Got Hay Fever? Have you tried the Neti Pot?

Here is another health remedy from the strange-yet-effective file.

Have I told you before about how I went through that phase with terrible allergies?  About how I was miserable all the time and even gave up yoga? One thing that helped me survive that phase (and I continue to use now) is the Neti pot.

One day, I was watching random Oprah reruns and there was Dr. Oz.  He was promoting/demonstrating the Neti pot – a little tea pot style thing that you would use to wash out your sinuses.  Basically, you make a little bit of warm saline solution, then you pour it in one nostril, and it comes out the other.  You do both sides, then you are good to go.

I knew that saline solution could be helpful – I remember rinsing with salt water after getting my wisdom teeth out, it made sense that it could help flush and reduce inflammation in your sinuses.  It still seemed like it would be terrible.  But I was so miserable that I decided to try it.

I headed to Whole Foods where the nice gal in the health and beauty supply area knew all about it.  Her tip was to make sure that you really blow your nose well after you rinse.  Then I picked up a container of regular NON-iodized table salt and headed home to try it out.

And…

It was life changing!

Seriously, it really does help.

I became a Neti pot evangelist.  I would tell anyone with allergies to try it.  My sister always has terrible allergies and I really gave her the hard sell.  She wasn’t having any of it.  Finally, I told her that one day she would be so miserable that she would be willing to try it.  That day came and she has never looked back.  These days she is the one who reminds me to use my Neti pot when I start complaining about sniffles and sinus problems.

Here’s what you do:

• Take your little Neti pot.  Here is an Amazon link to the one that I have.
• Add ¼ teaspoon salt (non-iodized table salt).
• Fill with warm but not hot water (should be close to body temperature).
• Stir.
• Lean over the sink (just a little, you don’t need to bend way forward) and tilt your head to one side.
• Breathe through your mouth.
• Put the spout against your top nostril and pour.
• The water will come out your bottom nostril.
• The package recommends using one pot-full per side, but I usually just do half-and-half.
• After you’ve done both sides, lean over the sink some more.  After all the water has drained out of your nose, give it a good blow.

Few warnings:

• Make sure that you are using processed water.  I use tap water, but if your municipal water supply is questionable, you might want to use bottled, distilled water.
• If you are completely stuffed up, it won’t work.
• If you use too cold or too hot water, it won’t feel good.  Shoot for water around body temperature.
• If your sinuses are really unhappy, it might be a bit uncomfortable (like a slight burning feeling) but you will still feel good afterwards.
• I also don’t recommend using it before going to yoga class or any other kind of exercise class when you will be bending over.  I’ve had surprise reminders that I just poured a bunch of water up my nose (drip!).

Let me know what you think!  Happy Hay Fever Season!