A brick-and-mortar store in NYC where I can purchase nose moisture.
February 19, 2013 7:51 AM   Subscribe

Well, here's an extremely specific question in 2 parts. 1) I am currently the emergency houseguest of a gentleman who is getting a cold. I asked him if there is anything I can pick up for him. He has requested "ponaris nasal emollient."

This is easily ordered on the internet. He would like it today though, so I want to go pick it up at lunch. The internet is not telling me where I can buy it. It appears to be manufactured in New Jersey. Certainly there is a physical store somewhere in New York City where I can buy this, right? Has anyone ever purchased this, or seen this, in any store in NY? I realize I can have it delivered tomorrow, but we want it TONIGHT.

2) Is this even the right thing to do for a dry-feeling nose? He has a good humidifier already. He has asked me to ask you if nasal emollient is even the best thing. Experience? Other advice/remedies?

Thank you, from me and from him.
posted by millipede to Health & Fitness (19 answers total)
 
More about your number 2, and speaking as a fellow frequent sufferer - I've actually never tried the emollient. However, I have good luck with a vaporiser rather than a humidifier (it's cheaper and seems to make things steamier), and with a neti-pot type of thing if necessary. Yeah, neti-pots are more for flushing the sinuses, but they do leave things moist as an aftereffect. There are also saline nasal sprays in drug stores now that can give you just the moistening effect without the nasal-flush effect.

I've not tried the emollient, so I can't speak to whether one works better or which one is preferable; but at least those are all cheap enough and accessible-enough options that you could try doing that in a pinch if you turn up empty on the emollient. If you want to try looking for the emollient still, I'd try the mom-and-pop stores rather than the Walgreens/CVS/Duane Reade types of places.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:59 AM on February 19, 2013


Check Bigelow's?
posted by Admiral Haddock at 8:01 AM on February 19, 2013


Googling "ponaris" I found it on the Wegman's website. Wegman's is a supermarket, and it was listed in their pharmacy section.

Maybe try calling up the pharmacy section of a Duane Reade or CVS or whatever and asking if they carry it? It sounds like it's probably not Bigelow's level of obscure.
posted by Sara C. at 8:05 AM on February 19, 2013 [2 favorites]


There is a pharmacy at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary (which specialises in ear, nose and throat conditions). It is located at 310 East 14th Street. If you need to call in advance to ask for what you want, you can phone it on (212) 979-4379.
posted by MuffinMan at 8:06 AM on February 19, 2013 [2 favorites]


For #2, the neti pot is always good, but even more handy (and usable anywhere) is saline spray such as Simply Saline. I have one in my purse, one in my car, one in my kitchen, etc.
posted by mmf at 8:18 AM on February 19, 2013 [2 favorites]


Call Bigelow's. They're the original NYC cornucopia-variety chemist, they stock everything and they're very nice.
posted by DarlingBri at 8:24 AM on February 19, 2013


I think this is the same as saline gel, which is found right next to the saline nasal spray (which is in turn usually next to the medicated nose sprays), though you may not be able to find that brand. I think Ocean is the brand I buy my husband, who does not like saline spray and who gets sores in his nose when he is sick. I've had the same thing a few times, but I prefer to go straight to the Neosporin for that.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:44 AM on February 19, 2013


My fiance's mother used to take ponaris nasal emollient because she hated nasal sprays. You can usually find it at local pharmacies. Just call one up and ask if they have it in stock.
posted by nikkorizz at 8:44 AM on February 19, 2013


Response by poster: Part one solved, guys! I found it at Village Apothecary, which I checked because it's somewhat near Bigelow's, who didn't answer their phone. Yay! Thank you!

Still accepting answers for part 2.
posted by millipede at 8:54 AM on February 19, 2013


2nding neti pots. You can make your own mixture with a bit of sea salt and baking soda, but make sure to use bottled, distilled or well-boiled water. They can take a bit of getting used to, but I've found nothing better for clearing out sinuses.
posted by jquinby at 8:57 AM on February 19, 2013


I use Vaseline petroleum jelly inside my nose when it's feeling dry. Works like a charm.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 9:02 AM on February 19, 2013


There's nothing wrong with doing it, that's why the sprays and gels exist.

All the neti pot suggesters: that's a thing, but it is not a thing you can do on the couch once an hour to relieve the pain (not if you're someone's houseguest, anyway, that's just gross). Some people's noses just get super jacked up when they're sick.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:03 AM on February 19, 2013


All the neti pot suggesters: that's a thing, but it is not a thing you can do on the couch once an hour to relieve the pain (not if you're someone's houseguest, anyway, that's just gross).

I actually have been known to do precisely this (my nose does indeed get super jacked up and I get desperate). But agreeing that it's not quite convenient.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:13 AM on February 19, 2013


My pediatrician said not to put vaseline on the inner rims of my baby's nose because then she aspirates petroleum. I suspect this holds true for adults as well.

There is saline nose spray in every pharmacy and that's what my various ENTs have always recommended. Neti pots etc.... TMMV... they can spread infection around inside.
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:59 AM on February 19, 2013


I've always heard not to use Vaseline, etc. for the inside of your nose because of "lipid pneumonia" or some such.

The saline gel I see most frequently (and use, thank GOD) is Ayr. But I have recently been using the CVS version, and it's just fine. (Oddly enough, that link lists the generic version in the sidebar as being more expensive than the brand-name right now.)

If neti pots squick him out, try Simply Saline or its generic. Both the pot and any kind of squirty mist will require, say, 10 minutes bent over a sink.
posted by Madamina at 11:21 AM on February 19, 2013


Purely anecdotal, but I have a friend who used KY Jelly. She always had a small tube with her when she traveled and always had to answer that NO it was not for THAT but to put in her nose when it got dry. Her mother always used it and so does she.
posted by CathyG at 12:09 PM on February 19, 2013


I use Vaseline petroleum jelly inside my nose when it's feeling dry. Works like a charm.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 9:02 AM on February 19 [+] [!]


Quit this immediately. If you accidently aspirate any of it it's really really bad for your lungs.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 2:29 PM on February 19, 2013 [1 favorite]


To add to the list of things to use to butter nostrils: coconut oil. The stuff is edible, easy to use for this purpose, inoffensive, effective, etc. No idea about the safety but I find it preferable to commercial nasal lubricants, which have quite a 'rebound effect' when you stop using them.

But that's just for the irritation of having a dry nose; the Ponaris seems to be a whole different kettle of...

Active Ingredients
Oils of pine, eucalyptus, peppermint, cajeput, and cottonseed as specially prepared iodized organic oils. Total iodine 0.5% - 0.7%.


and I can't imagine that anybody wanting a fix of that would be satisfied by neti pots or saline or coconut oil or whatever.
posted by kmennie at 4:57 AM on February 20, 2013


I have chronic dry nose, and when I'm stuffed up saline doesn't cut it. My ENT actually recommended Ponaris to help with dryness (I'm one of those people who gets nosebleeds from the dryness), and I found it cuts through the congestion much better. It is something of an acquired taste, though (literally, if you have post-nasal drip).

I find products like Ayr that are specifically sold for nasal dryness to be way overpriced - I've never tried using KY but when I was a kid my doctor prescribed surgical jelly and that worked pretty well, and KY is essentially the same thing.
posted by camyram at 6:24 AM on February 20, 2013


« Older Load Runner for modern Mac OS?   |   Do I leave, and if so what do I say? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.