Neti Pot for Sinus Infections

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.

Use a pinch of baking soda in with the salt and water. It will buffer the solution and be much more comfortable.

Am I using my neti pot wrong? I never get anything out of my nose/sinus' and then, hours later, I start dripping from my nose--so embarrassing at work! Here's how I use it: fill it with the saltwater, put spout up to one nostril, lean over sink and pour from pot. It runs in one nostril and out the other. I then gently blow, leaving both sides open, then treat the other side the same way. When I am really stuffed up, it will come into my mouth instead of out the other nostril, so I just let it flow on out. Is it normal for it to drip so bad so much later? Maybe I should just do it at bedtime, not in the morning?

Hi BAMAGIRL (Alabama) US---

You are using the neti pot alright. I never had anything happening with that practice. So I asked an Ayurvedic doctor. He told me that a nasal syringe with sesame oil would be more effective. So far I don't know where to obtain such a syringe. Things work different with different people, too.

The practice can be done anytime away from meal time. Good luck.

Namaste, Om

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.

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.

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!

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...

I need some help here. I am so tired of being sick. I have been taking Wal-mart "Equate" Allergy & Congestion Relief-D 24 hour relief. BC powders for this headache. 2 Chewable vitamin C 500mg each total 1000mg.

I found this site and did the fresh garlic in boiling hot water and draped the beach towel over my head and breathed in thru nose and mouth for about 3-4 minutes each time. I did this twice today. And I also did the ACV in 8oz glass of water , once. I have done the Niti Pot about 4 times. So my question is 1-can I just take 2tblespoons of ACV without the water? and if so how many a day? Can/should I add this to my Neti Pot solution and if so how much? Can I cook the garlic and eat it cooked or does it have to be raw? and what about putting a slice of garlic in the Neti Pot ?

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.

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.

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?

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.

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!!

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.

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