The hypertonic saline (salt water) acts as a solvent and washes the mucous crusts and other debris.

Inhaled hypertonic saline improves lung function in those with cystic fibrosis, according to the results of 2 studies reported in the January 19 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

"Inhaled hypertonic saline acutely increases mucociliary clearance and, in short-term trials, improves lung function in people with cystic fibrosis," write Mark R. Elkins, MHSc, from Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Australia, and colleagues from the National Hypertonic Saline in Cystic Fibrosis (NHSCF) Study Group. "Experimental data suggest that a long-term clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of hypertonic saline as a treatment for cystic fibrosis is warranted."