Neti Pots have been used for many years, but they’re only just now beginning to get widespread notice. The reason for this is found in the relief that they’re giving people who haven’t been able to get relief by going through traditional medical methods.
You can find these pots online or through your local drugstore pharmacy department. A Neti pot looks like a short, flatter version of a teapot with a long, distended spout.
A Neti pot has been touted as simply a container that you can use to clear your sinuses – but it can do far more than that. While it is a simple, inexpensive container, it has much more to offer you than just clearing your sinuses.
This is one of the reasons behind the pot’s rapidly growing popularity. Another reason that these pots are becoming more popular is because the use of traditional relief methods often have side effects that aren’t very pleasant for anyone to deal with.
Allergy Relief
Besides helping you with your sinus problems, using the pot can also be used to help you find relief from allergies. When you breathe in, you often inhale things (such as dander or pollen) that cause allergic responses.
When you inhale these irritants, your body tries to fight back by kicking your histamine response into gear. This can cause you to experience watery eyes, itching and a stuffy nose.
Using the Neti pot clears out those irritants. For relief from allergies, it’s best to use the pot in the morning when you get up and at night before you go to bed. Many people have also found relief from congestive symptoms of the common cold by using the pot.
How to Use a Neti Pot
When you use the pot, you put about a pint of lukewarm water into it. It’s better not to use tap water unless you have a good filter for it. A better choice instead is to use distilled water.
You’ll want to add about a teaspoon of salt to the water. You don’t want to use regular table salt in your Neti pot because table salt contains anti-caking ingredients and it’s best not to breathe those in.
Don’t use salt that contains iodine. What many people choose to use is regular sea salt.
Once the water is prepared, you’ll want to hold your head over a sink in order to start the irrigation.
Put the tip of the spout into one side of your nose and lean your head to one side. The water in the Neti pot should be able to travel easily from one side of your nose to the other.
If the water goes to the back of your throat, or clogs up your ear, then you have the wrong angle and should adjust your head tilt.
Once you’re finished using the pot, it’s very important that it go through a sterilization process to prevent contamination. To sterilize the pot, clean it with soap and hot water that’s either filtered or boiled if it’s from the tap. Once you’ve thoroughly cleaned the pot, allow it air dry.
