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How to Use a Sports Bottle Instead of a Neti Pot
Sinuses can become stopped up due to allergies or the common cold. A neti pot clears up your sinuses with a saline solution 1. Rather than spend the money to buy a neti pot or leave home to get one when you're not feeling well, you can make a neti pot at home from a water bottle. Within minutes, the nasal congestion will usually clear up.
Wash the sports bottle and dry it completely before use. Pour the crushed sea salt and baking soda into the bottle.
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Add warm or room-temperature water to the bottle, close it and shake it to blend the salt, baking soda and water together.
Lean over a sink with your head tilted to the side. Place the spout of the sports bottle in the nostril that is higher up and squeeze the bottle gently. The solution will drain out from the other nostril.
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Switch sides and repeat the previous step. After draining is complete, blow your nose in a tissue to remove leftover mucus. Sterilize the neti pot thoroughly after use.
Tips
Use the dishwasher or a five-minute boil to sterilize the sports bottle. Make sure high temperatures are safe for the bottle or it will melt. If baking soda is not available, make the mixture with just salt and water.
Warnings
Do not plug one nostril with the sports bottle and hold the other closed at the same time, or the solution will run into your ears. The first time you use a neti pot or sports bottle, you may cough or the solution may go into your throat. This diminishes with practice and correct use.
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References
- Mayo Clinic: Neti pot: Can it clear your nose?
- WebMD: Do Neti Pots Really Work?
- Michels Dde S, Rodrigues Ada M, Nakanishi M, Sampaio AL, Venosa AR. Nasal involvement in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Int J Otolaryngol. 2014;2014:717419. doi:10.1155/2014/717419
- The Medical Center of Plano. Relieve sinus pressure with a neti pot. What’s a neti pot?. 2010.
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Is rinsing your sinuses with neti pots safe?. Updated January 24, 2017.
- Little P, Stuart B, Mullee M, et al. Effectiveness of steam inhalation and nasal irrigation for chronic or recurrent sinus symptoms in primary care: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial. CMAJ. 2016;188(13):940-949. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160362
- Meera S, Vandana rani M, Sreedhar C, Robin DT. A review on the therapeutic effects of NetiKriya with special reference to JalaNeti. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2019. doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2018.06.006
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sinus rinsing for health or religious practice. Updated February 28, 2017.
- Siddiqui R, Khan NA. Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis caused by Naegleria fowleri: an old enemy presenting new challenges. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014;8(8):e3017. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003017
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Number of case-reports of primary amebic meningoencephalitis caused by Naegleria fowleri (N=133) by state of exposure.
Tips
- Use the dishwasher or a five-minute boil to sterilize the sports bottle. Make sure high temperatures are safe for the bottle or it will melt.
- If baking soda is not available, make the mixture with just salt and water.
Warnings
- Do not plug one nostril with the sports bottle and hold the other closed at the same time, or the solution will run into your ears.
- The first time you use a neti pot or sports bottle, you may cough or the solution may go into your throat. This diminishes with practice and correct use.
Writer Bio
Rebecca Gilbert began writing and transcribing in 2003. In 2007, she started a resume-writing company. She earned an associate degree in sociology from Pima College and a bachelor's degree in communications at University of Wisconsin. Gilbert also does tech support for a major technology company and volunteers locally teaching job-seeking skills.