saline
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 0 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Washing the nose with hydrogen-rich saline may help treat allergic rhinitis by affecting nitric oxide levels in the nasal cavity.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline nasal lavage produced statistically significant changes in nasal nitric oxide levels compared to regular saline, with these changes correlating with allergic rhinitis diagnosis and treatment response.
Summary
Researchers tested whether rinsing the nasal cavity with salt water containing dissolved hydrogen gas could help treat allergic rhinitis (nasal allergies). In a small study of 20 patients with moderate to severe allergies, they compared nasal rinses with hydrogen-rich salt water versus regular salt water, measuring a substance called nitric oxide in the nose. The hydrogen-rich salt water produced significant changes in nasal nitric oxide levels, which appeared to correlate with allergy symptom improvement.
Practical Takeaway
This small human study suggests hydrogen-rich saline nasal rinses may affect inflammatory pathways involved in allergies, but the study size (20 patients) and lack of reported symptom improvement data limit what we can conclude. More research with larger groups and longer follow-up is needed before recommending this as an allergy treatment.
Abstract (excerpt)
Objective:To observe the effect of hydrogen-rich saline on the concentration of nitric oxide in the nose, and to explore the mechanism of its treatment of allergic rhinitis. Method:Twenty patients with moderate to severe persistent allergic rhinitis were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind…