clear congestion a little bit better than sticking your finger out your eye. there is a little brine in them, so similar to gargling with aspirin and salt with a sore throat, they also cleanse congestion as the bacteria don't like the saline environment. one of my nasal passages is occluded, an operation supposedly only lasts about 10 years before it grows back. was thinking about trying one as i have allergies which is coming up soon.