Neti Pot

Nasal irrigation is a method where the nasal cavity of an individual is washed to get rid of dirt and mucous from the nose, as well as from the sinuses. Though there are various ways of practicing nasal irrigation, the most popular and the most effective one is with the help of the neti pot. It is an instrument which was introduced in India by the masters of yoga. As yoga focuses on breathing techniques, using this method is considered to be a way of cleaning the nasal passages to promote easy breathing. However, apart from the purpose of personal hygiene, using this pot is also a good way of treating the problem of sinuses. People who used it have said that it helped in alleviating the symptoms caused by sinus problems including headaches, blocked nasal passages, facial pain, etc. Due to this, the neti pot has become a popular instrument all over the world. So, if you find this interesting, here are some neti pot instructions that you have to follow while using it.

Usage

Although it has become popular, there are still many of them who have their doubts, whether these pots are effective. It has been observed that people who use these pots did not have to depend on antibiotics, as much as what they did earlier to relieve the symptoms caused by sinus infection. Moreover, there are no major complications associated with its use and hence, one has nothing to lose by giving it a try. These pots are made of different materials including glass, plastic, metal or ceramic among which the best are those made of plastic and metal. Taking a look at its demonstration which will give you an idea of how to use it. You can gather some more information on the methods of sinus infection treatment.

• The first step is to prepare the its solution which is a combination of warm water and salt. Take 16 ounces of warm water in the pot and add ¼ to ½ teaspoon salt to it. Make sure that the water is not too hot or very cold. This is because too hot water can cause burns, while cold water will not give you a soothing effect.
• Once your pot is filled with this saline solution, hold it in your hand and stand near a sink or wash basin. Tilt your head to one side at a 45 degree angle, and place the spout of the pot on the nostrils. When you pour the saline solution on one nostril, you will observe that the water comes out of the other nostril. Sometimes, the water may go inside your throat. However, if this happens, you just have to spit it out. Once the pot becomes empty, blow your nostrils so that the remaining water comes out. After this, repeat the same procedure with the other nostril.
• An important thing that you have to remember while doing this procedure is to breathe continuously by keeping your mouth open. This is important to make sure that the water does not drain into your mouth.

Dangers

As it does not take more than a few minutes to use it, it would be a good idea to practice it everyday. However, it is completely fine to reduce the frequency to 3 times in a day, especially once the symptoms of sinus decreases. Although the use of this method is considered to be safe, there are people who have experienced certain side effects after using it. For instance, there are some people who have experienced nasal stinging and irritation after the procedure. Apart from this, some people have also had bleeding from the nose. However, most of these problems are very rare and are usually caused because of its improper use. If you are experiencing any kind of side effects, certain things that you can do to reduce danger are adding less amount of salt. Decreasing the temperature of the water, or may be reducing the frequency, are also some measures to reduce any side effects.

An important thing that you have to remember is that you should wash your pot everyday. It is recommended to avoid sharing your pot with other people. Make sure to consult your health practitioner immediately if you experience any kind of discomfort due to this procedure.