How does neti pot help

Food and Drug Administration. Patel ZM, et al. Uncomplicated acute sinusitis and rhinosinusitis in adults: treatment. Li JTC expert opinion. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. See also Avoid rebound nasal congestion Breast-feeding and medications Can chicken soup cure a cold? Chicken soup: Can it treat a cold? Cold and flu viruses: How long can they live outside the body? Cold or allergy: Which is it? Cold remedies Cold symptoms: Does drinking milk increase phlegm?

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Common sense rules Have a cold? Fight back with humidity Have a cold? Fight it with fluids Headache Honey: An effective cough remedy? How well do you wash your hands? Humidifier care Humidifiers Is antibacterial soap a do or a don't? Regular use of nasal irrigation may actually increase your risk of sinus infection. You can use nasal irrigation occasionally without any risk, but try not to do it on a regular basis.

Routine use may remove some protective elements of the mucus membranes lining your nasal passages and sinuses. Boiling before use should be sufficient.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC says that a parasitic amoeba, Naegleria fowleri , has been linked to several deaths among neti pot users who did not use sterile water.

Once introduced into the sinuses, the parasite makes its way to the brain, causing an infection that is fatal. Create a saline solution by adding the correct amount of pure, noniodized sodium chloride to the water, to make one of two solutions:. Kosher salt or sea salt are suitable sources of pure sodium chloride with no added minerals.

The New York Sinus Center warns against using table salt or iodized salt. Isotonic solutions contain enough dissolved solids to match the concentration of solutes dissolved in the blood. Not surprisingly, sea water is essentially a hypertonic solution of salt and water. However, never use sea water deliberately for nasal irrigation — doing so can increase the risk of introducing unwanted contaminants.

The bottom line, says Dr. Good question! But if you follow a few simple instructions, you can hopefully avoid unwanted water works:. Weight Loss. United States. Type keyword s to search.

Today's Top Stories. Taraji P. Accessible Beauty Products For All. Neustockimages Getty Images. Related Stories. Plain water can irritate your nose. The saline allows the water to pass through delicate nasal membranes with little or no burning or irritation. Talk with a health care provider or pharmacist if the instructions on your device do not clearly state how to use it or if you have any questions.

Finally , make sure the device fits the age of the person using it. Some children are diagnosed with nasal allergies as early as age 2 and could use nasal rinsing devices at that time, if a pediatrician recommends it.

But very young children might not tolerate the procedure.