A Neti For Your Nose
There’s a good chance you’ve heard of the Neti Pot. But if you haven’t, the little sinus cleansing contraption has really taken off. We thought we’d take a closer look at the Neti Pot, and get to the facts behind how it works.
The Neti originated in India in ancient Hindu cleansing rituals. Older versions of the Neti were made from clay, but modern versions are plastic. To use the Neti pot, take Neti’s small pre-mixed packet of salt and baking soda and using pure water such as distilled water, dissolve the contents of the packet into the Neti pot. After the packet is dissolved, heat the water in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Stir the contents before useing the Neti. By stirring, any hot spots in the water are eliminated. Next, while standing with your head directly over a sink, place the spout end of the Neti pot inside one nostril. Tilt it up, and allow the warm water to travel freely from one nostril, through the nasal passageway and sinuses, exiting through the nostril on the other side.
Simple to use, but the science is more complex. The Neti removes mucus from the nose and also from the interior sinuses. The gentle, effective cleansing provides relief to dry, cracking, and possibly bleeding sinuses. Left untreated, sinusitis often leads to pressure buildup in the sinus cavities resulting in sinus headaches.
Nasal irrigation, which the Neti Pot provides, has been demonstrated to relieve symptoms and keep sinuses healthy as well as making the user less dependent on medicines.
Salt has long since been used by physicians to cleanse. Saline is used in hospitals to cleanse wounds, often applied by syringes to affected areas. Sinuses, too, need a good cleansing from time to time, and the Neti serves that purpose. It removes trapped allergens, bacteria, viruses, helps to clean infections, and moistens the tissue that must remain moist.
There are some risks associated with using the Neti pot. Overuse can lead to more sinus infections. One study demonstrated that overuse of the Neti can triple the recurrence of sinus infections. Also, the use of the wrong type of water can add to the risk. While tap water can be used, it’s best to boil the water first, allow the water to cool to a warm touch, and then mix the ingredients.
Another danger in using the Neti is not having a clean pot. Sharing the pot with others spreads viruses, bacteria, and potentially, infection. So sterilizing the pot with alcohol and by washing with soap and water.
If money is a problem, and you’d like to create your own system of nasal irrigation, the Neti can be replaced by a coffee mug, and a spoon. Get a clean and sterilized coffee mug. Fill the mug nearly to the top with distilled water. Heat the water in the microwave for 30 seconds. Add ¼ teaspoon of salt water and a healthy pinch of baking soda. Using a spoon, slowly sniff the saline solution into your sinuses allowing the sinuses to drain freely into the sink. Keep your head level, and don’t blow out the saline solution forcefully, but rather, allow the salt water solution to drain freely in the sink. Don’t feel like you have to use all the water in one sitting, but use enough to get a good nasal cleansing, and discard the remaining solution.
The homemade remedy is a bit crude, but works almost as well as the store-bought alternative. We prefer the Neti over the spooning method as it is quicker, cleaner, and contains a pre-mixed packet to add to the water. Try the Neti pot and see if it gives you relief from your sniffles.
