It is cold, sinus infection and flu season again. I hate to take medicine unless I have absolutely no other alternative, so I was really happy when a friend of mine told me about her neti pot. I have used one ever since and just love it. I think when you can treat your body naturally instead of with chemicals, it is always a good thing. I use mine every day (and twice a day in the Fall and Winter) as a preventive measure. But, you can start using one when you are sick too. I have not had a single sinus infection or cold in the two years I have used it.

Since I started using one, I have seen Dr. Oz demonstrate it on Oprah and I have seen it demonstrated on The Doctors. I purchased mine at a health food store, but since then, I have seen them in Bed, Bath and Beyond and your local drugstore may have them too.

If you do not know what a neti pot is here are a few articles you may want to read:

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/sinus...re-9/neti-pots
http://www.healingdaily.com/exercise/neti-pot.htm
http://www.himalayaninstitute.org/Ne...otGateway.aspx

and here are videos for you to watch:

http://video.google.com/videosearch?...ls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=DiX&q=neti%20pot&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#

I just thought I would offer this idea to anyone who is not familiar with the neti pot---it may help you get through the winter a little healthier.

Yes, I use my neti. It sure hepls with sinus infections. I had a really bad infection a couple of weeks ago. It was in my lower jaw. It hurt so bad that I thought I needed a root canal. When I finally figured out it was a sinus infection and used my neti pot it went away in a about 3 days with no medicine.

I used one for the first time this year after staying in a house that was full of dust & dirt. I used the neti pot for a couple of days & it helped immensely.

I've told other people about it. I assure them that it does work once you get past the "eww, gross" factor.

I cannot get anyone else in my family (including my husband who has year round allergies and sinus drainage) to get past the "eww, gross" factor either!! Every time one of them gets a cold or sinus infection I remind them about how great my neti is----but I get no takers!!

That video was hysterically funny!!!
I will have to look into one of these :wink:

they really do work.saw one demonstrated on Oprah,with Dr OZ,and bought one for my daughter

Yup. It really works. I just make sure I use it when I'm alone.I shudder to think what it may look like to an observer.

Renee

I just bought one a couple of days ago, but am still trying to work up the courage to try it. The idea of pouring water through my nose just freaks me out -- I'm terrified of putting my face in water, and can't even swim, so this whole idea just seems completely freaky to me! But I have really bad allergies and get several sinus infections a year, so I know I need to do it...

Interesting. My husband would use one. I'll show this to him. I haven't had trouble with this, but he does now and then. :D

I felt the same way. My 17 year old son was brave enough to try it and it worked really well for him so I decided to put on my big girl panties and try it. I survived two c-sections for goodness sake!! Anyway, it's really not bad at all. The warm water actually feels really nice. Try it, I think you'll like it.

i use a saline nasal spray from the drug store. (i'm pretty sure it's the same stuff we contact wearers put into our eyes).

inexpensive.
easy to use.
does the same thing a neti-pot does.

but ...
not at all gross. :wink:

I, too, use saline spray. After a year of horrendous allergy attacks where my eyes would swell shut for day, I got some saline spray and spray morning and night. It's stopped ALL my allergy problems! Haven't tried the Neti, though I hear positive results abou it.

I have allergies and I sometimes do this technique over bathroom sink or in the shower, especially after gardening or raking, or knocking down cobwebs on porches.
I watched the video and I see why Amma said it was hysterically funny.
The 'extra expelling', may be necessary and even healthful, but I will either do this in my shower or outside...I find it a bit odd, to suggest you just bend over and 'expel' all over the floor or walls and counter.
I recently read that using saline solution, even after you have already contracted something, helps, bc the 'invaders', don't like for you to upset the ph, and changing the ph of the sinuses is what saline solution does...it's a good thing. :D

I use the saline spray too. It really is very soothing and I've never choked or felt like I was drowning. Can't get hubby to try even though he suffers way more than I do!!

Can't get hubby to try even though he suffers way more than I do!!

Know what you mean. DH thinks things I suggest only work for me. Gotta love 'em.

Stitchmnripper said "Can't get hubby to try even though he suffers way more than I do!!"
I agree. My DH thinks the things I suggest only work for me. Gotta love 'em!

Indeed, Olivia's Gramy. They are so "cute" sometimes, aren't they? I have GD Olivia too.

Well, I just tried my neti pot last night for the first time. It was weird and uncomfortable, but I managed to survive. It gave me a heck of a sinus headache, but I woke up this morning feeling a lot better than I have in a while.

I have never gotten a headache after using it---not sure why you did. I am glad to hear you are better this morning though. May have been a lot of sinus pressure. Keep it up twice a day for about a week and see if you don't improve. When I am using mine, I usually pour about half the pot through one nostril, blow my nose good (do not stop up either nostril while you are blowing---just blow through both at the same time) then use the other half of the saline solution. Then repeat for the other side.

I understand about your fears. I have panic attacks if I even THINK about not being able to breathe. I do not like to go to the dentist, because when I lie back in the chair and my nose gets stopped up and he has his hands in my mouth I just know that I am going to die right there!!!! I went snorkeling once when we were on a cruise and embarrassed myself no end when I put on my swim mask and begin to hyperventilate and cry like a fool!!!!

With that said----if I can use a neti pot, then I think anyone should be able to!!!!

I have a coupon for a nasal spray and will use that first. But the neti pot sounds like it would be useful also. I go to bed with my siuns' draining and wake up with a stuffy nose. Know it is allergies. Thanks for the information, Marcia

As a kid I used to get horrendous head colds. My mom used to use the nose syringe filled with warm salted water to help the blockage. Worked every time.

Never gotten a headache after using my neti pot (affectionately called "snot-pot") either. Only feel better. I use it more in the winter to help keep moisture in the sinuses, but also after working in the yard or other dusty place. It's amazing the crud one gets out of there.

Additionally, got an email attachment the other day about how to help keep H1N1 at bay. Neti potting was the top of the list in conjunction with a saline gargle. Just FYI

M

I picked up a brochure for seasonal flu and other afflictions and it said that we catch things from droplets, on surfaces and in the air.
If you use something to cleanse your sinuses and gargle to cleanse your throat...(of course you would expel, or spit out from these orifices)...it might get rid of them before they have had time to be absorbed into your system.
It also reccommended blowing your nose, several times a day, even though you don't need to, to rid yourself of anything you might have inhaled.
Is this why some men, spit so much? not married to one of those thank goodness. :lol:

I have used a neti pot for a couple of years now. I have had sinus infections and headaches for years. This works better than anything!! I don't love using it, when I have some sinus pressure above my eyes, it hurts when the water goes in. But the relief I get is almost immediate. I have always gotten headaches when I use bleach for cleaning, so I don't use if often, but sometimes it is the only thing that will work. I tried using my neti pot once after using bleach and the relief was instant. I will add that I too was afraid to use it at first.

I started using one after seeing Dr. Oz too, and I find that if I use it in the shower when I first get in, then I am totally done draining by the time I am finished and then no one else sees me either lol. It works well for me because I am immune challenged with lung disease and the drippy sinus makes me cough 3 times as much........ so now I have that problem under control I feel much better! :)

Never put alcohol in a neti pot. Go see on youtube. :0D

I sent my deployed bf a neti pot. He was super sick for months. You can imagine how hard it is to be sick and at war. He didn't use it. He did bring it home. So, I have a pot that's seen Iraq.

In the past, I've used the spray bottles you can get at the drugstore. I haven't used anything since I had a large tumor removed from my sinus. That would be bad.

I think they work great. Glad to see them catching on.

My DH has rhinitis, sinus infections, seasonal allergies, headaches, you name it. He has had sinus surgery, used steroid sprays, saline sprays, and takes sinus meds (OTC) daily, etc.

I have sesonal allergies and sinus infections.

We started using a product called, "NeilMed Sinus Rinse"
You pour 4 oz. of distilled water into this plastic jar, pour in the saline rinse, put the top on, put in nostril (don't worry, the tip is large so only goes in a bit), tilt head to side you have tip in, and squeeze. Don't hold your breath, breath normally, and relax. Switch tip to other side and repeat. Switch sides again, and again. Bottle should be empty. Rinse bottle and store.
Gently inhale, then gently blow your nose. I do this every morning just before showering. Has cut my infections by more than half.

When hubby does it, his infections are cut in half, too. He has fewer headaches (which are an everday occurence from sinuses) unless he is using this product. Even the steroid sprays are no longer doing what they are suppossed to. I think he is becoming immune.

Anyway, Wally World carries it for about $8.00 I think. Enough in the pkg. for a month. Don't forget the distilled water.

I have gag reflex problems. Before ever using it, I thought I would choke to death. Try it. Sorry so long.

There is also the plastic squeeze bottle version that does the same thing. Living in dry, dusty Bakersfield, with several allergies, I have found it to be really great in irrigating my dried out sinuses. It really, really soothes and washes all the dust and allergens out.

Oh, yes, that is what you just described!!! :shock: :lol:

I have done sinus flushing for several years and it the only thing I found that kills infection and causes no harm to your body. I use Ayer or Sinus buster kit.

I actually asked my husband for a stainless steel neti pot for Christmas. He nearly passed out...LOL But I am serious.Oh well

:lol: some would say it beats a toaster!!! :roll:

It's a MIRACLE!!! Right now I have a pot of water I boiled in the snow cooling, my husband is going to flush his sinuses for the first time this morning. I'll keep you posted. I'll do mine too, I feel so much better when I do I just don't like to do it.
Great topic !

He did it! He flushed, and when I told him I was posting this, his comment was "gee isn't anything sacred"? LOL and he gargled, it is a real miracle. Woo hoo!!!!!!!!!!!

On this board, we learn from each other. Even our DH's.