Many questions may occur when you start to use Rhino Horn. The basic information is found in the printed User Instructions and in the web page User Instructions on this site.
We now and then are confronted with different questions which we repeat here for your further information. If you have a question for which you do not find an answer here, you are welcome to send it to us on email: post@somamed.com. We shall then be happy to answer you and may include your question in this page as well.
We have gathered the questions in thematic groups. You open the box with the group heading for your question. Different questions will appear, and you click on the chosen question which is a link to our answer.
The Intended User Group for Rhino Horn
The Intended User Group for Rhino Horn
- People suffering from dust or pollen allergy
- People having a cold or sinusitis
- People suffering from asthma
- People working in a dusty environment
- People who have had nose surgery
- Children (from four years of age – Rhino Horn Junior)
- Pregnant women
- Snoring people
- Singers
- Children frequently exposed to middle ear inflammation
- People diagnosed with cystic fibrosis
- Yoga practitioners
Relevant Expectations
Relevant Expectations
See the page “What can I Expect?”
What kind of salt should I use?
You may use ordinary fine-grained kitchen salt, the same salt as you use for cooking. If you prefer you may use sea salt. The extra minerals in sea salt may be important when you use it for cooking because it will enter your body. The use of sea salt is not important for nose cleansing, though. During nasal irrigation with Rhino Horn, the salt does not enter the body.
The salt should be NaCl (natrium-chloride), not KCl (kalium-chloride) or types of salt with some replacement of NaCl with KCl.
How much salt is needed?
The mucous membranes have 0.9% salt. Therefore, the solution used in Rhino Horn should have 0.9% salt, i.e. 9 g per litre of water. The Rhino Horn contains 30 cl of water if you leave a few millimetres of air at the top so that you may be able to shake the Rhino Horn to dissolve the salt. You need 2.7 g of salt to get 30 cl of water to be isotonic/physiological solution. That is what the Rhino Spoon contains if you use fine-grained salt.
Rhino Horn Junior contains 21 cl of water and needs 1.9 g salt to become an isotonic solution. The Rhino Junior Spoon contains that if you use fine-grained salt.
Is sea salt better than industrial salt?
Sea salt and Himalaya salt contains mainly NaCl (natrium-chloride) together with very small amounts of a lot of other chemicals. Many people consider these other chemicals as essential to get into your body to stay healthy in a natural way. That may very well be true, but since the salt used in the Rhino Horn does not enter the body through the mucous membranes, it has no relevance to use with Rhino Horn. It is, though, not harmful to use sea salt or Himalaya salt. The only crucial issue with the salt is that it contains mainly (at least 99%) NaCl.
Should the salt be non-iodised?
The salt should be as poor NaCl as possible. But ENT doctors tell us that it does not matter if the salt is iodised or non-iodised. Very small amounts of other chemicals than NaCl is neither needed nor important to avoid. In some countries, you are not able to buy non-iodised salt because of a legal requirement (e.g. Denmark, Finland).
Why should the salt be fine-grained?
Course-grained salt has much more air in between the grains. That means that the volume of the measuring spoon will contain less than the needed weight of salt to get the correct saline solution.
Why does it have to be saltwater, not freshwater?
We do not want the water in the Rhino Horn to disturb the balance in the mucous membranes of nostrils and the nasal cavity. If you have no salt in your Rhino Horn solution, the water passing by the mucous membranes will remove some salt from them to seek to attain a balance between the water and the membranes. Similarly, if you have an excessive amount of salt in your Rhino Horn solution, the membranes will try to extract some salt from the water and increase the salt content beyond the normal physiological 0.9% level. For one or a few incidents, this is not crucial. But if you use Rhino Horn daily for many years, a wrong balance of salt would harm the mucous membranes.
If you have too little salt in your Rhino Horn solution, it may hurt when the water runs through your nose. If you have way too much salt in your solution, you may feel a pressure in your nose.
Some scientific investigations recommend a solution for nasal irrigation slightly above physiological saltwater. Our recommendation is to use the measuring spoon for salt application to get a physiologically correct solution.
How important is the temperature of the water?
The temperature of the water should be body temperature, i.e. approximately 37o C/98.6o F. In this way the water is the same temperature as the mucous membranes inside the nose and the nasal cavity. That will make the water kind to the membranes, and it feels good getting the water into your nasal cavity. If the water is too cold, it will be unpleasant. If you remember how it is to get water in your nose while swimming in the sea, you may know that it feels uncomfortable. Fishermen all over the world have used seawater to sniff into the nose and larynx to stop an upcoming cold. So it is not harmful to have the water colder than body temperature. It just feels better if it is.
Is tap water safe to use?
This question is an important evaluation. You should feel sure that the tap water is not contaminated before you pour it directly into your Rhino Horn. Especially the hot water may be insecure because of old water heaters or pipes. If in doubt, you should boil clean drinking water for a minute or two, and then let it cool down to body temperature.
Should I use distilled water bought from the pharmacy?
It is not necessary to use distilled water. Ordinary clean freshwater is good.
Can I heat the water in the Rhino Horn in a microwave oven?
You may have safe cold water in the Rhino Horn and heat it in a microwave oven. Depending on the effect of the oven, you may experiment to know how long time the Rhino Horn and the water need to stay in the microwave oven to get it to body temperature – probably two to three minutes.
What do I do wrong if the water is not coming through the nose?
If your nose is clogged, neither air nor water will pass through. You may feel excited and tense which only excites the swollenness of your mucous membranes even more. Relax and be confident that you will fix this. It is important that you breathe through your mouth while pouring the wanter into your nose.
The main reason that the nose is clogged is that the mucous membranes get swollen. The mucous membranes are spongy tissue that gets filled with blood in certain situations. That makes the passage too narrow to breathe through or have water through. The warm saline water from the Rhino Horn will have a relaxing effect on the swollenness of the mucous membranes. Therefore, you may pour the saltwater into the nose from one side with the Rhino Horn even if it does not comes through your nose. You let it stay in your nostril for 10-15 seconds. Then you remove the Rhino Horn, empty your nose from the water by blowing gently if possible or dry with a tissue. Then you repeat from the other side. You repeat like that several times from each side. After some attempts, you will see that the water starts dripping through the nose, and eventually, it will flow more freely. The swollenness of the mucous membranes will be somewhat reduced.
There is another possibility why the water does not come through your nose. If you place the opening – the conic tip of the Rhino Horn – against the mid-wall of the nose, it may block the water from running up your nostril, through the nasal cavity and out of the other nostril. Correct the position a little so that the tip points up into your nostril.
Why do I get the water into the throat and mouth instead of through the other nostril?
This problem is an ordinary beginner’s mistake. The cause is a slightly wrong angle of the head. If your chin points too much forward, you tilt your head backwards, and in this way, the water will seek backwards in the nasal cavity and into your throat. Put your chin a little closer to your chest, and the problem disappears.
Is it dangerous if the water comes into the throat?
No, it is not dangerous at all.
Why does it hurt when I use the Rhino Horn?
Nasal irrigation with the Rhino Horn should be nice and pleasant, not uncomfortable, and it should not hurt. The most probable cause is an inadequate quality of the water. You may have the water too hot. That is unpleasant. You may have the water too cold. That is unpleasant too. You might have too much salt in the solution or too little salt. With the right temperature and the right amount of salt, nasal cleansing with Rhino Horn should be comfortable and pleasant.
What do I do if I lost my Rhino Spoon?
If you have lost your measuring spoon, contact us at post@somamed.com, and we shall make sure that you receive a new one. We shall send you a measuring spoon without any further cost than postage.
Does the water enter my sinuses during the use of Rhino Horn?
The water may enter the sinuses on the sides of the nose during nasal cleansing. That may be beneficial because the sinuses get cleansed and opened up. It is important, though, that you are careful with the emptying of your nose afterwards by bending forward and downward and gently blowing through your nose while moving your head in different directions (see the user instructions about emptying your nose after nasal cleansing). It is the position rather than the blowing that will get the water out.
How often can I use the Rhino Horn?
The fine thing about Rhino Horn as a medical device is that it is safe and natural. It plays along with the body. For normal hygiene and preventional/prophylactic ends, using Rhino Horn once a day will be fine. You may use Rhino Horn every day for many years without any problem. Many people choose to use Rhino Horn every day in periods of need and have a break until one feels an urge to take it up again.
If you are in a situation with disturbing nuisances, e.g. having a heavy cold or sinusitis, being in the middle of a pollen season giving you trouble, or other situations like that, you may use Rhino Horn several times a day. There is no absolute limit. With heavy cold or sinusitis, some people use Rhino Horn three-four times after one another with a better result than if done only once.
Why do I hear clicks and other sounds when I am blowing my nose after the cleansing?
Popping or clicking sounds from the ears while blowing is a certain indication that you blow too forcefully. You should NOT hear sounds from your ears while blowing out. The opening through your nose can respond properly to a certain pressure from your blowing. If the pressure exceeds that capacity, some of the pressure will seek alternative ways of escaping, e.g. through the ear-canal from the back of the mouth (the Eustachian tube). If you get a pressure of air through this tube, it will go into the middle ear, and you hear sounds. Avoid this by blowing more gently.
Is it better to blow forcefully through the nose to better empty it from water, crutches and saliva?
No, not at all. It is very important to blow your nose gently when emptying it. You may get sounds from the ear, as described in the previous answer. But more severely, you may blow water from the back of your mouth into the middle ear. That is not good. Water in the middle ear tends to cause middle ear inflammation, and you should avoid that, of course.
Why do I get a feeling of pressure inside the ear after using Rhino Horn?
I have described the reason for the pressure to occur in the ear in the two previous answers. If the mucous membranes of the mouth-ear-canal are swollen, you may not be able to balance the pressure on either side of the eardrum. This problem is similar to having pressure in the ear if you are having a cold while flying. Be careful not to blow any extra air into the middle ear.
Why should I bend down and blow through the nose after using Rhino Horn?
In this way, you make sure that remaining water in your nose and your sinuses will come out. If you do not do this, you may be surprised if you later that day bend down to pick up something and experience water running out of your nose. In a cold environment, you should avoid having water or too much humidity in your nose.
How do I clean the Rhino Horn after use?
Ordinary cleaning of your personal Rhino Horn is to rinse it under running water, then empty it completely from water and let it dry in the air. A smooth and dry plastic surface is a poor environment for bacteria and virus. They do not survive here for long. The air we breathe is full of many kinds of harmless bacteria and virus, and these will, of course, be on the surface of the conic tip when you use your Rhino Horn again. But this is just the same as what you already breathe in through your nose or mouth.
Can I put the Rhino Horn in the dishwasher?
Yes, if you prefer using a dishwasher, Rhino Horn is dishwasher safe.
Should I wash my Rhino Horn with soap?
It is not necessary to use soap for cleaning your Rhino Horn. If you do use soap, you should avoid pine oil-based soap. If you let your Rhino Horn soak in a solution with pine oil-based soap, the surface may get blisters or bubbles.
Can I clean the Rhino Horn in boiling water?
Cleaning your Rhino Horn in boiling water for two-three minutes is safe and killing all bacteria and virus. We recommend this cleaning method if several people are using the same Rhino Horn after one another.
Can Rhino Horn withstand autoclave (sterilising machine)?
Even sterilising equipment is safe for Rhino Horn. The material may become a little soft for a short time afterwards. But in a few minutes, it will become hard as it normally is.
Can several people use the same Rhino Horn after one another?
Doctors recommend that Rhino Horn is as personal a device as a toothbrush. If more people are to use the same Rhino Horn after one another, you need to cleanse it by having it in boiling water for some minutes before the next person uses it.
Is it safe to use Rhino Horn?
Yes, it is safe to use Rhino Horn. We have sold millions of Rhino Horns during the last 20 years and have never experienced any severe incidents linked to the use of Rhino Horn. We have had a few reports of problems, but all of them were caused by not following the user instructions carefully (e.g. pressure in the middle ear).
What are the risks associated with the use of Rhino Horn?
The only risks associated with the use of Rhino Horn come from the blowing the nose empty after the cleansing procedure. If you blow too strongly, you may blow air or water into the middle ear through the mouth-ear-canal (the Eustachian canal). This situation is unpleasant. In the worst cases, you may cause middle ear inflammation by blowing water into the middle ear. It is very easy to avoid this, simply by blowing gently through your nose when you are emptying it.
Along with this information, we need to add that we have received reports from doctors and physiotherapists at a large hospital in Bordeaux, France, saying that children with frequent middle ear inflammation reduce their frequency by using Rhino Horn. They were the direct inspiration that we developed our Rhino Horn Junior.
Does Rhino Horn contain Bisphenol-A, Phthalates or any other dangerous chemicals?
Our Rhino Horns (blue, red and Junior) are guaranteed to be free from any dangerous chemicals. EU has defined 168 chemicals as “Substances of Very High Concern” (SVHC). An internationally approved analysis institute TÜV Rheinland Vietnam Co., Ltd. has tested Rhino Horn for all 168 substances in a so-called REACH 168 test. That analysis showed no trace at all of any of the SVHC-substances. Rhino Horn is a safe product to use.
Is Rhino Horn produced in a clean environment?
Rhino Horn is being produced under the strict requirements set up in the ISO 13485:2017 certificate for the production of medical devices.
What is the safe temperature range for Rhino Horn?
Rhino Horn may safely be exposed to temperatures up to 80o C/176o F for long periods. For a shorter period, it may be exposed to temperatures up to 300o C/572o F.
For how many years can I use my Rhino Horn safely?
You may use Rhino Horn every day for many years without any problem. The material in Rhino Horn, pure PolyEthylene High Density (PEHD) will last for decades.
Which age is Rhino Horn Junior intended for?
Our Junior version is thought to fit for children between four and 12 years of age. Most teenagers from the year of 13 will be able to use an adult version of Rhino Horn. Some children of three may be able to use Rhino Horn Junior. If the child understands the instructions of breathing through the mouth and holding the RHJ and the head in the right angle, there is nothing that says that a child minght not use it. At the Rhino Horn Junior webpage you may see a short video of a charming Estonian three-year old boy of uses his Junior Rhino Horn with enthusiasm.
What size is Rhino Horn Junior?
Rhino Horn Junior is 2/3 the size of our adult blue and red Rhino Horn. It is designed to fit better into a child’s nostril. The Junior Spoon is adjusted to make the saline solution physiological. The volume of water is 21 cl (if you leave a few milimetres of air at the top to be able to shake the RH Junior to dissolve the salt), and the Junior Spoon contains 1.9 g of fine-grained kitchen or sea salt.

The Rhino Horn is easy to use, but we do advise you to read the instruction pamphlet before beginning.
The Rhino Horn is designed, manufactured and distributed by
P. O. Box 2599 Solli
N-0203 Oslo • Norway
Phone +47 905 15 558
E-mail post@somamed.com
www.yogaprosess.com
Made of recyclable and environment-friendly hard plastic (PEHD)
Totally free from any dangerous chemical – has passed the REACH 168 test
No Cadmium – No Bisphenol A – No phthalates