I just wanted to thank everyone who recommended the neti-pot for my chronically congested sinuses and a three day nosebleed. I started using it on Wednesday, and the bloody nose problem immediately disappeared, and my sinuses feel much clearer. It’s a strange sensation, but very highly recommended to those who haven’t tried it. I’d never even heard of the thing before. They had about 5 different varieties at CVS, with all sorts of different preparations to dissolve in the water.

I also have to thank the people here for the info on the neti-pot. Chronic snuff use clogged up my nose, but now after using the neti-pot two times a day for 4 days I have no problem with congestion anymore. Even if I chain snuff!

@LHB: Glad to be of help! Make it a part of your daily ritual and it will dramatically improve your life. I used to have such bad allergies that I required allergy shots. Two weeks of neti pot use and I never had such issues (or sinus infections) again. Not bad for a $10 investment!

What’s a good simple homemix of salt and baking soda to use for a neti pot, or nasal rinse bottle? I’ve been using the NeilMed squeeze bottle, I think it’s 8oz, and while I have been using the little packets of their salt mix, I was curious of using what I have in the kitchen. Thanks.

I’d like to know also, having a major lack of funds, I can’t afford to go out and buy those packets

I can, but if I have the stuff already in the kitchen, why not just make my own. I did see mix I tried yesterday, but really, it was kinda irritated my throat. It was 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp baking soda. Mixed that in the 8oz squeeze bottle, but it was not good really. So, I wonder if it was too much, not the right mix?

Sea Salt. About a 1/2 teaspoon per bottle. That’s what I use. The solution shouldn’t get into your throat. Edit: You might try using a real neti pot. If you are getting solution in your throat it’s probably due to the “squeeze bottle”.

So, Sea Salt, as opposed to standard table salt? It makes a difference? I have a Neti Pot too, and even that gets in my throat sometimes. Thanks.

Yes, table salt has Iodine in it. Make sure you keep your mouth open when you pour the water.

Thanks.

you can also get table salt without iodine. It will be right by the regular salt on the shelf and will be called salt instead of iodized salt. Not sure if you even need to add baking soda, I just use about 1/2 teaspoon of salt to 8 oz. warm water.

A housmate accidentally threw out my neti pot, no idea what was going through her head… I improvised a squeezy bottle out of an empty detergent bottle. After a thorough clean out it works quite well.

Sounds like the house mate should make a trip to the pharmacy. Sea salt is the way to go, it’s the most natural. I use bet 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon per pot of lukewarmwater. You want it to be about as salty as a tear.

I agree with rdunnion that sea salt is the way to go. Just make sure it is non-iodized. I have never used prepared packets and don’t think I’ve ever missed out on anything. BTW my netti pot of choice after going through several ceramic contraptions is the rhino horn: http://www.tqmpropmgm.com/rhinohorn/index.htm It comes with a spoon to measure the salt and allows you to tip the pot pretty high before it spills out of the top. I’m glad I discovered Netti before I discovered snuff. It makes for trouble free snorting.

Kosher salt works fine for me; cheaper than gourmet sea salt. I’d been neglecting my neti pot for a while, and I had a stuffy nose a few days ago. I think I had a sinus infection. Started neti-ing again, and today - clear as a bell. What difference.

I was given this recipe by the ENT doctor who operated on my nose many years ago: 1 teaspoon of table salt and 1 teaspoon of baking soda on 1 litre of water. I’ve been using it for 30 years and it still works wonders. @tom502, if you breathe through your mouth while pouring the water, it won’t go down your throat.

I’ve been curious about Neti Pots and have considered getting one myself. I’m quite unfamiliar with the anatomy of a “clogged nose”, so will it still work if one of your nostrils is periodically blocked? I may sound crazy for saying this but either one of my nostrils decides to stop passing air for a while and then magically switches to the other side. I guess I’m afraid the water will simply pool in my nose, although I’d be delighted if it caused a pressure buildup to “unclog” the nostril. I stumbled across this video and it definately lightened up my concerns with Neti Pot usage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQm7YpxgOnA

@ Valmonte: There are pressurized neti pots. Mine is just a traditional “gravity” based one. Your nostril behavior is normal. You probably just never noticed it until you began snuffing. If you neti, and the water cannot get out the nostril due to blockage, it will pour out the mouth. Sometimes you’ll find that the water splits, and some gets through the nostril and some goes out the mouth. Repeating the neti will clear it further. Regular use will maintain it. Try not to make the water to hot, or it will cause swelling and reduce flow.

@Valmonte: You’re not crazy; everyone is the same. This was featured on QI recently (a British panel show - the initials stand for Quite Interesting). Breathing concentrates on one nostril at a time and switches every 3-4 hours. Not only that, but you can answer certain types of question better depending on which nostril is open at the time. I can’t remember which way round it was, but one side favours verbal questions and the other side favours spatial questions. EDIT: Found a brief bit on youtube if anyone’s interested.

I love QI its always very interesting and very funny. Stefan

It certainly does seem like an interesting show. Too bad, short of downloading, I’ll have trouble finding it on these airwaves in Texas. Top Gear is hard enough to get a hold of… I either have to watch portions via YouTube or put them on my Netflix queue.

BBC America?

Some pranayama techniques will open up both nostrils at the same time. Which also happens sometimes when you’re being very active. Having both open sometimes can be very stimulating. Though pranayama is very stimulating. Oh yeah to make it more snuffing oriented, practicing yogic breathing really can help not get snuff in your throat.

I prefer linga stimulation.

I picked up one of the squeeze bottle-type nasal rinse kits at the drug store today. Came with 100 salt packets, and at a good price – marked down for clearance. I tried it out about a half-hour ago. I was surprised at how easy it was to use. Very gentle and soothing. Already my sinuses feel much clearer than they have in years. Thanks to all who recommended this!

Of course tom who doesn’t? I mean it is the quickest path to a type of heaven.

I use this every morning after I get up. I use about 1/2 tsp of salt and 1/2 tsp of sodium bicarbonate in a cup of warm water. It’s crazy to see how much extra junk comes out of your sinuses and it makes it so much easier for me to snuff all day without having to use other nasal sprays and/or decongestants. I’m going to invest in a better quality ceramic one soon.

James, your mix is to strong. You might damage your snuff intake manifold!! You should use 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of bicarb to 1 litre of water. That’s the recipe which was given to me by an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist many years ago. I’ve been using it like this for 30 years already. Works like a bomb.

Just tried flushing my nose out with an empty detergent bottle with warm water and half a teaspoon of salt. The result is one of my nostrils is blocked and one is clear. Gonna try it again in a minute. No water went in my mouth. Will check out the chemist tomorrow for a neti pot.

Damn I didn’t realize that. I will definitely change my proportions. I don’t want to do any more damage to my nasal passages and sense of smell than I already did with 10 years of smoking. Thanks Pieter!

Neti pot

Pieter, I know your game.

The neti pot is awesome. Definitely recommended. Clears me out so I can snuff some more!

Has anybody noticed there’s an awful lot of neti pot threads open?! Me thinks there’s a neilmed rep on the loose…snuffers beware…they’re worse than the trouser platypus!!!

So you mean they’re almost awesome. Cause a trouser platypus is one of the best things ever.

The ones you encounter must be a different species than the ones in SC, bob! The trouser platypus is well known around here to be one of the most vicious creatures alive…second only to the sweater possum!!

I’m sorry but I really have no idea what either of those things are

@MikeMoose …Figments of my imagination…lol! I just made some silly sounding animal/clothing combos

Oh nice . They sounded dangerous, but also disturbing. I’d never want any sort of animal to get into my clothes

I havent used an actual neti pot. I used an old water bottle that i cleaned out and used salt water. Its a weird sensation, but you feel amazing once its done

@anyone my sinuses were generally so clogged that a gravity neti-pot alone couldn’t work the water through. If anyone is in this same boat, and has a soft plastic neti-pot, just cover the top with your hand and squeeze the pot. It forces the water through your nose and makes a dramatic difference.

@jakebrugger : Wow, thanks Jake. I might just have to try that tonight. My nose was completely blocked the other night. Hopefully I can squeeze some in there and flush the bugger out

There are pressurized ones out there. Somone posted a video of one once.

I had the same problem, and Xander is right, neilmed makes a squeeze bottle type that is incredible…my old antique neti pot sits there so forlorn and unused now! Can anything made from plastic be considered an antique?

I’m not talking about one you squeeze. This one squeezes itself. I think its electric.

Wow! I’m gonna have to check that out, sounds pretty neat. Being as I’m a cheap barstard…I’ll stick to the manual one. Do you have any idea who makes it?

I think this is it actually http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YrG\\_KJJpC8 pretty nifty!

Nope. But there are at least 20 Neti Pot threads on the forum. It must be in one of them. The one I’m talking about had some kind of plunger in the bowl. It just squeezed the water out the spout.

Aaah…gotcha. I’m a lil bit scared of something pressurized going into my nasal passages where I’m not physically controlling the pressure…lol

Yeah, I pefer gravity to do the work, but there are times when the sinus is swollen and won’t let anything pass. Also the only thing I don’t like about neti pot, is having to wait for it all to run through, even when I’m not congested. I suppose I should bring a book from now on. The video demo of the one I’m talking about ran the whole pot through in a couple of seconds.

That’s way quicker than the slow flow method…the squeeze bottle neti takes me about 10 seconds per nostril…and the pressure is up to you…I prefer it much more than the pot method…actually prefer isn’t the right term…i am unable to use the pot…i end up gagging and drowning…i highly recommend the squeeze bottle design.

This lil jobbie ritght here

It takes a little pratice to get it. I just tilted my head and hand around until I had the right angles.

Ya got got Xander!!

My Neti Pot is kicking my cold’s ass!

@Mike Moose Hope that worked for you and sorry for the delayed response

I’ve used both the Netipot and the squeeze bottle design. Although they both work fine, the squeeze bottle was the one I had a harder time with- I kept drowning each time I squeezed that thing…

Netti Pot works just fine. Tilt your head slightly forward and away from the netti pot until a stream begins coming out the other nostril. Also… dont close your mouth or swallow spit because then it will go to the back of the throat. Very refreshing after a hard day of snuffing.

@jakebrugger : it did work actually, thank you!

I use, on the very rare occasion, the disgustingly named Sterimar sea-salt water douche. Much more pleasant with an aerosol can.