If you constantly have sinus problems, your doctor may recommend performing nasal irrigation, or nasal lavage, which involves sending a solution through your sinuses to flush out irritants and thickened mucus, reports the Mayo Clinic. Doctors commonly recommend bulb syringes to get the job done. You can also use a neti pot on a regular basis to cleanse your sinuses and relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of colds, sinus infections, allergies, nasal dryness and the flu, according to Planet Green.
Step 1
Wash your hands with soap and warm water. This reduces the risk of foreign substances entering your sinuses when you flush them.
Step 2
Mix together a nasal irrigation solution of ¼ tsp. salt and 2 cups of warm, body-temperature water. This ratio of salt to water should be about as salty as the fluids in your body, according to the Mayo Clinic. Use a noniodized salt if you have iodine sensitivity. Alternatively, use an over-the-counter nasal solution but read its instructions carefully to ensure that you don't irritate your sinuses.
Step 3
Fill your neti pot with the nasal irrigation solution. Since most neti pots have an open top, take care to not to fill yours too full, or the solution might spill out when you tilt the pot.
Step 4
Lean forward over a sink or basin and tilt your head to one side. Keep your forehead at about the same height as your chin or a lift it a bit higher, says the Himalayan Institute, a center for yoga and holistic living.
Step 5
Place the spout of the neti pot into the nostril that isn't facing down toward the sink. Your nostril should seal over the spout. Gently raise the back of the pot to pour the water into your nasal cavity and it should eventually pour out your lower nostril, says the Mayo Clinic. If you are severely congested, you may not immediately see the solution emerge from the other nostril. Try tilting your head lower. If this doesn't work, apply a warm compress over your sinuses for a couple of minutes to loosen the mucus before you try again.
Step 6
Breathe through your mouth the whole time you pour the solution through your nasal cavity. Resist any urge to swallow and keep your throat fully open, says Planet Green.
Step 7
Blow your nose or exhale vigorously over the sink when you have finished pouring the solution through your first nasal cavity. Either way, don't pinch one or both nostrils after you use the neti pot. Both nostrils should be open as you blow out mucus, even if you haven't yet irrigated both nostrils.
Step 8
Refill your neti pot with the solution and repeat the process on the other side. Don't forget to exhale vigorously over the sink or blow mucus from your nostrils after you have flushed them, says the Himalayan Institute.
Things You'll Need
- Neti pot
- Measuring spoon
- Measuring cup
- ¼ tsp.salt
- Small basin or sink
- Over-the-counter saline nasal solution (optional)
