The Proper Use of Nasal Sprays

Dr. Kolinsky • January 5, 2022

Correct Nasal Spray Technique

Are you using your nasal sprays correctly? Dr. Nicholas Kolinsky explains what the proper technique is and why it matters.


Nasal sprays are a great treatment option, second only to allergy shots, for patients with allergies. Believe it or not, it's not just a squirt up each nostril and you're done! Here's a technique to ensure you get the most from your sprays.


How to:

While seated or standing, lean forward and tuck your chin into your chest. Be sure to aim the nasal spray towards the outer ear. In the left nostril, spray towards the left ear, and in the right nostril, spray towards the right ear. When you spray, do not aggressively sniff. This will drag the medication to the back of the throat and lose some off your nasal passages, which is where we want it to be. Instead, lightly breathe in. After you spray 1 to 2 sprays in each nostril (follow your physician's recommended dosage), pinch and hold your nose for 15 seconds while remaining in position (leaned forward with chin to chest). This will allow the medication to stay in your nose and not drip down the back of your throat. You can release your nose and breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth to help dry up the medication. Congratulations, now you know!

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By Dr. Nicholas Cline • May 27, 2026
If you spend any time browsing the internet or social media, you’ve likely seen advertisements for mail-in allergy kits. They promise to test for hundreds of food intolerances and environmental sensitivities using just a few strands of your hair or a quick saliva swab. It sounds incredibly convenient, painless, and comprehensive. But if it sounds like a gimmick, it probably is. While these mail-in tests are heavily marketed, they often lack scientific backing and can leave patients feeling more confused than comforted. The Science of Allergy Testing. What Are We Looking For? To understand why hair and saliva tests don't work, we have to look at how the immune system reacts to allergens. When you have a true allergy, your body produces a very specific type of antibody called IgE (Immunoglobulin E) . These antibodies bind to mast cells (allergy cells), which are on high alert to protect you from perceived invaders like pollen, dust mites, or specific food proteins. The fundamental flaw with mail-in hair and saliva kits comes down to basic biology: Wrong Locations: Mast cells and IgE antibodies are not traditionally found in your hair follicles or saliva. Unreliable Results: Because these testing methods are looking in the wrong place, they are highly unstandardized and unvalidated. You are highly likely to get a flood of false positives or false negatives that are impossible to interpret accurately. What the Experts Say: Major medical organizations strongly advise against these methods. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) explicitly recommends against using hair analysis for food allergy evaluations due to a lack of diagnostic value. Furthermore, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) and the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) have issued strong practice guidelines stating that hair analysis should not be used to evaluate food allergies. The Big Misconception: IgE vs. IgG Many mail-in companies charge anywhere from $150 to upwards of $600 for "sensitivity" panels. When patients produce these multi-page reports, the testing is almost always checking for IgG (Immunoglobulin G) antibodies, not IgE. There is a massive difference between the two: