10 Month Review
10 month Addendum:  The new order does not have the strong effect the first order had.  This could be due a difference in strength or because I've built up a tolerance to using it.  My first order arrived cold in a styrofoam box.  This second order arrived warm in a padded envelope.  I tried it immediately with no noticeable thickening of the nasal rinse solution and no burning.  However, my sinus condition improved within 24 hours so I will continue to use it.  I recommend ordering during winter months.<br /><br />If a tiny little scoop is all you need, then this is plenty.  If you put 1/4 teaspoon in your sinus rinse like one reviewer recommended, you've only got 8 days worth here.  I now use a heaping scoop in a half bottle of salted sinus rinse.<br /><br />For the first two days, I tried it in my sinus rinse and with a concentrated mix applied with a q-tip.  Both times, my sinuses started aching and I got a mild sinus headache for about a half hour.  I also got less nasal drainage than usual.<br /><br />I'm not going to try snorting it because the crystals don't dissolve easily and I'm worried that they could cause damage to my sinuses in concentrated form.  But I am inclined to continue the combination because it obviously is having some effect.<br /><br />I have non-allergic rhinitis.  I was on antibiotics and prednisone for almost two years before I had sinus surgery.  Now I get about one infection a year and live with a constantly runny nose.<br /><br />You can read about the research behind Lactobacillus sakei and sinus infections at The National Institute of Health (NIH).<br /><br />Addendum: Sinus pain today so I decided to add the powder to my rinse.  First I did a salt water rinse with a drop of baby shampoo to wash away the biofilm (to give probiotic better access to sinuses).  Then I added 1/8 tsp to a half bottle of warm water.  It hurt so bad it took me three tries over a half hour to use it up. The following day I tried it without the pre-rinse and I only used a couple of tiny scoops of powder and it still seemed to trigger pain.  It also seems to be thickening the mucus but not really decreasing it.<br /><br />Three Month Addendum: Been using this episodically for three months now and it still hurts if I put more than 2 scoops in 1/2 a bottle of sterile water for a rinse.  Nonetheless, the pain is tolerable and it definitely helps my sinuses.  My sinuses were symptom free until I spent two days doing yard work and then the familiar stuffiness and bad odor returned.  A full salt rinse followed by a half bottle with the probiotic has decreased all symptoms.
Rating: 4 stars