Neti Potapalooza
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Health on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 3:00 PM
The first time I heard about neti pots I thought they sounded so weird.
You pour water up your nose. Strange, right?
I figured it would probably feel like it does when you accidentally inhale water while swimming. I hate that sensation, and assumed that nasal irrigation was not for me.
Then I got a sinus infection. Despite the fact that I was taking antibiotics, my symptoms were worsening. I called the doctor’s office for help. The nurse to whom I talked told me to go out and get a neti pot right away.
My sinus pain had pushed me to the point where I was willing to try anything, so I bought one that same day. Using it wasn’t as strange as I’d expected. Yes, you do pour water up your nose, but it comes right out the other side. I became accustomed to the sensation very quickly.
And although I’d been dubious about the effectiveness, I found that using my neti pot helped relieve my sinus symptoms immediately. I’ve been using it once or twice a day for almost a week now, and the difference is remarkable. In fact, I didn’t get a chance to use the neti pot during the day yesterday, and by the evening my sinus pressure was noticeably painful. I filled up the pot after the kids were in bed, and one round of rinsing later, I felt much better.
I looked around online for some information about the neti pot and was surprised to find that even mainstream sites like WebMD and Mayo Clinic endorse its use. I thought this was an alternative health remedy that wasn’t for me, but I’m no longer a neti-pot skeptic. You could almost call me an enthusiast.
Have you used a neti pot or other kinds of nasal irrigation? What’s been your experience?
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