Neti Pot

This week I wanted to share with you  a method I use to stay healthy. I’m in many houses during the week and I’m breathing everyone’s air in their home, much like breathing the same air on a plane.

A method that I use during the winter months and especially on jobs with a lot of dust is the neti pot. Yes, it is gross but it works if you use it according to the instructions.

What is a Neti Pot?

A neti pot is a container designed to rinse your nasal cavity. It looks like a little teapot. They are typically used for nasal allergies, relief of congestion and sinus symptoms.
The history of  nasal cleansing began as an ayurveda medicine technique in ancient India. Ayurveda meaning, ” the knowledge for long life,” it is Hindu and a traditional practice in India and an alternative medicine.

How to use it?

If you are making your own:
Use One pint of lukewarm sterile, distilled or previously boiled water and one teaspoon of non-iodized salt in the neti pot. Blend until the salt is dissolved.

Tilt your head over a sink at a 45 degree angle, put the spout into one nostril and pour the solution in the nostril. The solution will pour out the other nostril. It may also run into your throat. If this occurs, just spit it out. Blow your nose to get rid of any remaining liquid, then refill the Neti pot and repeat the process on the other side. It’s important to rinse the irrigation device after each use and leave open to air dry.

Common problems:
The wrong kind of salt. Make sure the salt is non-iodized and free of anti-caking agents. Most table salt is unsuitable for use in the neti pot.The average table salt has iodine, and anti-caking agents. 

If you’re using a neti pot that came with premixed neti packets:
Follow the instructions for the mixture.

How often should you use it?

In studies, people suffering from daily sinus symptoms found relief from using the Neti pot or other nasal irrigation system daily. Three times a week was often enough once symptoms subsided.

However a new study shows that over use of the neti pot actually causes sinus problems. Researchers believe that the mucus in your nasal passages acts as a defense against infection, and flushing it away disrupts your body’s immune function. They recommend that neti pots be used every once in a while to relieve congestion, but should not be used daily for an extended period of time.

Any dangers from using it?

Keep it clean: Make sure you wash the pot regularly with hot water and a little antibacterial soap. Clean it every day.

Don’t use tap water: Use distilled water or premixed packages of solution.

Replace your pot. Get a new one every few months if it is plastic. The hot water and washing can cause the plastic to weaken over time.

Other obvious dangers

Burning:
If it’s burning, stinging, or making your eyes water, chances are the water isn’t lukewarm. Test the water on your wrist and it should feel comfortable. Temperature extremes are one of the most obvious neti pot dangers. 

Neti-induced Ear Problems

When head isn’t positioned correctly:

When using a neti pot, the simplest method is to lean sideways over the sink at a 45 degree angle, giving the water a clear path nostril to nostril. If you feel any pressure on your ears, you need to adjust your position.

Blowing your nose incorrectly:

If you blow your nose incorrectly, the newly thinned mucus can be “blown” into your ear cavities, where it could linger and cause ear clogged feeling or crackling, even potentially an infection if you get really unlucky. 

Bottom line, if you don’t follow the package instructions or take these precautions if you are making your own solution you may have discomfort get and infection or other complications.

“Be Safe”