Page 41 - NAMAH-Jul-2017
P. 41

Namah                                        Experiences and reflections





        hypertonic solution, i.e. a solution having  is one having greater osmotic pressure than
        greater osmotic pressure than that of cells or  that of cells or body fluids. When we snort
        body fluids which draw water out of the cells,  it, it conducts electricity across the mucus
        thus inducing plasmolysis. A glass of warm  membrane, and the hypotonic solution of
        water mixed with a little sodium chloride  cells accumulated as a result of acute or
        (common salt crystals) will meet the purpose.  chronic inflammation gets diffused as a result
        The solution should be warmer than body  of osmosis. The nasal passages of the nose,
        temperature, i.e., 37º Celsius. Better results  mouth and pharynx get cleared of excess
        can be achieved if patients use the solution  mucus. The defunct cilia become active and
        at a temperature of 40-41º Celsius.      ciliate mucus from the lungs.


        The role of hypertonic solution and sodium  The concept is based on ‘Living cells are
        chloride                                 osmotic systems and will shrink in hyper-
                                                 tonic solutions (higher salt concentration than
        Hypertonic solution means a solution having  in cell organelles) and swell and can burst in
        greater osmotic pressure than that of cells  hypo-tonic solutions (pure water or low salt
        or body fluids. The cells and fluids contain  concentration).’
        generally 0.9 percent sodium chloride. The
        solution is considered to be a hypotonic  This concept is useful, because the nasal
        solution. Therefore we have to use more than  mucosa is lined with permeable membrane
        that, i.e. 1 to 2 percent sodium chloride to  bound in it by the cell organelles. During
        make it a hypertonic solution.           the inflammatory process, the cells get filled
                                                 with water, secretions, enzymes, etc. Osmotic
        Sodium chloride:  sodium is a metal and chlorine  pressure varies with the concentration of the
        is a gas. When they are combined they become  solution and with temperature increase.
        sodium chloride (common salt crystals).  Sodium
        is made of tiny particles called sodium atoms.   Practice
        Each atom consists of a nucleus and a cloud of
        particles called electrons that whizz around the  1. Take a glass of hyper-tonic solution, keep
        nucleus. Any atom becomes an ion if it loses or  it at the entrance of the nasal passages, bend
        gains electrons. An ion is a charged particle. It is  the body forward to about 70 to 80 degrees,
        charged because it contains an unequal number  slowly snort in the solvent until it goes in
        of protons and electrons. Ionic compounds can  through the nostrils, up through the nasal
        conduct electricity when they are melted or  passages, down into the throat (pharynx)
        dissolved. A solid ionic compound will not  from where it takes a ‘U’ turn, enters the oral
        conduct electricity. But when it melts, the  cavity. When it collects in the mouth, spit it
        lattice breaks up and the ions are free to move.  out and blow your nose forcefully until the
        Since they are charged, this means they can  excess mucus collected in the nasal lining
        conduct electricity.                     gets drained out.


        When we mix sodium chloride with warm  2.  Take the solvent, bend the body forward
        water, it becomes a hypertonic solution,  that  as stated and keep it at the entrance of the


                                                                                     41
   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46