Confessions of a Neti Pot Convert

Things must be seriously blooming, because pollen counts are high across the U.S. right now. Everyone I know is sniffling, sneezing, and suffering. Even folks who aren’t allergy prone seem to be getting hit this year, and you can count me among those numbers.

It’s easy to grab some nasal spray or an over the counter allergy medication when hay fever sets in, but that’s not a long term solution. Your body builds a tolerance to these chemical quick fixes, and over time you have to either up your dose or cope with symptoms once again.

I’d heard folks singing the praises of the Neti pot, but I’ll be honest here: it sort of freaked me out. It seemed a little counter-intuitive to pour water into my nose. After months of deliberating, I finally took the plunge and am now a Neti pot convert! Here are some tips from one first time Neti pot user to another:

How it Works

This part is pretty simple. You’re basically using a very diluted saline solution to flush the gunk out of your sinuses. Water flows into one nostril, through your nasal cavity, and out the other nostril. This sounds a lot more uncomfortable than it is. If you get your technique down pat, you barely feel anything at all. The tips below will definitely help make it a more pleasant experience!

The Water

You want the water you’re using to be lukewarm. If it’s too cold or too hot, the Neti pot experience is a little less pleasant.

A lot of Neti pots come with packets and instructions for creating the saline mixture. If yours doesn’t, just combine a pint of water with a teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. A pint of water should be enough to irrigate both nostrils, and the baking soda helps balance the mixture’s pH, so it’s easier on your nasal passages. You flush each nostril separately, using half the pint on each side.

The Technique

Good technique is key to a pleasant Neti pot experience! It seems a little bit awkward at first, but remember: the worst thing that can happen is a little water goes up your nose, just like when you were a kid and swimming for the first time. No sweat!

Some folks recommend standing or sitting in the bathtub, but the sink works fine, too. To start, place the spout of the pot into your nostril. Bend over a bit at the waist, then tilt your head to about a 45 degree angle. The idea is to get one nostril over the other, where the one on top has the spout in it. You’ll also want to tilt your head forward slightly to help keep water from going up your nose.

The water should start to flow through at this point, and so try to relax and take deep breaths through your mouth. It’s easy to catch yourself holding your breath, so try to really focus on breathing. Don’t worry if you need to take a break. This will get easier every time you do it!

Are there any experienced Neti pot users that want to share some wisdom? We’d love to hear your tips in the comments!

Image Credit: Creative Commons photo by buffawhat

Read more: Allergies, Cold and Flu, Health, neti pot

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Dale O.

7:26PM PDT on May 13, 2012

Glad to have something for my pollen allergies not to mention my allergies to my cat along with dust and some others.
Boiling tap water first is necessary or you may end up with some nasty microscope creatures in your brain-see Neti Pot deaths and how to Neti Safely! (Pictured above with other articles).

send a green star

Phyllis S.

9:54AM PDT on May 3, 2012

I do not use the NetI pot but I have used squirt bottles with saline solution. It really does great. Thankfully I do not suffer slot of problems with allergies. However, I work with ceramic tile,which is dusty work
ing conditions, so I always wear a mask!

Jennifer G.

6:26PM PDT on Apr 22, 2012

When you first start, water will likely flow differently from one nostril than the other -- that's natural. I found that after a while they started to even out.

Noreen N.

7:33AM PDT on Apr 11, 2012

I use the squirt bottle. It is the most amazing thing ever and it is the only thing that helps with allergy symptoms. It is important to use it regularly to prevent congestion from getting into your chest. I discovered it last year and this year I am coping with allergy season in a much happier healthier way. Try it it works!

Robin R.

1:04PM PDT on Apr 10, 2012

If shoving the spout of a teapot up your nose intimidates you there is an alternative right beside it on the shelf - the squirt bottle. That's what I use. It is essentially the same thing only more user friendly. I get bronchitis less than 1/2 as often as I did before I started doing this daily rinse, and I can breathe through my nose all year round. But if you wait until you are already sick you have waited too long... this is a preventative measure not a cure.

Debbie P.

3:44AM PDT on Apr 10, 2012

It really helps me a lot.

Nancy P.

10:33AM PST on Dec 21, 2011

Great way to keep the immune system up.

Anne G.

9:32AM PST on Dec 21, 2011

I'm not sure I could do this.

9:31AM PST on Dec 21, 2011

I'm not sure about I could do this.

Maddie W.

6:54AM PST on Nov 17, 2011

Saline nasal washes are an immediate reflex when a cold begins in France - They even use it on young babies! You can find them in any pharmacy in single dose 10ml units - very convenient when travelling, but not so environmentally friendly. Nice to see there are easy, homemade alternatives! Thanks for sharing.