Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Neti Pot, How I Love Thee...

Last year, a friend gave me a neti pot for my birthday. Her disclaimer was "I know you get lots of allergies and I heard that this can help, and maybe you won't have to take medicine anymore." Here is a picture of a neti pot, in case you don't know what it is:

We are gonna get a little personal here ( I don't normally discuss the state of my boogies with strangers). I have to be honest, I was a little skeptical at first. What the neti pot is, is a sinus irrigation technique that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for years and years as a way to maintain sinus health. Since I am extremely prone to sinus infections and pouring warm salt water up your nose HAS to be better for you than taking antibiotics twice a year, I decided to have faith and give it a shot.

I have been using my neti pot for over a year now. I use it once or twice a day, depending on my allergies or exposure to pollution. Since I started using it, I can actually breath out of my nose! Who would have thought?!?! I went from taking allergy medicine year round to just a few weeks in the Spring and a few weeks in the Fall when allergies are at their peak. But best of all, I went from having at least 2 severe sinus infections a year to maybe getting one mild one (and NO antibiotics!).

Whenever I feel a cold coming on, I become fastidious about using my neti pot and within a day or 2 my cold clears up and I never reach the maximum level of sickness. After reading this NY Times article on it, which basically says that people didn't get well any faster taking antibiotics vs. using a neti pot, I am convinced.

It turns out this tiny nasal tea pot was one of the best, most useful and most memorable birthday presents I've ever gotten. Here are a few tips: use a tablespoon of NON iodized salt for each nostril, make sure to tilt your head to the side instead of backwards and use water that is luke warm (not hot...you don't want to burn the inside of your face).

Please let me know if you have any questions about the neti pot. I find it a great and green way to keep my sinuses clean.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's so funny you mention a neti pot...I have a friend who also swears by hers (I had never heard of one until she started raving about it). It sounds like a great all-natural healer!

BTW, totally thought of you reading this month's issue of Self magazine. It has a great feature on small steps you can make daily to be more green: I couldn't figure out how to send you the link but check it out if you get a chance! --Amy (A.)

Nancy Gort said...

I love my neti pot!! I don't use mine quite as often, although I probably should. Sometimes it makes my ears pop, like being on an airplane which is an odd feeling. For the most part though, it's fantastic and I think I'll go home tonight and neti my nose!