Neti pots are the embodiment of clear thinking: If there's muck in the sinuses, then wash them out. And that's what the pots are designed to do.
The neti pot concept was introduced to me two ways. First I watched a news clip of my yoga instructor (who has studied in Tibet) using one. It was fascinating. I was truly amazed to see my instructor (and all-around good soul) put a teapot-like pot up to one nostril and have the water flow through and out the other nostril. It was so cool!
The second time was when my sister mentioned that she was having sinus problems and she'd been looking for one. My sister, looking for a neti pot? So I went to the yoga place -- where I hadn't been in a couple of years -- and bought one for each of us.
There are a couple tricks to getting ready:
- Boil some water (it helps to sterilize the water, so that you don't introduce something nasty into your sinuses)
- Pour the boiling water in the neti pot (I like to pour it while it's boiling to help sterilize the neti pot itself)
- Drop in some grains of salt so that the water is remotely in the Ph balance of what nose stuff is supposed to be
- Let the water cool to where it is slightly warm. Hot water is irritating and dangerous. Cool water is not soothing.
Now here's how to do it, as best as I can relate:
- Have a big bowl in one hand.
- Using your other hand, put the neti pot up to one nostril.
- Tilt your head slightly, aiming the other nostril down a bit.
- Relax. (This is the hardest part to explain.) If you are calm, the water flows right through. But if you aren't, it just won't flow. My first time it took me 20 minutes before anything went through. It seems to have something to do with that reflex where you can't swallow and breathe at the same time. If you keep breathing out your mouth, relaxed, the water should gently flow through the nose on its own. There's no forcing it.
- Throat lozenges, like "ice blue peppermint," can help with irritation caused by dribble down the throat.
- When you are all done, put your head down in a sink and honk out your nose. Beware that there is water in parts you're not aware of: It can come trickling out at any moment in the next 15 minutes after using a neti pot. One helpful way to get rid of some of this is to take a washcloth, pinch it over your nose, and throw your head back. A gurgle of water will drain out of your sinuses and into your throat. Now blow your nose again.
A couple people have asked "Where can I get one?" Here are some sources that have been relayed to me:
netipot.org
I am told that 100% of all profits from the Neti Pot salt and Neti Wash go to natural health causes and to help fight 3rd world causes especially HIV in India and Africa.
Here's a source for metal neti pots:
healthandyoga.com
They have a pretty cool site, IMNHO.
: )
Narial Nasal Cup
Essential Products Alliance, Inc.
Versailles, KY 40383
To order call 1-800-817-8740
a wash while feeling okay
