Neti Pots/nasal irrigation

[FoxFireEMT]

Has anyone ever heard of neti pots? It is used for nasal irrigaiton in assisting in infections and other cold like symptoms.

Out of curiousity has anyone ever used one of these & what were your experiences.

YouTube - Me & My Neti Pot

check it out.... NOT FOR THE WEAK STOMACHS!! :eek:

[carla]

I've not used that.. we use the Sinus Rinse, made by the same company if I'm not mistaken. Same principle/solution, but with positive pressure. It works GREAT!!:

http://www.neilmed.com/usa/directions.php

[starkitten]

I seem to remember a thread on the other forum where rum's mom suggested using these and had alot of info - am I remembering this right ;)

[FoxFireEMT]

O I hope so. I'm seriously thinking about getting one of these. I have serious issues with sinuses & very tired of always being sick. However this kinda grosses me out! LOL.

Carla ~ so does it seem to be working out for you??

[FrogInABlender]

I've not used a Neti Pot and just recently learned of their existance, but my ENT doctor gave me the recipe for the salt solution and told me to just put it in a regular sports drink type bottle with a squirter top (cleaned of course) and irrigate my sinuses with that. He said that if more people used it that he'd be out of a job as far as sinus surgery went. I like to warm the solution for a few seconds in the microwave first. It works like a charm for me when I'm really stopped up. It's a little messy, so it's easier to just get in the shower and do it.

The recipe I have goes like this:

1 quart of filtered water
3 teaspoons of pickling or Kosher salt (these have no preservatives)
1 teaspoons of baking soda (neutralizes the Ph of the water so that it doesn't sting)

[carla]

Well, I'm personally not the one in the house with sinus issues (at all,) but I did try it a few times when I had a little cold and really liked it.

My husband, OTOH, has MAJOR issues (as in, has had the rhinoplasty twice, to no avail :( )

When he was using it consistently, he complained much less about his symptoms. I think the only thing he got tired of was the monotony of it all. He works swing shifts and usually wasn't that into it at 7am or midnight, know what I mean? He did stick with it for a month or so, though, and in my opinion it did him good.

[Mandzanita]

My boyfriend swears by Net-Pots. He's a big surfer so he often gets salt water jammed up his nose, causing a constant runny nose or a sinus infection. He says it feels really weird at first but it's really good at flushing out your sinus without using any type of chemicles. I've never actually seen him do it but I've seen the net-pot. I think it's pretty big with swimmers and surfers and anyone who is prone to sinus issues.

[FoxFireEMT]

Frog.... thank you so much... I might give this a try tonight. I'm a lil desprate at this point.

[FoxFireEMT]

Carla & mand thank you so much.... I think this is something that I need to seriously look into. I really thank you all for your input. That was what I needed some thougths on it!

[SedonaThunder]

LOOOVE my Neti Pot! I'm also thankful to Frog for posting that recipe so I don't have to keep buying the little packets... tried plain water and boy did it STING! I have BAD sinus issues and have at least one sinus infection per month. I refuse to do any kind of surgery so the doc told me to try this... if only I could be regular about it instead of only remembering once a week.

[menagerie]

Yep I have a net pot and though I don't use it everyday I do use it often. I used to get really terrible sinus headaches and such and generally just alot of mucusy build up that made it hard to breath. So when that starts to happen I use the neti and feel better right away. If its real bad I'll use it for several days in a row. I love it! Got mine at wally world.

Also if you have some chest congestion you want to help dry up try drinking 2 -3 tblspns of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water. It'll dry that right up!

[FoxFireEMT]

Yep I have a net pot and though I don't use it everyday I do use it often. I used to get really terrible sinus headaches and such and generally just alot of mucusy build up that made it hard to breath. So when that starts to happen I use the neti and feel better right away. If its real bad I'll use it for several days in a row. I love it! Got mine at wally world.

Also if you have some chest congestion you want to help dry up try drinking 2 -3 tblspns of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water. It'll dry that right up!


Really Wally World!! Sweet.. Guess I'm taking a trip tomorrow after class!

ACV ~ sounds like a thing to try however wonder how it will affect the acid reflux. LOL. I drank a shot of ACV once when I was younger & dumber and had a terrible acid reflux fit! LOL. But that was before the days of pill taking!:rolleyes:

[Mandzanita]

Another thought...make sure you don't warm it up too much. That epithelial tissue in the sinus is thin and sensative! You want it like luke warm so it's as comfortable as possible. Since it looks like a tea-pot alot of people want to heat it up like tea, lol, ouch!

[FrogInABlender]

Another thought...make sure you don't warm it up too much....

Definitely! Luke warm is plenty for the inside of your nose! I kind of give it a test squirt it on the inside of my wrist like you would a baby bottle. If it's steaming it's definitely too hot. Put it in the freezer for a few minutes until it cools down a bit, or better yet, mix up another batch and don't heat it so hot this time.

[menagerie]

Yep look in the pharmacy section at wally world for the neti pot cost me about $14 with about 100 little 'saline' packets to mix with the water. As for the ACV I THINK as long as you don't straight shot it you'll be ok! lol And if you do a little searching you'll find that its actually really helpful for alot of things. I don't drink it unless I have to as I just don't like the taste! lol It does work though!

[menagerie]

Ewww yea! Ditto to what Mand and Frog said! Make sure not to get your water too hot!

[TLC97]

I have the Sinus Rinse made by the same co and it works fantastic. My 7 yr old will ask to use it when he has a head cold because it helps so much. Gross, but works.

[FoxFireEMT]

Wow well thanks everyone. You sold me! Can't wait to try all the remedies. I've tried it all up to this point. Drinking vit. C packets ~ and other silly stuff.... this I'm ready to try!!

[oursarge]

We have one and use it, it really helps clean out the sinuses. I have alof of allergies. If you don't want to buy a pot you can us a small dixie cup and make a little spout and it's the same principal. I normally mix up 1/4 tsp of salt to 1/2 a cup of water. The stuff that comes with the Nettie Pot has a diffeent forumula I think. It's a little disgusting to use but it does help.

[magayle]

i've been using the neti pot daily for over a year - it's great!!!! ya gotta use those sinus rinse packets or it will sting...like sedona said...their price isn't bad tho - 100 for about $12...it makes it real easy to use....it's just automatic for me right after i brush my teeth...if it's been a day that i've been dragin' poop thru the dry sand i use it again after that...shocking how much gunk washes out...just got the plastic neti pot with packets on amazon.com and it's well worth the $'s...i think it was about $18 with shipping:)

[carla]

Menagerie- thanks so much for the ACV idea! DS gets pneumonia about two times/year usually, and that'd be a great thing to try and head it off with next time.. Couldn't hurt, right? :)

[menagerie]

YW Carla, a friend told me about it when I had a chest cold so badly I could hardly breath at nite. I hate doctors and couldn't really afford the visit at the time anyway plus some meds make me all wired so I avoid them as well. That nite I took some about 30 min. before going to bed and by the time I layed down I could breath great and woke up the same way. So it really does help to dry up the mucus in your lungs or sinuses. Only thing is if you take blood thinners of any kind you should ask your doctor about it first. AVC is a natural thinner, but you probably already knew that! :)

[SedonaThunder]

TOTALLY off topic of neti pots... BUT on the ACV - my mom drinks it with raw honey daily and swears it helps her arthritic knees!

[carla]

AVC is a natural thinner, but you probably already knew that! :)


No, I did not know that... Thanks again, lol! :D

ACV/other natural remedies aren't something they like to teach you about in school, I guess. Where would the money be in that? ;)

[carla]

TOTALLY off topic of neti pots... BUT on the ACV - my mom drinks it with raw honey daily and swears it helps her arthritic knees!

Now this, I have heard. My FIL drinks vinegar daily and has the same claim. :)

[menagerie]

Nope, no real money in the natural resources until they've convinced us that man made is muuuuuch cheaper and can charge more for natural! ;) I've been doing alot of research on natural cures and options for different things. Amazing what God provided for us and, wow!, no side effects from them!

Anyway, another great use Sedona!

[rums_mom]

Yep, Cat remembered well. I have suffered with sinus infections since moving to NC 20 years ago. Dang pine pollen! I had my sinuses roto rooted 6 years ago. They were so blocked up that there was no other choice but surgery. I use just a regular bulb syringe, a nasal aspirator like they use for clearing out baby snot:eek:. Also make sure you use spring or filtered water.

I do the homemade saline w/baking soda and use Kosher or Sea salt but any salt will do if it is a dire situation. And yes, it should be warm water. If I do the flush twice a day at the first sign of symptoms and I can tell the symptoms immediately, I can ward off a full blown infection. I haven't had a bad sinus infection in a long time.

I really swear by this technique and I used to get at least 2 sinus infections a year, Spring and Fall, like clockwork. Oh the green snot I could blow! I never could figure out where it was all coming from:doh:

[menagerie]

Oh the green snot I could blow! :puke:
:p

[John Boy]

And I thought it was going to come out of his ear ...

very funny vid

[Remali]

I have to get a Neti pot ASAP....I have very bad sinus troubles....glad you posted this, I had almost forgtten about trying that!

[FoxFireEMT]

I have to get a Neti pot ASAP....I have very bad sinus troubles....glad you posted this, I had almost forgtten about trying that!


Me too. I saw one at Acme yesterday but I couldn't come off the money. :huh: I'm such a cheap skate when it comes to myself. :( If you told me my horse or dogs needed it I'd be out buying it. I need to get it though. I always have nasal crud going on about every other week.

[rums_mom]

Go and get you a $2 nasal aspirator in the baby section of any discount store. Works just as well........I can attest to that.

[FrogInABlender]

Me too. I saw one at Acme yesterday but I couldn't come off the money. :huh: I'm such a cheap skate when it comes to myself...

Use a water bottle with a squirter top. Most everybody's got a bunch of those laying around the house. That's what I use. You don't get much cheaper than that! ;)

[FoxFireEMT]

Use a water bottle with a squirter top. Most everybody's got a bunch of those laying around the house. That's what I use. You don't get much cheaper than that! ;)


True DAT! I got one of those laying around!! Done deal trying it tonight! Can't wait to see the snot run out of my nose! :puke:

[FrogInABlender]

...trying it tonight! Can't wait to see the snot run out of my nose!...

Word to the wise...do it in the shower. Just bend at the waist, turn your head to one side, stick the squirter in the up-hill nostril and squeeze. The water will go in the top side and out the bottom. Bending over keeps it from going down your throat and strangling you. And you can do it as many times as you need to. I've been known to get up a couple of times a night and do it if I was really stopped up.

On edit: Be sure to remove the squirter from your nose before un-squeeze the bottle or it'll suck stuff back out of your nose and into the bottle and that's just gross!

[rums_mom]

Oh yes, definitely tilt your head to the side. I hold one nostril and squirt up the other several times then do it with both nostrils open. You may have some post nasal drip for a while, I do sometimes. Doing it in the shower is helpful, you can then massage your sinuses and breath in the steam. That will help clear them and keep them moist.

Another thing I do when they are really bad. Boil water in a pot, stand over it with a towel over my head and breath in the steam. You can add some Tea Tree Oil or Eucalyptus oil to the water. Both have germ killing antibodies.

Take a washcloth and wet it, wring it out really well and put in microwave for a few seconds to get it hot. You can place his over your face and sinuses and massage to break up the mucus. This really helps when you have all that built up pressure.

Then blow baby blow!

[FrogInABlender]

...Take a washcloth and wet it, wring it out really well and put in microwave for a few seconds to get it hot. You can place his over your face and sinuses and massage to break up the mucus. This really helps when you have all that built up pressure....

Another thing along this line is to fill a cloth glove, preferrably cotton, with rice. Twist it closed at the wrist and put a rubber band on it then heat it in the microwave until it's good and hot. Then put the palm part of the glove on your forehead between your eyes and the fingers down on either side of your nose. A clean cotton sock full of rice will work just as well too. The rice stays hot much longer than a wet cloth and you won't get a steam burn from it.

[FoxFireEMT]

Wow you guys are a wealth of knowledge! Thanks!

[FrogInABlender]

Just goes to show you that you'll try anything if your head is stopped up enough. At times I've actually thought I'd feel better if I just lopped mine off right at the neck! ;)

[FoxFireEMT]

O I feel that way all the time. I try to get the BF to do it but he says not until we marry & I put him on my life insurance! :rolleyes: HOW nice of him!

[FoxFireEMT]

Frog: Tried the squirt bottle thing... :( Didn't work to well. I'm on it tonight though, gonna try it again. Apparently you can't stand to far forward when you have NO tonsils! Right down my throat all the "junk"
went. YUCK :eek: I was gaggin N all! Pray it works better tonight ~ on the flip side I did feel slightly better after I choked some of it down! LOL

[lovesfortune]

wow. I had never heard of Neti Pots, etc. You all have definitely given me things to try when I get sick next, or the kids do. Which is inevitable this time of year.

[carla]

FoxFire-- are you reallly holding your throat open? Like, pushing your jaw way out? I'm sure you were, but just checking. ;)

[FoxFireEMT]

LOL I think I was! LOL. It was very funny! I don't think I could of got my head any farther forward. I'll just have to try the tea pot thingy or your version. I'll spring the cash this week! LOL. Might work better for a beginner like me!

[FrogInABlender]

Frog: Tried the squirt bottle thing... :( Didn't work to well ... Apparently you can't stand to far forward when you have NO tonsils! Right down my throat all the "junk" went. YUCK :eek: I was gaggin N all! ...

:doh: Sorry 'bout that. I'll bet it about choked you to death. I guess I neglected to mention that you need to hold the back of you throat closed when you do it, so that you can't blow air out of your nose. That way the water can't come back down that way either. I've done it for so long that I guess I forgot all the steps involved.:o

[FoxFireEMT]

Hee hee.. I sprang the cash to get a nasal irrigation thing ( same makers of the neti pot) and tried that version first. I first want to say that I love target because I got it for 6.99 instead of the typical 12.99 that I saw other places! ;)

I tried it this afternoon & perfection!! No choking, no gagging & no problems... My biggest problem ~ breathing out my mouth. I'm not a mouth breather!! LOL.

Thanks everyone again for your 2 cents on this subject!