Cleaning Your Sinuses the Neti Way!

I have been recommending the neti pot for sinuses ever since I first heard of it back in medical school. When my patients have an issue, I have them do it when they first wake up, and than again an hour before bed.

Preparation

Dissolve ½ teaspoon of sea salt and ½ teaspoon of baking soda in 8 ounces of lukewarm or body temperature distilled or previously boiled water to prepare the base solution.

Alternatively use more salt and less soda: ½ teaspoon of salt and ¼ of baking soda. Baking soda adjusts the pH of the solution to the one your body has.

Consider using premixed saline or a prepared salt package to make sure your percentage of salt to water is accurate.

3-5 drops of goldenseal tincture, or goldenseal tea added to the base solution will drain the mucous production.

To help with nasal dryness add 2-3 drops of sesame essential oil or aloe extract. (I love aloe.) This can be key for people suffering from nosebleeds.

2-3 drops of garlic oil, 2-3 drops of grapefruit seed extract or repeating with goldenseal can be used to help treat a sinus infection. But be careful, sinus infections can get serious so please see a physician or health care practitioner if symptoms are severe or they are reoccurring.

For the salt, AVOID:

Table salt. Additives like aluminum or silicone keep your salt from clumping in the salt shaker, but aren't helpful for sinus rinsing.

Iodized salt. The iodine may be useful when digested, but again – not for your sinuses.

Rock salt. This larger, coarser salt is great for grinding and cooking, but has additional minerals and is harder to dissolve in water.
Vegetable or flavored salt – again, you don't need any additional ingredients.

Time to Neti!

1. After preparing the warm saline solution and adding it to the pot, just lean over your bowl or sink, tilt the head sideways so your face is horizontal, insert the neti pot spout into the upper nostril. Be sure the spout is fully inserted so water cannot leak out that nostril.
2. Open your mouth and breathe through your mouth while you gently pour. RELAX.
3. After a few seconds, the water will begin to stream out of the lower nostril.
4. Use half your solution in the first nostril; save the remainder for the second.
5. In between nostrils, you can stand upright and GENTLY blow your nose to clear it.
6. If some water drains into your throat, it's OK. Simply spit it out. Work on our technique and the angle of your head till the water remains flowing only in and out of the nasal passages.

The only potential issues when using a neti pot is mixing the solution incorrectly. If you are not a person with an eye for detail, purchase premixed saline from your physician, health care practitioner, or pharmacist.

Enjoy your healthy sinuses!