Shalom:
My doctor recommended that I use a nasal rinse nightly. The product I use consists of a plastic bottle with a “tube” inserted into it. You fill the bottle with water and add the contents of a saline packet.
The end of the tube is inserted into the nostril, and you squeeze the bottle which flushes water into the nostril and cleans out the mucus / germs. The product is completely manually operated.
My question is, assuming that I pre-tear the saline packet before Shabbat, can I use this product on Shabbat? I heard that there is a problem with “squeezing”, but, maybe I’m wrong?
Thanks for your time & help.
Answer:
From your description I don’t see any problem in using the saline solution on Shabbat.
There is no problem in the act of squeezing that pushes the solution through the tube. This is also not an act of “refu’a” (healing), so that I don’t see any problem.
Best wishes.
