Nebulizers – Moses Nutrition

What is a Nebulizer?

A nebulizer is a device that turns liquid into a fine mist, that you can breathe.

There are portable handheld versions as well as versions that sit on a surface like a table or nightstand like the one pictured here.

Both versions usually come with two masks (one for adults and one for children) and a smaller tube-like mouth insert.

Instructions for Nebulizing:

How often and how much to nebulize
For prevention, you can nebulize once or twice daily for 2 or 3 minutes. You can do this everyday during cold/flu season, or if you have been around people and you are worried about exposure to a respiratory virus.

If you know you were around someone who was sick, you can nebulize for up to 5 minutes, three or four times a day.

If you are starting to have symptoms, you can nebulize for a few minutes every hour.

Breathe through nose or mouth?
Because respiratory viruses usually begin in the sinuses, we recommend that you use a mask and breath primarily through your nose so you distribute the solution throughout the sinuses, throat and lungs.

Sharing Nebulizers
You can share nebulizers, but if someone is sick, you have to disinfect all exterior parts with either 70% rubbing alcohol or undiluted white vinegar. Just spray or rub any exterior parts that the sick person came in contact with (do not rub the silver mesh of portable nebulizers!) with alcohol or vinegar, wait 30 seconds, then wipe off any excess. Run a small amount of saline through the nebulizer (to clean anything that might have gotten into the mouthpiece or liquid compartment), empty it and you are ready for the next person to use it. If it still smells strongly of vinegar or alcohol, you may want to let it air out for 10 or 15 minutes first.

Selecting a Nebulizer

There are many options for nebulizers, but they are hard to find in stores; you will likely have to get one online.

Different nebulizers make different size mist particles. Generally, you want a small size mist (5μm or smaller). The smaller the particle size, the better.

The portable handheld versions are less expensive and very quiet. You want to select one which runs on batteries and can also be plugged in. We do not recommend the “rechargeable” nebulizers. Unfortunately, portable nebulizers tend to break more than tabletop nebulizers. The benefit is that you can use them in the car or on a plane, or other places where noise would disturb people, or where you wouldn’t be able to plug in a larger machine.

Here is an example of a decent handheld nebulizer available on Amazon: APOWUS Portable Nebulizer

The tabletop versions are much larger and they can be quite loud, but they also produce more mist and smaller particle sizes so you get more benefit in a shorter amount of time. They also tend to last longer and malfunction less. Unfortunately they need to be plugged in to work and are more expensive (though you can still get a nice one for under $80).

This is an example of a very nice tabletop nebulizer under $70 available on Amazon: UNOSEKS Nebulizer

We suggest you have a spare on-hand as all nebulizers can sometimes stop working, and if you are sick, you don’t want to have to wait to have a new one shipped.

Cleaning instructions are included with each nebulizer. Always clean it before you store it. Be very careful cleaning portable nebulizers as the silver mesh is very delicate, and if you don’t clean it regularly following the instructions, it can stop working.

A Common Flaw in Portable Nebulizers
We have noticed that handheld nebulizers can have a slow flow or stop working altogether if moisture gets in between the removable head and the power supply. If your handheld unit stops working properly, remove the head and you will see two or three metal connectors on the head and matching connectors on the handle part. Use a dry paper towel on the metal connectors (both on the head and on the handle). Then let them air-dry for a few minutes before reassembling.

Additionally, sometimes the mesh can get clogged if not properly cleaned regularly. You can try removing the head and submerging it in undiluted white vinegar overnight. Then thoroughly dry it and try running some saline through it. Alternatively, you can try running very warm distilled water through it to see if you can dislodge any particles.

Nebulizer Solution

The formula we recommend to use in nebulizers is:

1tsp or 5mL of saline
1 to 3 drops of food-grade hydrogen peroxide
1 drop of 2% iodine put directly into the nebulizer before use

Larger batch:

1/2 cup saline
1/4 to 3/4 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide
1 drop of 2% iodine put directly into the nebulizer before use

See below for more details on how to make and use this solution!

(Note: Nebulizing hydrogen peroxide is contraindicated in those with Down Syndrome.)

Saline

You can make your own saline using the recipe below or you can buy individual pre-made 5mL saline pouches to have on hand. If you are using a pre-made 5mL saline pouch, just use the recipe above each time.

Homemade Saline Solution with Hydrogen Peroxide

Boil two cups of distilled, filtered or RO water (with a lid) for 20 minutes to sterilize it. Simultaneously sterilize a 1/4 teaspoon metal measuring spoon, a 1 teaspoon metal measuring spoon, and a glass measuring cup, either by baking at 300°F or boiling in a separate large pot (with a lid) for 20 minutes. (Remember to put them in the oven or pot of water when it is cool and heat them up together so you don’t break the glass measuring cup.)

After 20 minutes, remove the lid(s) and let everything cool.

Put 1/2 cup of that boiled sterile water in your sterile glass measuring cup, add 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized salt (not sea salt). Diamond Crystal Kosher salt (without iodine) is a readily available example of this.

Add 1/4 teaspoon of food-grade hydrogen peroxide. Some people tolerate up to 3/4 teaspoon but don’t go over this. You should be able to find food-grade hydrogen peroxide at most health food stores but it is definitely available online.

Cover the measuring cup with new plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to one week. Then discard and make a new batch. Store your sterile 1 teaspoon measuring spoon in plastic in the fridge as well to keep it sterile.

When you are ready to use, put a teaspoon or so in the nebulizer. At that time you can opt to add a drop of iodine directly into the nebulizer.

Liquid Iodine*

The brand and concentration of liquid iodine we recommend is J Crow Lugol’s 2%. You can add one drop directly into the liquid compartment of the nebulizer when you refill it.

During illness, add one drop, up to 5 times per day only while sick.

For prevention, add one drop per day.

Iodine can give you energy, so if you are uncertain how it will effect your sleep, it’s best to use earlier in the day.

J Crow’s Lugols 2% may be hard to find in stores as well, but you can easily find it online. This is what the bottle looks like: https://www.amazon.com/J-CROWS%C2%AE-Lugols-Solution-Iodine-2/dp/B07N4F9Y44

*IMPORTANT: If you have an overactive thyroid (hyper-thyroid), avoid iodine as it can worsen your condition.