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Neti Pot for Sinus Infections

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Neti Pot
Posted by Gayle (Winter Park)
★★★★★

I've had sinus infections off and on for years. I heard about a device called a neti pot while studying yoga. At the first sign of a sinus problem coming on (usually early spring), I bring out my pot and flush my sinuses with 1 cup of warm water and 1/4 teaspoon of salt (non-iodized) once or twice a day. It's been remarkable in helping me to avoid trips to the doctor for antibiotics.

Neti Pot
Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 03/05/2025

Facts about the Nose and Nasal Irrigation 1986

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Facts_about_the_Nose_and_Nasal_Irrigatio/wJJWcIKm4ekC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=NASAL+DROPS&printsec=frontcover

I found this small booklet to be very helpful about Nasal Irrigation of the sinuses. It taught me thing I did not know.

Neti Pot
Posted by Gtcharlie (Los Angeles, Ca) on 10/22/2014

There is nothing wrong with your application. I would suggest dump the salt water since it doesn't work for you. I use coffee and add a quarter of a teaspoon of baking soda, shake it well before applying it. Coffee is the leftover from my pot and is just sitting there. I was inspired by the coffee enema method. Bring it to work and use it one more time in pm. Hope it will help.

Neti Pot
Posted by Kush (Bhopal, India) on 11/20/2014

I have the same problem, so I started doing anulom vilom after that and it worked. For first few days this problem will be there but then it will go, and believe me you will be happy doing jal neti. Learn anulom vilom from a expert.

Neti Pot
Posted by Carolina (Nyc, Ny, Usa) on 11/12/2012

I have had a bad sinus infection for the past 2 years, non stop. I had two courses of antibiotics, unsuccessfully. I cannot read, think, breath due to the pressure in my head. My left cheek bone and jaw hurts. My eyes are glassy and itchy all the time. I tried the apple cider vinegar solution but it destroyed my stomach, badly. I got gas, terrible cramps, and overall a feeling of discomfort.

Yesterday I bought a neti pot that comes with salt and aromatic essential oils. I tried it last night for the first time and it didnt hurt or bother me. I produced very clear mucous and felt my nasal passages were clearer. However, my head did not stop hurting and I had a dry cough right after. I tried it again this morning and I felt I was drowning. I also got a dry cough afterwards. The whole afternoon I felt awful. The pressure in my head was terrible. I felt I was the whole afternoon under water. At some point I bent down and a splash of water came out and then again. I exhale vigorously as suggested in the neti pot instructions and do the exercises to remove the excess water. I tried it again tonight as I am planning on using the neti pot twice a day. Again I felt like drowning while using the neti pot and got a dry cough.

Right after I finished, I got a really bad pain on the left side of my upper stomach and now I am bloated and my belly feels sensitive. Are these symptoms going to go away? Is this normal? I feel I am using the neti pot correctly. I even got my husband to be right by my side to correct my posture. But I dont always get a steady flow when using the neti pot and I was wondering how to do so. I also feel my throat is salty and I am producing some kind of salty phlegm. Thanks for any advice!

Neti Pot
Posted by Cecile (Lakewood, Ca) on 11/13/2012

When using the neti pot put one fourth of a teaspoon of sea salt in it. Stir. You will not get that feeling of drowning. Works much better. Hope this helps...

Neti Pot
Posted by Jaxine (Nowhere, Fl) on 01/21/2012
 ★★★★★

I have been suffering from recurrent sinusitus for years now. I think it has been 5. I have about 5-6 infections a year, usually accompanied by a cold. I am in the middle of my first infection of the year, most likely caused by stress. I have been on a longer work schedule and doing quadruple the work. But this infection wasn't accompanied by a cold. It just came last night. I do the Neti Pot 2x a day everyday so I can prevent infection.

I also take a multi vitamin with extra C 2x a day and a 5000 mg Vitamin C 1x a day. This only clears out my mucus and let's me breathe easier for a little bit.

This morning I mixed ACV into my normal sinus rinse. I instantly felt some relief even though it stung. I also did some oil pulling for about a minute and it showed no results.

Neti Pot
Posted by Heidi (Concord, NH) on 12/29/2008

I notice that most of the posts that suggest using salt name Sea Salt. I'd like to suggest Morton's Lite Salt. Instead of being all sodium cloride, it contains about 50% potassium cloride. I find that this salt does not sting as much but give a similar result. True you are buying from a big company and there are "extra" ingrediants like calcium silicate, magnesium carbonate, dextrose, and potassium iodide. But for me the trade off makes sense. I would do the Neti pot a lot less frequently if I was burning my nose with sodium cloride ever time. I use the same amount of Lite Salt to replace the sodium cloride.

Neti Pot
Posted by Yamuna Devi (Taos, Nm, Usa) on 06/04/2011

An important point that is not often mentioned - neti should be done with DISTILLED water - not tap water. Tap often contains minerals, an often other elements that can aggravate. If you are not getting the results you want and are using tap water, make the change and feel the difference. I had a friend who 'cured' chronic rhinitis, and another who avoided nasal surgery using neti 2-3X daily.

Neti Pot
Posted by Randy (Myrtle Beach, Sc) on 01/11/2012

I have one nostril that is partially obstructed. My question is since I have never used a neti pot before.. Is it beneficial to add some H202 drops in the water along with celtic sea salt and baking soda or is it really not needed because the sea salt and BS will do a good enough job on it's own?

Neti Pot
Posted by Lad (Bel Air, MD) on 03/20/2008
 ★★★★★

I had aggressive sinusitius for four years which would grace me with unusually acute fatigue and depression - it's REALLY miserable. I constantly took nasty Leviquin antibiotics and had sinoplasty over 2 years ago to open my breathing passages.

It is a very elusive infection (sinuses probably offer germs a lot of hiding places) though I think household and seasonal allergy congestion is my big trigger to proliferate it.

Earlier this year, I had a re-infection that closed off my breathing for the first time since the surgery. This time, the Leviquin didn't seem to get it all.

But, I FINALLY whipped it this time around, and breathe better than ever, with:

- Olive Leaf Extract Aggressive use (150mg 4-6x/day or more) w/ 15%-20% oleuropein (seems to route out the germs IF used long enough in quantity) DON'T use w/ antibiotics, N-Acetyl-Cysteine or Soil-Based probiotics. A co-worker, mentioned below, also swears by OLE alone for her chronic sinusitis.

- Neti pot rinse 2x/day (using dash of Himalayian Crystal Salt w/ low sodium, so it doesn't need baking soda buffering like table salt). Sinus irrigation is very proven and is not nearly as hard or gross as it may look to some. It works much better than the sinus/face "baths" & "dips" I tried and has more flow and volume than the squeeze bulbs I used. A special, BIG nasal syringe I bought blasted WAY too much pressure and drove the congestion/infestion further up my sinus/ear canals making it worse. (Which a co-worker swore her Neti pot use also did to her- something said to sometimes happen in people with larger ear canal openings). To prevent this, you may need to wait until you sinus passages open up enough for the water to gently flow through them. Maybe a one-time use of Afrin-type sprays will accomplish this. Just take it slow and steady.

- Nasalcrom spray afterwards 2-4/xday to turn off the Mast Cell / histamine triggers. It's neither an antihistamine, nor a steroid, and is a decent, localized, solution with a very good safety profile - (for a pharmaceutical ;-)). You just got to get started early with it and be patient. The coming Spring & Fall Allergy Seasons will put this stuff to the real test. I may have to use Nettles, Claritin, etc. to pick up the loose ends. (I had success with Zicam Allergy too, but I wondered if the gel ultimately worsened congestion).

------------------------------------- Also used (and probably helpful):

- Lactoferrin w/ colostrum 1-2 grams/day (infected sinuses naturally try to secrete more ferrins to rob germs of the blood iron they feed from). That, and Germanium, also seem to consistantly help my general respiration.

- Apple Cider Vinegar, (1 tsp) or Potassium supplements (150mg) whenever I felt stuffiness coming on (seems to help dry out the sinuses rapidly). Cheap and worth a try. Sinus Buster pepper-based nasal spray may also help open passages up - if you don't mind the sting.

- Seagate Olive Leaf Nasal Spray (w/ GSE & Wild Indigo) (used during the day, esp. in dry air - doubtful it is very effective alone without all the above).

---------------------------- Environmental trigger elimination I probably should try (if I wasn't so lazy)

- total house / air vent cleaning and mold detection (or just move!)

- eliminating ALL wheat/flour and dairy in my diet (major ER4YT "Blood Type O" immune triggers). Both seem to automatically make the sinuses a little stuffier, hence, I keep the ACV / Potassium above handy.

Good Luck!

Neti Pot
Posted by Greengirl (Boston, MA) on 05/28/2009

I too discovered the Neti pot from an Oprah episode. It helps, alot. So does a simple saline spray (drug store). I have some serious allergies, so I also take 1/2 a benadryl before bed (weaned myself down to 1/2 a pill a day, but eventually hope to rid myself from taking any pill). Additionally, and probably the most important tip I have, I see an acupuncturist once a week (tremendous help for allergies, sinuses and improving my immune system). Of all the treatments above, including mine, acupuncture and drinking lots of water helps the most.

Neti Pot
Posted by Jem (NYC, USA) on 01/30/2007
 ★★★★★

I was desperate for a cure to my clogged sinuses and post nasal drip. Unable to take over the counter decongestants I searched high and low for a natural cure. I came across what is known as a neti pot which has been used by the yogis of India for centuries. It looks like a genie pot and you can buy it in any major pharmacy. There is one company who sells it along with little packets of solution which is more convenient but you can make your own solution using equal parts of salt and baking soda. You put the solution into the neti pot and fill it with warm *NOT HOT* water. The spout of the neti pot goes up one nostril, you tilt your head and the stream of warm water and solution comes out the other nostril. You then repeat the process on the other side, gently blowing your nose in between. The results for me were immediate but it can take a few days to get the mucous out. It really works, I have unclogged my sinuses and my post nasal drip is almost gone. You can use it every two hours but I suggest every other day. It can feel weird at first but it doesn't hurt and if you hold your head to the side properly, it will not go down your throat. If it burns a little it can mean that you either put too much salt or not enough in the water, you will have to play with the amount or buy the pre-made packets in the store. I just bought a refill of 40 packets for around ten bucks. This will draw all of the mucous out. I did not believe it but I was so desperate that I gave it a try. The nose is the number one source of viruses and bacteria because it is a filter. All colds and flu invade your body through your nose. By cleansing your sinuses every other day with a neti pot, you are removing viruses, bacteria, pollen and debris that can make you sick. It can be used to prevent getting sick as well as relieving the symptoms. I clean my sinuses with a neti pot before I brush my teeth and I do it every other day.

Neti Pot
Posted by Katia (Jacksonville, United States) on 09/13/2007
 ★★★★★

I get a miserable sinus infection every year, usually it begins in August. A couple of years ago it started, after about three weeks, I went to the doctor and he gave me antibiotics and nasal spray. Ten days later I was no0 better off than when I started. Another, stronger antibiotic, another two weeks, same infection. Eight weeks and three drugs later I decided I was just going to have live this way forever. Then our accupuncturist neighbor came over one day and explained the neti pot process to me. A mild sea salt and warm water solution into the neti pot, tip your head back and slowly pour the salt solution into one nostril. This is where it gets tricky, because nature sends the salt water straight to your throat which will generally make you choke or cough in that position. You have to teach yourself to close off your throat (not breathe). Once you get a good bit of water in your nose, you roll your head backwards slowly and in the opposite direction. If the water is in the right nostril, roll left. You should be able to feel the solution running through your sinuses. Make sure you do this over a sink, or with a towel handy, because once the water makes it through, it will come out the opposite nostril, at which point you will likely sneeze or cough. I would repeat this step 4-5 times twice a day, ending with a good nose blowing. Salt dries things, even gooey sinuses. I never buy allergy meds any more, and before I could find a real neti pot, I mixed the salt and water in a glass and filled a straw with the solution. My kids find this process very entertaining as well, I usually have an audience when I treat my sinus infections.

Neti Pot
Posted by Karena And Baird (Gainesville, FL) on 03/04/2007
 ★★★★★

I have cured my sinus infections by using a Netipot, which is a lavage treatment for your sinuses. But instead of just adding salt to the warm water, I also added 1/8 tsp. of a crushed clove of garlic. The garlic burns, but only for an instant. The garlic will zap the bacteria! I poured one pot of this into each nostril 2 times a day. My sinus infection was cured in 4 to 5 days. No, it is not a quick fix, but it does work!!

Neti Pot
Posted by Noni (British Columbia) on 02/29/2024

Maybe a reference to those Bulb shaped suction balls that are for babies.


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