Rock the Neti Pot

by The Well Daily
November 29, 2011

Stuffed up? Kick that cold with the ancient Indian tool that's suddenly trending: the neti pot.

Flushing your nostrils with saline solution might not sound appealing, but clearing out the nasal passages with a neti pot can solve sinus problems better—and more naturally—than medicated spray. If you're particularly congested, use the neti pot once a day. Otherwise, three times a week will have you breathing easier in no time. Here's how you do it:

1. Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of Celtic sea salt in 1 cup of lukewarm, distilled (or boiled and cooled) water. (Avoid ordinary table salt, which has anti-caking agents and other additives that can irritate the nose.)
2. Fill the neti pot with half your solution and tilt your head over the sink. Insert the spout tip into your top nostril and gently pour it in.
3. Let the water stream through your nasal cavity and out the other nostril. It will feel weird at first, kind of like getting water up your nose while swimming. In fact, your first reaction might be to panic a bit. Just relax your facial muscles and breathe through your mouth.
4. Once you’ve emptied the pot, refill and repeat on the other side.