Nitric Oxide and Your Nose: Why Humming Raises It, and What a Nasal Spray Adds

Your nose is more than a passage for air. The lining of the nasal passages and sinuses produces a tiny, well-studied molecule of its own: nitric oxide (NO). Whether you are in a crowded airport, a sealed office or a packed train, that molecule is part of the ordinary, day-to-day environment of your nose. This post covers what it is, why humming raises it, and where a nitric oxide nasal spray fits in.

A Nobel Prize for a small molecule

In 1998 three scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering nitric oxide's role as a signalling molecule in the body. It is best known for its role in blood-vessel regulation, but it is also produced continuously in the paranasal sinuses and released into the nasal airflow. Our how it works page explains the chemistry.

The humming finding

A study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine by Weitzberg and Lundberg measured what happens to nasal nitric oxide when you hum. Humming while exhaling creates an oscillating airflow that draws more nitric oxide out of the sinuses into the nasal cavity — the researchers measured roughly a 15-fold increase compared with quiet exhalation.

It is a useful piece of physiology to know: nasal breathing and humming are free, and they change the chemistry of the air passing through your nose.

Where the natural version runs out

Breathing techniques have practical limits:

• Consistency — you cannot hum while you sleep, eat or concentrate.
• Setting — humming is not always practical in a meeting or on a train.
• Conditions — dry air (aircraft cabins, heated rooms) and congestion change how the nose functions.

What a nitric oxide nasal spray adds

NOWONDER™ nasal spray (known internationally as Enovid) is a two-chamber spray that releases nitric oxide in the nasal passages as it is applied. It is used as a daily nasal cleanser: two sprays in each nostril before or after crowded places, per the label up to 3–4 times daily or 6 as needed. The nitric oxide is generated at the moment of spraying, which is why it does not appear on the ingredient list.

It cleanses and refreshes the nasal passages, clearing the dust, pollen and pollution that collect there. It is not a treatment and does not replace anything a doctor has recommended.

A simple nasal care routine for the colder months

• Breathe through your nose where you can — air is warmed, humidified and passes through your own nitric oxide on the way in.
• Hum for a minute after a long stretch in a crowded, closed space.
• Use NOWONDER™ before you head into crowds and after you come home. The full routine is in A Daily Nasal Spray Routine.

Frequently asked questions

What is nitric oxide?
A small molecule your body produces naturally, including in the sinuses and nasal passages. Its role as a signalling molecule was recognised with the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Does humming really raise nasal nitric oxide?
A study by Weitzberg and Lundberg found that humming during exhalation increased measured nasal nitric oxide levels roughly 15-fold compared with quiet breathing.

How does NOWONDER relate to nasal nitric oxide?
NOWONDER™ (known as Enovid internationally) releases nitric oxide in the nasal passages as it is sprayed. It is used as a daily nasal cleanser alongside ordinary nasal breathing habits.

Is NOWONDER a medicine?
No. In the United States it is sold as a cosmetic nasal cleanser. No drug or disease claims are made for it.

Looking for Enovid nasal spray? Shop all pack sizes with free worldwide shipping — now available as NOWONDER™ in the US.