Neti pots

[Southpaw Bookworm]

What have you heard? Do you use them yourself? What do you think?

On a librarian listserv, neti was highly recommended as a tool for dealing with sinus and allergy problems. I've had a couple weeklong, ongoing sinus headaches this winter, and I wanted to get a second opinion.

[Susang]

1. It's actually not very "alternative", but it works

The concept has been around for a long time, even in regular western medicine. My father's allergist recommended home saline flushes for his sinuses back in the seventies.

It's basically a saline flush of your nasal and sinus cavities. The neti pot is just well designed for the purpose, but you don't need one to do the job. It's a little messier, but you can use a pitcher as long as it has a spout.

I find it rather unpleasant, but it does help overall, so I'd probably recommend it if you're having ongoing problems with allergens.

[propagandafreegal]

2. I love my neti pot! I'm am just coming off a bad cold ro...

and it really does help clean the sinuses. Go for it!

[Desertrose]

3. Neti pots are great...

kind of a strange sensation til you get onto it....



but it definitely helps...Use a bit of sea salt dissolved in the water ..watch the temp- it can't be too cold or too hot - nasal tissues are sensitive!!




http://www.healingdaily.com/exercise/neti-pot.htm

Neti is a gentle, safe, efficient way to deliver a good cleansing dose of saline to the nose.

Although the practice of nasal irrigation originated in India, today there are numerous people in Europe and the United States who use this simple technique as part of their daily routine.

People practice Neti on a daily basis to help keep their sinuses clean and to make their breathing easier and more free. Once they try it, most people find Neti to be a soothing and pleasant experience.

<snip>

The practice of nasal cleansing - known as Neti - has been used by practitioners of Ayurveda and Yoga in India for thousands of years. Neti is one of the 6 purification techniques performed prior to practicing yoga as a way of preparing the body for the yoga practice.

While there exist advanced techniques using various herbal oils and herbs, the simplest Neti technique uses water for the irrigation process. Lukewarm water is used to gently cleanse the nasal passages. A soothing, gentle stream of salt water, the same concentration as tears, flows through your nose, washing away pollens, mucus, viruses and bacteria. Use of a neti pot is recommended to ease this process.

<snip>

A simple yet very powerful technique, neti works wonders for chronic sinusitis, and allergies. It has a remarkable effect on upper respiratory tract infections, especially hay fever. In fact, neti is so beneficial that responses usually change from "YUK, there is no way I am ever going to try that" to "WOW. That is fantastic. I am hooked for life" after just one trial.

[Crowdance]

4. I add a pinch of baking soda with the salt

it buffers it a bit, so it doesn't hurt so much. 'Causes it really works, but it really, really hurts if your sinuses are messed up.

[PinkTiger]

5. I have one, but don't use it anymore.

Instead, I bring the salt water solution into my nose from the back of my throat and expel it through my nose, going from side to side.
The neti pot sometimes caused the salt water solution to go too high, making my sinuses hurt like the dickens. I have a very sensitive nose.
But using the nasal irrigation technique I describe above, I have eliminated a lot of nasal decongestion and have many fewer sore throats, less nasal drip.

[Love Bug]

6. I use a rubber bulb syringe

the kind you use sucking snot out of a baby's nose. I just squirt the saline water up my nose while leaning over the bathroom sink. It worked really well the last time I had a sinus infection. I still needed antibiotics, but the irrigation helped clear out the gunk and made me more comfortable.

[Southpaw Bookworm]

7. Thanks everyone! n/t

[Gloria]

8. My Neti pot and I are inseparable...it really helps. I use about

1/4 tsp salt in warm water and I have no problem with irritation.