Acupuncture Healthcare

The neti pot is a wonderful Asian invention for those who suffer from hayfever, sinus infections, sinus headaches, and nasal congestion.  The neti pot clears congestion and pressure in the sinuses by irrigating saline solution (water and salt) through the nasal passages.

I’ve had skeptical patients turn into believers, who have gone on to “convert” their friends and family members.  Clinical experience has shown me that it works for the majority; unfortunately, there are always a few for which the neti pot cannot help, usually due to deviated nasal passages or nasal passages that cannot drain properly.  It is one of the simplest, most cost-effective, and least harmful tools for dealing with sinus problems so I always suggest it as an primary experiment.

The neti pot requires a bit of trial and error to find the correct water temperature and salt to water ratio that suits your body.  Your local drugstore will likely carry a brand that comes with saline solution packets.  The other option is a neti pot ceramic that requires you to make your own solution at home or buy their specialized saline packets.  Whatever you choose, you must use sea salt, as the regular table salt has been stripped of it’s minerals and as a consequence can dry and irritate your nasal lining.

These are the instructions from the folks at Sinus Support:

Fill the neti pot just below its lip with warm water. Add a heaping 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt and stir until it is thoroughly dissolved. Bend over the sink and turn your head to one side. Keeping the pot level, place the spout into the top nostril until it has a snug fit. Breathe through your mouth and slowly tip your head downward allowing the warm water to travel up through your sinuses and out the other nostril. You may need to adjust the angle of your head slightly in order to allow the water to flow out the other nostril. Use half the water and repeat on the other side. If you experience an uncomfortable sensation, adjust the level of salt. Sometimes too little salt can be as uncomfortable as too much salt. Once you’ve irrigated your sinuses, it it helpful to bend over at the waist (with the top of your head pointed towards the floor) and exhale out to release any trapped water.

Good to Nose
1. If you are particularly congested, the water may not actually flow through and out the other nostril. If this occurs, take in as much water as you can and blow your nose. Repeat again in 30 minutes.
2. Blow gently throughout your rinse, your membranes are sensitive and you don’t want water to enter your ear tubes!
3. If you experience discomfort while rinsing, adjust the level of salt or the water temperature. Take the time to discover what is most comfortable to you.
4. As a last step to release any remaining water, it is helpful to bend over at the waist pointing your head towards the floor and blow your nose while holding closed one nostril at a time. Repeat until water is flushed away.

Update:  Clean your nasopharyn, Sinus Relief Two

Tags: experiments, health care, Health Products, sinus