Electrolyzed Acid Water vs Saline for Sinus Surgery Recovery
- Authors
- Rong-San Jiang, Kai-Li Liang, Shang-Heng Wu, Mao-Chang Su, Wen-Kang Chen, Fung-Jou Lu
- Journal
- American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy
- Year
- 2014
- DOI
- 10.2500/ajra.2014.28.4015
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Taiwan
- Health Condition
- Chronic Rhinosinusitis
- Body System
- Respiratory
TL;DR
Washing out the nose with electrolyzed acid water after sinus surgery doesn't work better than using simple saltwater.
Key Finding
Electrolyzed acid water nasal irrigation provided no greater clinical benefit than standard salt water irrigation after sinus surgery, despite electrolyzed acid water's known antibacterial properties.
Summary
This study compared three approaches to nasal care after sinus surgery in 110 patients with chronic sinusitis. One group used electrolyzed acid water (a special type of water created through electrical treatment) for nasal irrigation, another used regular salt water, and a third group did no irrigation. After 3 months, both irrigation groups reported better symptom relief and improved nasal function compared to no irrigation, but the electrolyzed acid water group showed no additional benefit over regular salt water.
Practical Takeaway
While this study tested electrolyzed acid water rather than hydrogen water, it suggests that for post-surgical nasal care, simpler and less expensive options like salt water irrigation may be as effective as more specialized solutions. The study was limited to one specific surgical context and did not examine hydrogen water directly, so findings may not apply to hydrogen water use in other settings.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background Electrolyzed acid water (EAW) has been recognized to have strong bactericidal activity, and the feasibility and safety of EAW irrigation in body cavities has been reported in the literature. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of EAW nasal irrigation on the postoperative care…