Neti pot

I caught a summer cold. It's a bummer but I have been trying to stick it out and not take drugs. I used to use Ocean saline spray in the states... cheap and effective. Unfortunately I didn't bring any with me. I tried to make do with some salt water and my palm... not so successful. I went to Boots the other day to inquire what they had and my options were nose drops or an expensive spray can of salt water at £5.99!!  Which I unknowingly bought out of haste because I was annoyed the pharmacist was trying to push me on drugs and I told her I didn't want that. it has helped but not quite was I was looking for.

Anyways... it got me to thinking about my friend's recommendation about using a neti pot. uber_yank and pkessler discussed this briefly in the sinus thread. I am curious to hear more about it and any tricks.


for those who need a visual...
http://www.bytheplanet.com/Products/Yoga/neti/Netipot.htm

I read about a neti pot years ago and I've thought about it a few times but never used it.  I read about it here:

http://www.chinaberry.com/prod.cfm/pgc/12100/sbc/12107/inv/1360

I have never seen one before this thread but I have used a somewhat similar method that we learned about living in India.  We have these small capsules full of menthol and some other natural ingredients that you are supposed to open up in hot water that's in a bowl and then breathe in the steam.  You can do the same with Vicks Vaporub so I am guessing it is basically the same ingredients but that's what my husband uses when he is congested.  He generally does not use allopathic drugs unless he absolutely has to...

you are supposed to open up in hot water that's in a bowl and then breathe in the steam.  You can do the same with Vicks Vaporub

I bought some of this too!!

I used to get menthol crystals from the drug store.  Vicks does just as well in a bowl of boiling water.

It's a bit messier than buying a neti pot, but less messy than the palm of my hand ... I've used a soup spoon and that's worked well.

I've also used a few drops of eucalyptus oil in hot water and inhaled it.

And one last tip:  putting hot towels on your face/sinuses, as hot as you can stand for as long as you can stand (sensibly, of course!).

All these have worked for me.

what I can figure out is how to make it come out the other side. 

I think I need a live demo. 

Um, you don't.   (make it come out 'the other' side... now whether you need a live demo or not...? )

You SNORT it up one side... and spit it out.
Sounds gross, but I kinda found it (morbidly?) fascinating, realizing, "ah, so that's my sinus cavity path!"  (seriously)

So you do one nostril at a time.  In one direction.  Then..... SPIT!
(it's really not as gross as you may think, and once you're done, it's worth the relief!)

This might provide a bit more insight:  http://search.drweil.com/search?access=p&client=my_collection&proxystylesheet=my_collection&output=xml_no_dtd&site=my_collection&q=neti+pot&ip=80.41.90.164&filter=p
(my favorite 'heath' and well-being site)

Um, you don't.   (make it come out 'the other' side... now whether you need a live demo or not...? )

look at the pictures and instructions 
http://www.healingdaily.com/exercise/neti-pot.htm
http://www.jalanetipot.com/

I've got the snort and spit thing down 

even kids do it!! man, the stuff you can find on the internet!

https://www.shopholistic.co.uk/view_doc.php?view_doc=16&referrer=adwords&campaign=netigen&advert=jalanetilota

Wow.  Well I couldn't open the second link, but that pic and description in the first one, to me, seems quite misleading, as I personally have never had it go from one nostril 'through' the other, and it doesn't explain it clearly.  I'm thinking because she's tilting that pot, it's the extra water running off to the side, not coming out of her other nostril.

Anyway... give 'em all a go, see what works best for you - I'd just say don't invest in a neti pot unless you really think it will work for you.

Snort n' Spit works fer me!

I don't know what your secret is Kyperama, but snort and spit is NOT working for me. I can't get my nose to clear from this stupid hayfever, I'm willing to try anything!!! Well, actually it did work some, but just stuffed completely up again right away. I have NEVER had my nose stuffed up so badly that I absolutely could not breathe at all through a nostril. And this is what I keep suffering from. Man, it's annoying.

Ah.

When I'm stuffed up so bad I cannot breathe at all through my nose, that's when the hot towels on the face and breathing over eucalyptus steam is helpful.  HOWEVER - I can't say it's always worked. 

Sometimes, ya just need drugs.

Also, I have had times where I've tried to do the snort n' spit, and I only get more stuffed up... and end up with a horrendous headache!  So again, it doesn't always work!

I didn't realize I had hayfever til I moved here; I've always had sinus issues, but MAN - these past few weeks, instead of getting stuffed up, I get a very sudden, very dry throat that makes me cough incessantly, and my eyes water like crazy!  Not to mention all that crap/pollen?  that gets in them with the wind!

My best solution in California was surfing - getting dumped by a wave usually cleaned my sinuses out, but good! I am just not able to recreate that with just plain old salt water and a spoon!

I have a friend who swears by her neti pot....the only problem she had was when she forgot to add the salt to the water....ouch!!! 

I just haven't been able to bring myself to try one yet. 

I LOVE my neti pot!  I have pretty frequent sinusitis - always have, something I appear to have got off my dad.  Whilst pregnant the second time, it got awful.  My neti pot was a godsend, also a facial steamer thing w/a few drops of tea tree oil added.

I also use that Sterimar stuff from Boots.  I don't care if it costs a packet, it keeps my sinuses happy.