Holistic health: neti pot

The first time I saw a commercial on TV for a neti pot I laughed so hard my abs started to cramp. I could not believe anyone would willingly pour water up their nose. But after a horrible sinus infection in high school my doctor finally convinced me to try it.

In western culture we believe that anything to do with most of the body, especially the nose, is disgusting; however, in recent years holistic remedies are becoming increasingly popular and accepted. Sinus washes, especially with a neti pot are becoming common ways to not only relieve symptoms from a cold or the flu, they are also being used to maintain health throughout the year.


Looking back I wish I had tried a sinus wash long before I did. For a few years I only used a neti pot when I was congested or battling a cold, but over the last month I have been using it daily as a way to wash out any pollen or other allegergins. I had been taking a decongestant every night to help me battle my seemingly constant allergies, but after a month of using a neti pot daily I no longer have to take any medication for it. My congestion, scratchy or irritated throat and post-nasal drip have drastically decreased. 


However, a neti pot does have a learning curve. In an article on Mother Nature Network someone compared using a neti pot to “waterboarding for hippies,” which I completely understood. The first time I tried it was horrible. First I poured it through my noes, straight down my throat, which ended in me coughing up salt water and shooting it back out my nose. When I tried again instead of coming out the other nostril in a steady stream it came pouring out of my eyes. But once you get the right angle set, the nasal wash is pain free. 


Want to know more about potential health benefits of using a net pot?
WebMd has great health information, for a better idea on how it works head on over to MMM, and for safety check here. You can also check out how Oprah jumped onto the new trend here.