You may have seen pictures or videos of people holding up what looks like a tea pot to their nose, and always wondered what it was. This is actually called a neti pot, and is a type of container that helps to clear your nasal passages.
There are many amazing benefits to using a neti pot, from clearing allergens if you suffer from seasonal allergies, to helping with sinus infections and cold symptoms.
The neti pot works together with a saltwater solution and warm water to clear your nasal passages, and is one of many nasal irrigation systems available. They are low in cost and easy to use once you develop the right position.
This report is going to give you an inside look into neti pots, what they are, how they help, and exactly how they work. Keep reading if you are interested in using a neti pot, but aren’t quite sure where to start.
What is a Neti Pot?
Before looking at the benefits of using a neti pot and discussing simple instructions, let’s first go over exactly what this is. The term neti pot actually comes from the practice of rinsing your sinuses, which called Jala Neti.
The neti pot has been used since ancient times, and was the practice of using a device (similar to the pot used today) to insert a water solution into the nasal passages to cleanse them. At the time, it was done for overall health after irrigating them.
Today, the neti pot is used in similar ways, though now there is a lot of science to back up the health benefits of clearing your sinuses.
About the Neti Pot
When you begin shopping around for a neti pot, you will discover that there are many different varieties. This is not a brand of device, but rather a type of device. It is essentially a container that you can use to put a solution through your nostrils to clean out your nasal passages.
People use it for a variety of things, from those with blockages, to people who suffer from sinus infections.
There is a wide range of styles, sizes, and colors of neti pots. Some are ceramic and look similar to a small teapot, while others are plastic and have various accessories to help this job go more smoothly.
Many neti pots come with a saltwater solution that you can use along with the pot, though you might have to buy extra solution separately or make your own at home.
It is important that you choose a neti pot of a good size, typically a smaller one so that it is easier to use. You will be placing the spout of the pot near your nostril, so if it is large and bulky, this will be much more difficult to manage.
You can buy a neti pot at most drug stores, chain stores, and occasionally doctor’s offices.
If you are someone with sinus infections, allergies, or frequent cold and flu symptoms, you can probably benefit from using a neti pot.
How Do You Use a Neti Pot?
As you will find out in the next section, a neti pot is a wonderful little container for clearing your nasal passages. It can be intimidating to use at first, but once you use the right technique, you will discover how easy it is. The trick here is to get the right position and always do it in the shower or under a sink to avoid unnecessary messes.
Here are some guidelines and tips to follow when you are using your neti pot:
Find a Good Location
Before you do anything else, make sure you have chosen a good location in your home to use the neti pot. Try to pick a time when you won’t have any distractions from kids or pets. Typically, people will choose the bathroom to flush their nasal passages with the neti pot.
You can either do this over the sink or stand in your shower or bathtub. The shower really is the best place because you can choose not to wear clothes and keep them from getting solution on them, plus there is no risk of spilling the solution on the floor.
If you do it over the sink, you need to lean your head over the sink enough to where the solution that drips out goes into the sink and not on your floor.
If you do this over a sink or while clothed, you might want to put on a t-shirt you don’t mind getting a little wet. This should only be necessary the first couple times until you get used to using the neti pot.
Use Premade Solution
The solution used with a neti pot is typically a saltwater solution. You can either buy the solution premade from the drug store, or it may come with your neti pot in a little kit. For the first few times, it is often recommended you use one already made for you. That way, you aren’t stressing over making it before trying out the neti pot for the first time.
If you decide to make your own, use either distilled or bottled water, not regular tap water. You don’t want to use too much salt, so be careful if you are making your own. You should have a teaspoon of salt per 16 ounces of distilled water.
Whether you make it yourself or use a premade solution, it will be mixed with lukewarm water before using it with the neti pot.
Put the Spout Near Your Nostril
When you have made your warm saltwater solution, it is time to get into position and start using the neti pot. You want the spout of the container to be near your upper nostril, as it is going to come out of the lower nostril. Stand in the shower or over the sink, and tilt your head to one side.
Now put the spout near your upper nostril and start pouring the solution in. If it is inserted enough, it won’t leak out of the nostril. If you do this right, it will flush the nasal passage and come out of the lower nostril.
Try to Relax
It is important that you try your best to relax while using the neti pot. It might feel a little funny, but it will not harm you if you follow these instructions. Open your mouth to breathe through your mouth and just try to relax while you insert the solution.
If any solution goes into your throat, just spit it out. This is also normal. Repeat the process with your other nostril and you’re done!
Frequency of Using the Neti Pot
A common question asked is how often you should use the neti pot. Typically, you only need to use it as needed. This might be when you are stuffed up or when you have symptoms of sinus problems or allergies. Other people use it more often, such as doing it once a week or every few days. You can ask your doctor about when the neti pot should be used.
Additional Tips to Follow
Here are some more tips to follow for using the neti pot successfully:
Don’t use the neti pot right before bed – You might still have a little drainage after you are done using the neti pot, so it is best that you not lay down right after. You don’t want a pillow that is wet when you are trying to sleep. Wait at least an hour before lying down after using it.
- Try using the shower – This truly is one of the best ways to use a neti pot. There is less clean-up and it is easier to manage overall.
- Don’t lean over too quickly – While you will be tempted to lean over immediately after pouring the solution into your nostril, give it a few seconds and only lean over as much as you need to. This allows the solution to work its magic before draining out.
- Wash your hands thoroughly before using the neti pot – This is a good rule of thumb to ensure only clean, filtered saltwater enters your nostril. Wash your hands before touching and using your neti pot.
- Use the pot regularly during cold and allergy season – While you can just use the neti pot when you already have symptoms, you can also try using it routinely. When you enter allergy season, it is a good time to start using the neti pot more often.
- Use distilled water whenever possible – The water you use for the saltwater solution should always be as clean as possible. This means using distilled or filtered water.
- Rinse your neti pot after using it – You don’t want that saltwater solution to sit in the neti pot. When you are done using it, dump it out, then rinse it well on the inside and outside.
Benefits of Using a Neti Pot
As you have probably guessed by now, there are many advantages to using a neti pot. You can sue it year-round, but it is particularly useful during cold and allergy season. This is because when it is allergy season, you tend to breathe in a lot of allergens like pollen and pollution, which can then inflame and irritate your sinuses. The neti pot is a wonderful way to relieve your symptoms and help you find relief.
Why You Should Use a Neti Pot
Here are some reasons why using a neti pot can be really useful for you:
- You can relieve stuffiness and congestion from a cold.
- It helps to alleviate pressure when you have sinus or allergy problems.
- You breathe better when your nasal passages are clear.
- It reduces nasal dryness and cracking of the skin.
- Neti pots help to reduce your sinus headaches.
- You have improved sense of smell.
- It can help reduce your snoring.
- You will be able to breathe deeper.
- Using it regularly helps prevent the common cold.
You can benefit from a neti pot if you have allergies, are a frequent sufferer of the common cold, or if you have regular sinus infections.
Using Essential Oils with the Neti Pot
This is definitely optional, but if you are someone who likes to use pure essential oils, you may want to try using them with your solution. Essential oils are extracted from plants, leaves, stems, and flower petals of various plants.
These not only smell amazing, but they have a lot of different healing powers for your physical and mental health. You can choose essential oils that work good with allergies and sinus problems in order to increase the effectiveness of the neti pot.
How Essential Oils Help
The first way that essential oils can help when you are using a neti pot is by killing microbes. Allergens indoors and outdoors often contain microbes, or microorganisms that can lead to sinus and allergy problems. There are certain essential oils that are great for helping to kill microbes, such as tea tree oil, rosemary, and clove essential oils.
Essential oils are also great for aromatherapy, where you can relax your mind and help to heal your body. There are many oils that provide natural healing remedies for your allergy symptoms, reducing headaches, and helping you to find relief.
Try these Essential Oils
Here is a list of the essential oils you can use with your solution when rinsing out your nasal passages. Make sure you use only a couple drops with the solution so you know how your body will react to them. Do not exceed 1-2 drops of the essential oil added to the warm water solution.
The oils include:
- Tea tree
- Lavender
- Clove
- Rosemary
- Chamomile
- Eucalyptus
- Sweet basil
- Lemon
- Thyme
- Geranium
- Peppermint
Neti pots provide a great way to treat your allergy symptoms and sinus infections in a natural way. Combined with medical treatments, you can start finding relief.
