Neti pots – Ancient Ayurvedic Treatment Validated by Scientific Evidence

[HuckleB]

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=2841

"Nasal irrigation with salt water is recommended by 87% of family doctors as an adjunctive treatment to relieve the symptoms of nasal congestion and sinusitis. The simplest method is to hold salt water in your cupped hand, block one nostril while you inhale the water into the other nostril, then blow your nose. The high-tech version is to use a Neti pot, a little jug with a spout. You pour the salt solution from the Neti pot into one nostril and it drains out the other nostril. The technique is described here. Neti pot

The Neti pot originated in India in Ayurvedic medicine. Neti is Sanskrit for “nasal cleansing.” Other related ancient techniques that have not been adopted by scientific medicine include using a string instead of water and a yoga technique where you close one nostril, pour the solution into the other nostril and allow it to run out of the mouth.

Nasal irrigation provides short-term symptomatic relief and may improve nasal mucociliary clearance. It removes mucus not only from the nose but also from the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses.

A randomized controlled trial in 2002 found that daily hypertonic saline nasal irrigation improves sinus-related quality of life, decreases symptoms, and decreases medication use in patients with frequent sinusitis. Its effectiveness is supported by a Cochrane review.

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I've been using nasal irrigation for years, but I've got to one of these pots!

[tridim]

1. I use one every time my ears get plugged up.

It's really the only way to open up the eustachian tubes.

[SharonAnn]

4. Etruscan tubes? Cool!

[tridim]

5. You know what I meant. Fixed.

:)

[Richard D]

2. I also read a study a number of years ago . . .

. . . that said that regular neti users had less frequent URI's than non-users.

[ananda]

3. Thanks for reminding me!

I just did it.

I plan to keep on until this drainage
stuff goes away.

Thanks!

[enlightenment]

6. I've gotten lazy and pay the price.

Used to use mine every day and never had a stuffed nose, sore throat, cold . . .

Need to develop the habit again.

[silverweb]

7. It's catching on with doctors.

In the past year, I've done a lot more reports in which doctors recommend "nasal saline irrigation" for patients with recurrent colds, allergies, and sinus problems.

Neti pots (or a Waterpik or similar high-tech version) have gone mainstream, and that's a good thing.

[theoldman]

8. A water pick does a much better job.

The Neti pot is good for daily use but if you have a sore throat you need a water pick. The water pick will pump the saline solution into your sinus cavities where the bacteria lurks. You need a special cone shaped adapter and set the pressure very low.

[Warpy]

9. Warm saline is the only thing that unblocks my sinuses

after a miserable cold. I found that out by accident many years ago when I was desperate and used respiratory irrigant at work.

I'll still use a syringe rather than a neti pot, thanks.

[DavidDvorkin]

10. I've been using one for a while

and I've always wondered if it's really worth doing. It's good to have this info. Thanks.

[LeftishBrit]

11. Interesting. I was taught the low-tech form of this method by my mother

But never encountered the Neti pot or Ayurvedic link.

[cilla4progress]

12. Nasal recollections...

Yah, remember nose drops? I remember lying backwards on my mom's (twin - of course; it was the 60s) bed and squirting salty fluid u my nose. It was uncomfortable but, to this day, I love my Neti!

[struggle4progress]

13. Even the low-tech version works great: get a cup of rather warm (not hot) water, add

a bit less than a teaspoon of salt, sniff it through the nose into the back of the throat and spit it out. It's easy to overdo the salt; you don't want the solution to feel uncomfortable. Go through as much of the cup of liquid as you comfortably can: you can always do more later. I sniff this stuff regularly whenever my nose begins to drip: it flushes out all the junk, tends to dry the membranes a bit, and reduces the chance of an ugly infection

[WhiteTara]

14. I leave out the salt

and it is wonderful way to clear out my sinuses. Maybe if I use salt it will heal an infection in my "eurestation" tubes or however it is really spelled (see post upthread for correct spelling)

[Orrex]

15. The first time my wife tried one, she described it as self-inflicted waterboarding

Thereafter she got the hang of it.

I still haven't had the courage to try it...

[4_TN_TITANS]

16. I use the squeeze bottle version for more forceful flow

instead of the neti pot. It makes a big difference, especially regarding allergies. When you flush out the allergens that get stuck in there daily, along with bacteria and germs, it makes a difference.

Nasal irrigation seems to be the best kept secret in personal health and hygenics.

[Dorian Gray]

17. Me too....

I have the Ayr pump and it works great. It's a little weird to get used to, but once you do, it's easily done. I do it every night about an hour before I go to bed, and it helps with my seasonal allergies immensely.

[mzmolly]

18. K n R

We have one of these ...



Great to have when you're stuffed up. ;)

[Liberal Veteran]

19. I have the same one. Works great.

It does take a bit of getting used to, but it works well.

And for about 10 dollars, it is a bargain.

[mzmolly]

20. Indeed, it is a bargain.

:hi: Well worth the $!

[BuddhaGirl]

21. science finally caught up!

took them long enough! :thumbsup:

[bermudat]

22. I use the neti pot and no longer have 'the snorts' in the morning.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

23. I do it with a plastic syringe and warm saline.

Suck up saline with a 5cc plastic syringe. Stand up, lean head back, insert syringe in one nostril, close other with finger, open mouth.

Squeeze. Swallow water.

Stop, refill syringe, switch sides, lean back, insert syringe, close other nostril with finger, open mouth, swallow.

Stop, blow nose.

Picture: