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Neti Pot: Home Remedy for Sinus Relief

December 8, 2008 By 22 Comments

The yogic practice of nasal irrigation using a neti pot can bring swift relief from stuffy noses and sinus pressure.

When I first heard of it, I was pretty skeptical. I mean, pouring salt water through your nose just sounded weird to me.

And then one day I got the father of all head colds. My head was so stuffy that I couldn’t breathe out of my nose, and my sinuses just ached from the pressure. I was desperate for relief.

I’m a natural guy, and I don’t take over the counter medications at all, but I was ready to that day.

So I went out and bought the neti pot and some sea salt, went home, and dutifully followed the simple instructions that came with it.

  1. Fill it with warm water.
  2. Mix in a small amount (1/4 teaspoon) of salt.
  3. Lean over the sink and and look to the right.
  4. Put the tip of the neti pot in your right nostril.
  5. Tilt the pot so that water pours in, letting it flow freely out of your other nostril.
  6. Switch sides halfway through, so that you are looking to your left and pouring it in your left nostril.
  7. Repeat several times a day.

After using the neti, I also gargled with warm salt water repeatedly, which helps to clear mucus from the throat and eustachian tubes.


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  • http://feelslikehomeblog.com Tara @ Feels like home

    I have one, and I use it every time I’m sick. It works like magic.

    Tara @ Feels like homes last blog post..Il Divo: The Christmas Collection

  • http://healthygreenmoms.com/blog/postpartum-depression-and-the-many-faces-of-new-motherhood/ Monica

    I love that you wrote about this! The Neti pot is AWESOME. I have many friends that have received many more health benefits from it other than clearing a stuffy cold nose.

    The key is to use the right kind of salt though so double check with your local health store. I have used sea salt for years but now I am told a little iodized salt is better. I usually make a point of avoiding the iodized so have you heard of this?

    Monicas last blog post..HGM On A More Personal Note

  • http://www.lainiesips.com Lainie Petersen

    Nasal irrigation is one of the best things for relieving a stuffy nose and preventing sinus infections. Thanks for mentioning this!

    Lainie Petersens last blog post..December Tea Book Giveaway!

  • http://www.musingsforadarkenedroom.com Mike Wilton

    Hmm I’ve never heard of this before, but I HATE being stuffed up so it’s definitely something I may look into since you and your readers seem to have had some success with it. I rarely find any successful remedies for clearing out mucus and keeping it out for longer than maybe 5 minutes, so I’ll definitely have to give this a try.

    Mike Wiltons last blog post..I Just Became A Statistic In A Social Experiment

  • http://overcoffee822.blogspot.com/ Lena

    My husband and son use the Neti pot on a regular basis. I was skeptical too until I saw the affect it had. It works amazingly well. We also got my SIL hooked on using it to. Glad to hear that others are using it too.

    Lenas last blog post..Act2 Tote Bag Review

  • misty

    i want to try it so bad but can’t bring myself to pour salt water in my nose. it makes me cringe thinking about it. i think of the ocean when the wave tumbles you and you get all that water up your nose and it stings and your miserable for the next 1/2 hr. is it like that? does the water go all the way into your head? sorry for the silly questions. my family is going on week 3 of that sinus cold and i my dd and i can’t breathe cuz we are so stuffed and the pressure is painful. this is probably what we need but i can’t get that ocean out of my head. somebody give me some more detail please? thansk!

  • http://www.lainiesips.com Lainie Petersen

    Misty,

    Actually, properly prepared salt water for a nasal irrigation is far less irritating than even plain water. It is NOT like ocean water. I do hope you will give it a try!

    Lainie Petersens last blog post..December Tea Book Giveaway!

  • http://greenoptions.com/author/naturalpapa Derek

    It really doesn’t sting. If it does, you might try using less salt.

    I always get “sea salt” with the minerals still in it, from my local co-op. I haven’t ever tried it with table salt or iodized salt.

  • http://www.greensahm.com Stephanie – Green SAHM

    I use a squeeze bottle, and it’s wonderful! I’ve never been able to swallow pills, so taking any sort of medication is pure torture for me. With nasal irrigation I’ve fought back symptoms that have been at least very close to a sinus infection. Hard to say without a doctor’s appointment, of course, but at the very least the congestion and pain were quite severe.

    The salt content is lower than what you get in the ocean, I think, and if you have lukewarm water it will be pretty comfortable going in. Cold water is uncomfortable to use.

    Stephanie – Green SAHMs last blog post..Green Gift Wrap Ideas

  • http://healthygreenmoms.com/blog/postpartum-depression-and-the-many-faces-of-new-motherhood/ Monica

    I just wanted to add that I checked my little Neti salt packet and it is NON-iodized salt. Happy nasal cleaning :)

    Monicas last blog post..Relax Without the Toxins. Choosing & Making Beeswax Candles.

  • Andrea

    I saw this post yeasterday (12/16) and went right out and bought one. I’m pregnant, so anything natural is extra important to me right now. I used it twice last night and once so far today, and I LOVE IT!!!!! It takes like two minutes, and I can breath again! Thank you so much for blogging and introducing this to me, as I had never heard of it before!

  • http://www.neti-pot.com LatimerT

    I have used many different Neti Pots. The larger neti pots like the Rhino Horn or Ancient Secrets nasal cleansing pot hold more water than the sinucleanse and himalayan pots, and this provides more pressure to flush things out. having used many different types of salt, have found the best to be the mixture of salt and baking soda. I prefer to use the premixed saline packets rather than make it myself.

  • NoelAsher

    Nasal irrigation is a good way to relief the symptoms of sinus infection but it will not treat the cause. The truth is that there is no rapid and sure cure for sinusitis. Antibiotics help for a while but the infection usually comes back. Advances in surgery allow a minimal intrusive procedure that clears infection from the sinuses and keeps it away for a longer while but also not permanently. In conclusion, the best cure is prevention.

  • Erin

    Great post! I love my neti and recommend nasal irrigation all the time! No, it’s not exactly killer party conversation but good habits w/ the sinuses can go a long way toward good health.

    I am a huge believer in natural cures, and in not jumping to meds or surgery too quickly. However I must say that if things get to the “chronic” stage don’t mess around. See your doctor and then if you get a ct scan make sure you know all your options (it used to be that sinus surgery was the only option. but now there are less invasive choices like balloon sinuplasty).

    That’s my two cents. Take care everybody and keep those nasal passages clean!

    –Erin G

  • DoctorJekyl

    Let me tell you my opinion on the water and salt treatment: medical research has proven that saline solutions will help you in the short-term, but in the long run, such a treatment will destroy your natural defense and by that you become more prone to having problems with your sinus.
    ___________________________________________________
    Sinus infection remedies

  • DoctorJekyl

    Let me tell you my opinion on the water and salt treatment: medical research has proven that saline solutions will help you in the short-term, but in the long run, such a treatment will destroy your natural defense and by that you become more prone to having problems with your sinus.
    ___________________________________________________
    Sinus infection remedies

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