BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Natural Living Neti pot

Does anyone in here use (or attempt to use) a neti pot? I have minor sinus issues, and I thought I would try the neti pot. I bought one and some salt from Solay Wellness and have tried it a few times. I think my nose is literally malformed. The most I have ever gotten to come out of my other nostril is just a small trickle. Normally it won't come out the other nostril at all. I think that the hole that is supposed to go through the nasal septum and connect the two nostril areas either isn't there or is clogged or something.

Anyone else have this problem? I've watched the "how to" videos and researched on a number of other websites, but I still can't figure out 1) what I might be doing wrong or 2) if it is indeed possible to have a whacked out nose!

It does take some practice. However, do be careful if you have a sinus infection. If used incorrectly the neti can actually push the infection up in to the ears and even eyes. (Yes, this happened to me!) Netis really should be taught by a person who knows what they are doing, ideally.

Nicki :-)

I don't have an infection or anything... Just minor allergies and minor night-time breathing issues.

Perhaps I'll figure it out eventually. Or perhaps my nose will begin to cooperate at some point... :p

Yes, I have used a neti pot. I use it when I feel a sinus issue coming on and it helps to diminish the situation. The only time that I experienced what you are talking about is when I was really stuffed up and I did the neti pot and nothing but a few drops came out. When I do it before that point of congestion the salt water flows freely. What about when you are in the shower, are you still super congested? If not I would try the procedure there. The last time I did it I was in the shower and it was really nice. So, what I do is boil some water and add my French sea salts (I use these because they have lots of minerals still in them)..just a couple pinches. I gently stir it up and let it cool till it is comfortable for my pinky to be in the water. Then I go to a sink or in the shower and put the neti pot in one of my nostrils and tilt my head to the other direction...and breathe out my mouth. Then I switch sides. If you have read the directions you are probably doing it correctly but perhaps you are just so congested that nothing breaks through...try the shower. Have you tried the yoga nostril exercise where you close up one nostril and breath soley through the other and switch...supposedly we have a dominate nostril and this exercise helps to bring about balance in the breath. Have fun. Candice naturamassage.com

I don't really feel congested, though my nose is typically half runny all of the time... But it still won't do it.

I will have to try the shower thing.

I did try the yoga thing once, and I couldn't do it for very long... I felt like I was going to pass out. I am typically a mouth breather because of my nose problems...

I've used a neti pot and you need to breathe through your mouth while using it. If you aren't getting passage, there must be a blockage. Maybe you do have something going on with your nasal structures. It is pretty common actually!

Have you seen an ear-nose-throat specialist?

Nope. No health insurance, and too expensive otherwise... :p

I have been using a Neti pot for almost a year now. When I first started all I was getting was a few drops, then a trickle and then it turned into a stream. If you have allergies your passages may be so inflamed that there is not room for stream to flow through. Since you cannot afford a trip to the docs I would say just stick with it as long as you are following directions. If you persist your nasal mucosa may shrink a bit as the inflammation lessens. The other alternative may be a saline nasal spray - get a fine mist application and if you use this for awhile it may help get the inflammation down enough so the neti pot can then do its thing. If you have no success with this I would strongly encourage you to get to the docs or at least get on some allergy med. continue with the neti pot and together you may beat your nasal troubles. I used to be on three allergy meds just to get through my day and now the neti pot alone works to keep me breathing well - but it did take time and a combination of all of the above to get to this point.

good luck!!

Slight success!

I tried the neti pot in the shower, and I did have a trickling effect. I'll see how it goes that way, and hopefully it will get to where I don't have to do it in the shower...