Rinsing your nose helps against hay fever because it flushes out pollen and pollen. If you flush your nose regularly, this dirt does not have time to attach itself to your nasal mucosa. As a result, you will have much less hay fever symptoms.

If you have hay fever, the cells in your nasal mucosa react to pollen, which is another word for pollen. In addition to pollen from flowering grass, flowering trees such as willows and alders also cause a pollen allergy. The cells in your nasal mucosa recognize the pollen as a harmful substance and attack to render it harmless. They release substances that thicken your mucous membrane and cause an allergic reaction in you, such as itching, nasal congestion, watery eyes, runny nose, fatigue and shortness of breath. 

The substances that cause this are:

• Histamine: This causes itching, moist and watery eyes and a runny nose;
• Pro-inflammatory substances: These attract other cells, thickening your mucous membrane and causing chronic inflammation.

There are several medications for hay fever, including chromones, antihistamines and corticosteroids (anti-inflammatories). These medications work better if you regularly flush your nose. Because your nose is clean, your mucous membranes are easily accessible to these medications, allowing them to do their job better. Dr. R.J.A.M. van der Hulst, ENT physician at Amstelland Hospital in Amstelveen, calls nasal cleansing a very useful complement to medication. "Most studies show that a nasal rinse removes a lot of misery such as virus particles, bacteria, dust and pollen." Dr. J. van der Borden, formerly an ENT physician at the BovenIJ Hospital, agrees. "It's about reducing the number of allergens in the nose so your mucous membrane is not exposed to them. Rinsing with a real nasal douche that you can squeeze properly works great and reduces symptoms."

In the acute phase, it is important to rinse your nose at least 2 to 4 times a day. You flush away excess mucus and dirt and give the mucous membrane a chance to recover. The acute phase is when you experience symptoms. For severe symptoms, you may rinse your nose an additional 2 times.

Preventively, it is good for everyone to rinse your nose once or twice a day. That prevents problems. "Make it a daily hygienic act, just like brushing your teeth," says ENT doctor Fokkens.

In the acute phase, it is important to rinse your nose at least 2 to 4 times a day. You flush away excess mucus and dirt and give the mucous membrane a chance to recover. The acute phase is when you experience symptoms. For severe symptoms, you may rinse your nose an additional 2 times.

Preventively, it is good for everyone to rinse your nose once or twice a day. That prevents problems. "Make it a daily hygienic act, just like brushing your teeth," says ENT doctor Fokkens of Amsterdam UMC.