For those of you who get a sinus infection each year and need to take antibiotics or who suffer from frequent nasal congestion due to allergies, Neti Pots are an excellent way to keep the sinuses clear and you breathing freely!

For an acute sinus infection perform the Neti pot 4 times a day to flush out the bacteria and mucous.  For chronic sinus congestion perform 1-2 times per day for several months to flush the sinuses and break up debris from prolonged infection, allowing the nasal mucosa to heal completely.

 To increase the therapeutic effect of your neti pot, I like to have patients add anti-bacterial herbs and probiotics to speed healing and to make the therapy for effective.

•  Add 1-2 drops of liquid garlic extract or ¼ tsp of goldenseal glycerite  (I like Herb Pharm brand) to the below recipe. These extracts act as disinfectants to kill bacteria, viruses, yeasts, molds, and fungi.
• I also recommend adding probiotics to the neti pot 1 time per day –  simply add a pinky full of probiotics to the Neti pot  (you can use a powdered probiotic of open up a capsule)

 

How to Perform a Neti Pot

Supplies needed: 

• Neti pot
• Sea salt (very important – no iodized salt!!!)
• Filtered or distilled water

Steps: 

1. Mix ½ teaspoon of sea salt with 1 cup of lukewarm water. (The closer the temperature is to the temperature inside your nose the more comfortable the treatment will be. Test temperature of water upon inside of wrist.)
2. Add salt water mixture into Neti pot.
3. Tilt head down in sink so you are looking directly into sink basin. Maintaining this angle and then tilt head to the side.  Insert Neti pot spout into right nostril.  Breathe through your mouth.
4. Using ½ of the salt water mixture, allow the water to flush through sinuses. The salt-water mixture and debris from your sinuses will flow out of left nostril.  Maintain breathing through mouth.
5. Repeat with other 1/2 of salt water mixture in left nostril.
6. Gently blow remaining liquid out of sinuses with several short blows. Do not plug one nostril, this will create fluid backup into Eustachian tubes.
7. Enjoy Free Breathing!

 

A good alternative to a Neti pot would be the Neilmed sinus rinse kit – it comes with a squirt bottle, saline packets and complete instructions. These Neti pots are available at most local pharmacies

 

Editor’s Note: The information in this article is intended for your educational use only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health practitioners with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition and before undertaking any diet, supplement, fitness, or other health program.