I recently came down with an annoying sinus issue. I was about three days into the nightly stuffy nose when I remembered that I had a neti pot in the house. Waking up at 2:00 AM because you can’t breathe isn’t fun.  It’s a great time to put the neti pot to the test.

What is a Neti Pot?

If you’ve never heard of a neti pot, it’s a small container (looks like a modified teapot), in which a warm water solution is placed in order to irrigate the sinus cavity.

The goal is to create a solution that has a salt concentration similar to your body’s fluid. The one I purchased suggested a ¼ teaspoon of sea salt. They recommend sea salt because it’s not loaded down with additional minerals like iodine or anything else that might find its way into your salt shaker.

Some people use plain water without the salt. Since I had a full-fledged sinus event, I opted for a salt solution.

Don’t Drown in 4oz of Water

Using the neti pot is really easy. Just remember to breathe through your mouth when you use it. While standing over the sink, tilt your head to the side and pour one half of the water solution into one nostril. The water will circulate through your nasal cavity and pour out the other side. Once you’re done with one side, use the second half of the water and irrigate the other side.

After using the neti pot, make sure to blow your nose to remove excess liquid. If you have a sinus event as I have, you get to see the icky stuff come out.

Neti Pot Irrigation Frequency

To get rid of my sinus event, I’m using the neti pot 4 times a day. I get immediate relief when I first use it but find I need to use it again later in the day.  Once my nasal congestion clears, I  think I’ll use a preventive dose once a day. Some folks look at nasal irrigation the same way they view teeth brushing; once in the morning and maybe once at night.

Neti pots are especially helpful to people suffering from allergies or live in areas with exceptionally polluted air. It helps to remove the pollen and dust particles from the nasal cavity before they get a chance to cause irritation. Check out this article, How to Use a Neti Pot, for more information on neti pot use and frequency.

I suffer from sinus events once or twice a year. Usually, they clear up on their own after a week or so. This time around is the first time I decided to use the neti pot. If I can get nightly relief by using the neti pot, I’ve got nothing to lose and a good night’s sleep to gain.