The use of neti pots to clear out the sinuses goes back hundreds of years to India. A neti pot is a container that looks like an Aladdin's lamp. It has a bowl with a handle at one end and a spout at the other end. The pots are made from a variety of materials including ceramic, plastic and steel.
Function
Doctors have long known that saline helps to clean out sinus cavities. The use of a neti pot is one home remedy method to flush the sinuses with saline. A neti pot works by thinning mucus and flushing the mucus out of the sinuses. Irrigating the nasal passages with a neti pot helps to relieve sinus pressure, unclog sinus passages and relieve sinus headaches. Neti pot usage can also relieve allergy problems and colds by passing saline through the nose and sinuses.
How to Use A Neti Pot
A neti pot has a handle at one end and a spout at the other and pours like a teapot. A saline solution of one pint of water with one teaspoon of salt should be added to the neti pot. Some doctors advise adding a small amount of sodium bicarbonate, about half a teaspoon, to the saline solution to buffer the solution. Pharmacies also carry saline solutions that can be used. The handle of the neti pot should be gripped in one hand and the head tilted over a sink. The spout of the neti pot should be gently placed in the upper nostril and the solution poured into the nostril and allowed to flow through to the other nostril. When this procedure is completed, proceed to the other nostril. Many first time users of neti pots are surprised by the amount of mucus removed during this process.
Results From Neti Pot Usage
According to Dr. James T. Li of the Mayo Clinic, many people who regularly use a neti pot report that it is more effective than using over-the-counter drugs. Using a neti pot flushes out pollen collecting in the nasal passages which greatly helps allergy sufferers. The flushing of the nasal passages also soothes and cleanses the area. Neti pots are recommended by many surgeons to patients after sinus surgery to flush out crusting in the nasal passages.
Biological Considerations of Net Pots
The use of the neti pot changes the coordination of the cilia in the nose and nasal passages. The cilia are thin hair-like structures in the nose and nasal passages. The cilia move the mucus in the sinus cavities either to the back of the throat or to the nose when sneezing or blowing the nose. Sinus problems cause the cilia to move in an uncoordinated way and to beat slowly. Washing the passages with saline gives the cilia a regenerative beat and an increase in coordination.
Considerations
Anyone with a serious sinus infection or cold should check with a physician before using a neti pot. While a neti pot will clear out a clogged sinus cavity, it will not cure an infection. Most neti pots come with instructions, but a pharmacist or doctor should be consulted prior to first-time use for more detailed guidance. Improper use of the neti pot can result in fluid being sent to the ear canals. With proper use, a neti pot can be an effective tool against sinus, colds and allergies.
