Correct Neti Pot use

[Judie P]

I have read several threads on this, and some are different.  I see that most of you just use boiled, distilled water in the pot every day.  Some use saline solution.  I am just coming off of a bad cold and sinus infection, and want to know what is best to do.  Just boiled, distilled water or the use of saline solution?  I plan on starting tomorrow now that I can breath better again.

[Jasper]

I use a Neilmed nasal irrigation bottle filled with distilled water with added Barauka Atlantic Sea Salt.

You need to use salt in the water. Plain water (without the salt) will irritate the nasal passages and the sinuses. Have you ever gone swimming and gotten water up your nose. It is not a pleasant sensation. Plus, the irritation from plain water will make your sinuses and nasal passages more inflamed and irritated.

The proportions of water to salt should be included in the pamphlet or flier included with the container you use.

I use 1/2 teaspoon of the salt to 8 ounces of distilled water. Too little salt will cause inflammation and irritation. Too much does not feel good. The right amount is cleansing and soothing.

Do NOT use iodized salt. Iodized salt will burn and irritate the nasal passages.

I use the Baruka Atlantic Sea Salt because it is pure salt from the ocean and it includes all of the trace minerals originally contained in sea salt.

Regular salt that you buy in a super market is a chemical salt, composed of sodium and chloride.

Plain tap water contains a lot of organisms, chemicals, and adulterants. If you boil it you can get rid of the organisms but not the chemicals and adulterants. If you use tap water, boil it first so that you do not inadvertently get an unwanted infection from the organisms. Normal saline would be okay but it is expensive and unnecessary.

Distilled water is cheap. I buy it in the infant section of a drug store or market.

I find the saline irrigations to be extremely helpful, soothing, cleansing. I have been doing them since about 1990 since I had nasal sinus surgery to remove sinus polyps.

Good luck!

[Kathy57]

Hi,

You can buy Neilmed sinus Rinse packets to add to distilled water or boiled tap water.  I use the premixed packets when I travel and for convenience.  Just follow the directions.

I use the Neilmed Sinus rinse system because I have nasal septal perforations from a failed sinus surgery and my ENT thought it would be better for me than the Neti Pot.  (I fired the ENT that messed me up so bad). 

I have to use a sinus rinse twice per day and occasionally if things are really bad I will throw in a third one.

I boil water or use distilled.  I also make my own sinus rinse by filling my Neilmed sinus rinse bottle to the line with boiled water (that has cooled) and I add 1/4 tsp of salt and 1/4 tsp of baking soda.  Shake well before use. 

You can heat the water until it is just warm before you make the solution.  It's soothing that way.  Make sure it is not too hot.

Good luck with your Neti Pot.  I think you will like it.

Kathy

[Nymph]

I just use plain ol' cheap salt, non-iodized. I put it in filtered water which I heat in the microwave. We have a good water filter so I think that's enough. I make a fairly weak solution and that works well for me - more moisturizing. Minimum of once a day, twise during any infection, virus, or allergies.

[jazzlover]

Do not use plain salt.

I use Kosher salt (every store has it) and distilled water. I would never use filtered water myself.