Nasal irrigation is once again being recognized as an effective way to clear nasal congestion, fight the common cold and relieve allergies.
Why has he come back so strong?
People are tired of drugs and want an alternative natural treatment for allergies, the common cold and nasal congestion. Nasal irrigation with the Ayurvedic neti pot is the way to go: cheap, fast and extremely effective.
Taking an antihistamine or inhaling it does not eliminate the problem. All it does is temporarily slow down mucus production. So, once again, one finds drugs in the nose or throat.
How does nasal irrigation eliminate the problem? Not at all. That’s another topic that requires balancing the immune system, reducing stress, maintaining proper hydration and proper nutrition. However, to tickle her, freeze-dried nettle works great as does quercetin.
But until one achieves this treatment, allergies persist and so does sinus congestion, especially now due to colds and flu viruses. There should be immediate relief, and that is what the neti pot provides.
Basically, what the neti pot does is gently remove excess mucus, bacteria, pollen, allergens, and viruses from your sinuses. There is one main sinus that the neti pot can reach: the maxillary sinus which is located on either side of the nose, basically inside the ‘cheek bone’. When they fill with pus or mucus, it hurts. Not only does it hurt, but it provides additional shelter for more bacteria and viruses, since the immune system cannot enter. The door is closed.
Nasal irrigation opens that door by washing away pus and mucus. Then the IgA antibodies of the immune system, which live on the mucous membranes of the nose, work again.
Can antihistamines, aspirin, or tylenol do that? A resounding no.
Do not treat the symptom. Treat the cause of the symptom. It’s so easy to do and it’s rarely done.
One must think: “Why do I have nasal congestion and pain on both sides of my nose?” Mucus buildup. Ok, why? I am sick due to the common cold. Good. Why? I’ve been working my butt off at work. Understandable. What are you gonna do about it? Take vitamin C. (Studies show it really works when you’re sick.) That’s a start.
What are you going to do about the pain and nasal congestion in the nose?
I’m going to do a nasal irrigation with my neti pot. Well! Now we are talking!
Do you want to know how to use the neti pot correctly? Silly question, I know. Of course yes!
Basically, I recommend using filtered water since chlorine dries and irritates mucous membranes as it damages proteins. You may be thinking this is a good thing because you want to dry out your mucous membranes and the chlorine can help kill bacteria. No, not really. Chlorine takes a long time to kill bacteria. The other is that you want your sinuses to have their natural mucous secretions, since they are the ones that carry the IgA antibodies. IgA antibodies are what tell the immune system to remove bacteria and viruses from the nose.
{A little medical side note: 1 in 700 people have IgA deficiency. This is not useful for obvious reasons. A neti pot is extremely important to these people. If you get sinus infections, colds, and other sinus viruses frequently, you may want to get tested to see if you’re one of the lucky winners for an IgA deficiency. It’s a simple nose swab test.}
To use the neti pot correctly:
- Fill the neti pot preferably with warm filtered or store-bought water. Neither hot nor cold water. It must be hot.
- Add 1/4 teaspoon of pure salt. Do not use mineral salts or sea salts. Some people are allergic to shellfish and this will not improve the situation. One can buy pure neti salt and it is not expensive. Regular table salt is fine too, but it processes like crazy – they use over 15 chemicals to end up with pure white table salt. You didn’t want to know that, did you?
- You can also add a pinch of baking soda. This softens the water a bit to make it easier on the mucous membranes.
- I use a tincture called Neti Wash Plus that comes with or without zinc. Basically, this is a blend of antibacterial, antifungal, and immune-supporting nutrients and herbs that have been shown to be effective in research. It’s pre-made and you just add one or two droppers into the neti pot. Only use this during mucus buildup and sinus congestion. Don’t use it every day as it is designed to break up sticky mucus. If you don’t have sticky mucus, you will damage your thin, healthy mucus, which you now know you need.
- I recommend doing this procedure in the shower. This way you can’t make a mess. You can also do this over a sink or sitting down with a large bowl on the table in front of you.
- Insert the spout of the neti pot into one side of the nose. Tilt your head slightly to the side and slightly forward. This allows the medicated water to flow from one side of the nose to the other. This action expels mucus and also drops medicated water into the sinuses.
- Remain in this position with your head bent and tilted while the water runs out, say for about 15 seconds.
- When 15 seconds have passed, remove the beak and gently blow your nose. Do not block one nostril while blowing your nose, as this brings mucus closer to the brain. Also don’t blow hard as this will push the mucus into the ear canal. Just blow gently, like a gentle puff out.
- Repeat on the other side. Do this about 2-3 times on each side. Refill the neti pot as needed. I can usually do enough with a full neti pot.
- This takes about 3 minutes. It sounds like a lot of work, but it’s fast, especially as you do more and more of it.
- Rinse the neti pot or place it in the dishwasher to sterilize it. I recommend buying one for each person in the family. This way you don’t have to wash it so hard every time.
You may feel one of two things: everything clears up and it’s easier to breathe, or, you’re more congested than before. If it’s full, don’t worry or blow your nose hard. Just wait. The neti wash plus tincture mix is working to break up the mucus and within minutes it will be searching for tissues as the mucus literally starts to come out of your nose. It’s pretty impressive how fast it works. Remember: do not blow hard and do not block one nostril. If you blow hard or plug one nostril, you’ve made your sinus congestion return, or worse, moved it toward your ear.
Don’t blow hard. There’s no need. The neti wash plus and nasal irrigator do all the work for you. You only provide the tissues and the bin.
Try to stay rested, relaxed and healthy. It’s not easy to do, but when you have a cold or a stuffy nose, now you know what to do!
If you have any questions about nasal irrigation, you can email me. I’ll be happy to help you.
Some basic precautions with nasal irrigation. If you have routine bloody noses, don’t do this. If your nose bleeds, adjust the salt/baking soda/tincture ratio. If your nose is still bleeding, stop as your mucous membranes may be too dry. I do not recommend using neti wash plus with zinc if your nose is sensitive. They do a neti wash plus without zinc that is also effective. Zinc is added as it stimulates the immune system. Also, do not use neti wash plus unless you have a stuffy nose or mucus buildup in your sinuses. A simple nasal irrigation with salt and baking soda is all you need if you have a slight buildup, say from last night’s sleep.
Which neti pot to choose? I prefer the stainless steel neti pot because I broke my ceramic neti pot in the shower when it fell. The plastic neti pot is also useful as you can throw it in your luggage when you travel.
NPR did a special report on the use of neti pots and nasal irrigation. Neti pots are making a strong comeback as the primary treatment for nasal congestion and allergies.
NPR’s quick recap: Morning Edition, October 12, 2005. An age-old technique that may have developed from yoga traditions is proving to be a simple and effective way to fight a cold. Rinsing the nasal passage with warm salt water can help prevent colds and provide relief for allergy sufferers. by Patricia Neighmond
You can listen to the full program on this page.
Good old NPR – they never cease to amaze me.
Enjoy the broadcast!
Cheers Ben
