April 13th, 2009
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I recently encountered this question while browsing the net and thought it was a important question for neti pot users. While I do not think there is an answer set in stone, my personal preference is to try to get water behind the nostril that is clogged. (That’s assuming both aren’t giving you problems).
I do tend to have more problems with my left nostril getting blocked at night while I sleep. The best method I have found is to flush the water through from the right side and try to get the debris and mucus to wash out the left nostril. In other words, I am getting the saline mixture behind the congestion and trying to wash it forward instead of trying to push it through the nasal cavities.
If you find that both nostrils are congested, then try to see which one allows you to exhale the most from and then flush from the other side. You may end up trying from both sides to obtain a good flow of saline.
Just to summarize…try to flush from the opposite side to see if that helps you get rid of congestion in a certain nostril.
April 9th, 2009
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Hey folks, it’s allergy season…time to get ready for the sniffles and sinus problems. Of course those of you using a neti pot may not be affected as seriously as those that don’t practice nasal irrigation.
I just visited a friend the other day and he was headed to the bathroom to use his neti pot. He was feeling a little stuffy after being outside and came home and promptly washed out his sinuses. He doesn’t take any chances after he has been exposed to allergens..in his case it was pollen.
Those of you that do not use a neti pot, should consider adding the proactice of nasal irrigation to your daily routine and see if you can help ward off troubles with allergies.
I also wanted to take the time to remind everyone that I just recently posted some research abstracts on nasal irrigation to the neti pot site. These research posts cover the science behind the neti pot and you should find them to be an interesting read.
March 13th, 2009
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Have you ever been curious as to what medical professionals have to say about the neti pot. I’ve just added a new page on the main neti pot site that will display clinical study abstracts on the practice of nasal irrigation.
This is some very interesting reading and I recommend that you take a few minutes and browse through the links. I’ll try to keep new links coming and give you access to a lot of information in one central location.
Take a look at the new page: neti pot science
February 22nd, 2009
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People have asked about the prospect of sharing a neti pot among family members. It is possible to share a neti pot as long it is properly cleaned after each person uses it. You should never use a neti pot after someone else before it is cleaned.
In larger families or group settings, the time it takes to properly clean the neti pot would not make it’s use feasible under these circumstances. Ideally, each person should have their own neti pot and thus be responsible for cleaning it after they are done using it.
Plastic neti pots offer an inexpensive way to equip larger groups with their own pots. An example here would be a large family where everyone uses a neti pot for sinus flushing and would be using them around the same time. Children would likely be using theirs as they prepare for school, and as you can see, sharing one neti would be very difficult in this setting.
October 29th, 2008
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Nasal Irrigation is not a new concept. This sinus cleansing technique has been practiced for centuries in the far east. Western medicine has just recently caught up to what some people have known for some time–nasal irrigation is an effective process to help maintain your sinuses.
The sinuses are self cleaning–that is if everything is working properly. Excess and dried mucus can prevent the body from being able to sweep out debris and bacteria from the nasal passages. Once the system breaks down, the person is left vulnerable to sinus infections and this condition can become chronic.
The key to keeping your sinuses healthy is to augment the body’s own cleaning process by washing your sinuses via nasal irrigation. This simple procedure is best done with a neti pot, which is a small vessel that resembles a teapot. The spout of the neti pot allows the user to press it against a nostril and pour a stream of warm saline concentration through the sinuses.
Nasal Irrigation washes out pollutants and moistens and keeps the sinus membranes from drying out. By keeping bacteria and excess mucus from becoming trapped in the sinuses, the neti pot is a life saver for those that suffer from chronic sinus problems.
It is permissible to irrigate the sinuses up to four times daily and the process can be done as part of your normal personal hygiene routine. It is also a good idea to flush the sinuses whenever you know you have come in contact with allergens that you know can cause you problems.
Nasal Irrigation is a inexpensive home remedy for sinuses problems and is more cost effective that buying over the counter decongestants, etc.
October 25th, 2008
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Using a neti pot to help maintain better sinus health is a relatively new concept here in the western world. The practice of Jalaneti or nasal irrigation has been practiced for centuries in the far east.
This blog will keep you up to speed on the use of the neti pot and nasal irrigation. We hope to share personal experiences and medical research into this simple concept.
