DIY Herbal Sinus Rinse

When your nose feels completely blocked, breathing through your mouth all night isn't exactly the recipe for a great morning.

Whether it's pollen season, dry winter air, travel, or you're simply feeling congested, irritated nasal passages can make you feel miserable. Thankfully, sometimes the simplest remedies are the ones that bring the most relief.

This DIY herbal sinus rinse combines a traditional saline rinse with a gentle herbal infusion to help cleanse and soothe your nasal passages naturally. Once you get the hang of using a neti pot, you might be surprised how refreshing it feels… and many families find it quickly becomes part of their wellness toolkit.

What You’ll Need

• 2 cups filtered water

• 1 tsp. elderflower

• 1 tsp. mullein

• 1/4 tsp. non-iodized fine-ground salt

• Neti pot

How to Make It

Step 1: Bring your filtered water to a boil.

Step 2: While the water heats, place the elderflower, mullein, and salt into a clean mason jar.

Step 3: Pour the boiling water over the herbs. Cover and let steep for at least 10 minutes.

Step 4: Strain thoroughly through a cheesecloth, fine mesh strainer, or coffee filter. Make sure no plant material remains in the liquid.

Step 5: Allow the tea to cool to a comfortable lukewarm temperature before pouring it into your neti pot. Use according to your neti pot's instructions. If you're new to sinus rinsing, check out our Neti Pot Basics blog post for full usage instructions.

A Few Safety Tips

A sinus rinse is only as safe as the water you use.

• Always use properly filtered, distilled, or previously boiled water that has been cooled before using it in a neti pot.
• Use only non-iodized, fine-ground salt.
• Fresh herbal tea should be used within 24 hours. Store it in the refrigerator if needed and discard any leftovers after a day.

Why These Herbs?

This recipe pairs two herbs that have a long history of traditional use for respiratory wellness.

Elderflower has traditionally been used to support the body's normal response during seasonal challenges and to promote healthy mucus movement.

Mullein has been used for generations to support respiratory comfort and help maintain healthy airways.

Combined with a simple saline rinse, these herbs can help leave your nasal passages feeling cleaner, more comfortable, and ready to breathe a little easier.

Ready to Give It a Try?

If a neti pot still feels a little intimidating, that's okay! It isn't for everyone. If you're looking for another way to support your sinuses during seasonal changes or when things feel extra stuffy, our Sinus Saver herbal tincture is another gentle option to help support clear, comfortable breathing.

And if you're a visual learner, watch our short How to Make an Herbal Sinus Rinse video for an easy walkthrough of the process.