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The Benefits of Using a Neti Pot: Oprah and Dr. Oz Love it

By Patty Oh, published Jan 08, 2008
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Washing your nose is every bit as normal as brushing your teeth or taking a shower, according to Dr. Oz and Oprah. So what's with this nose bidet, or neti pot Actually, the nose bidet has been in use for years.

Dr. Oz is not the first physician to recommend them. A regular on Oprah's TV show, you can read more about Dr. Oz by clicking HERE.

I have sinus problems. My own physician recommended that I wash my nose and said that it would help my sinuses. I didn't believe him and thought that the whole procedure looked really weird. It did look weird. It still looks weird. But I brush my teeth, and I wash my nose.

The concept behind the neti pot, or nose bidet, is simple. Every day substances and pollutants enter our sinus cavities through our noses. Centuries ago the kinds of materials that entered our bodies through our nose were probably a lot less harmful that the substances that enter our body through our nose today.

So what can be done about it? Simple. Rinse your nose! Enter the neti pot, or nose bidet. People rinsed their noses years ago, long before they were dealing with the pollutants of today.

Sometimes using a neti pot or nose bidet is called irrigating your sinuses. That's another fancy way to say rinsing out the inside of your nose.

Here's how to rinse your nose

Put a saline substance in your neti pot, nose bidet or other device. Personally, I use the Neil Med Sinus Rinse. You can read my review about the Neil Med product by clicking HERE.

Use warm water, not hot, not cold - remember this will be going in your nose. If it's too hot, it will burn. If it's too cold, you'll get the worst brain freeze you can ever imagine. Only use warm water.

Then add a mix of non-iodized salt and baking soda to the water mixture. Lean over your sink, lower your head sideways, and pour the water-salt-soda solution in one side of your nose.

The water will run out of the other side of your nose! No, you won't swallow it, not if your leaning your head over and have it twisted sideways. But you will feel weird, I guarantee it.

Here's how to make the saline solution

According to National Jewish Hospital in Denver, Colorado, the best solution to use when rinsing your nose is:

The Benefits of Using a Neti Pot: Oprah and Dr. Oz Love it

A white neti pot. Neti pots, or nose bidets, come in lots of colors and designs.

Credit: Public Domain

Copyright: Public Domain

Takeaways
  • Rinsing your nose will help clear your sinuses
  • It looks weird, but it works
  • Water goes in one side of your nose, and out the other
Comments
Showing Comments 1 - 9 of 9
 
 
i have tried nasopure too and i find it amazing. i am now a daily user because it has helped prevent my sinus infections. I used to get atleast one or two a year and since doing nasopure i haven't had a sinus infection in 2 1/2 years.

Posted on 07/02/2008 at 12:07:41 PM

 
Recently my doctor recommended Nasopure, a nasal irrigation system referred to as the modern neti. I have tried both the neti and Nasopure and have found Nasopure far superior. I dont have to bend and twist like the neti and Nasopure seems to give a much more effective flush because it uses self controlled pressure instead of gravity. The angled Nasopure bottle allows for you to stand straight up while using it. Also, the salt packets that come with the product is much cheaper and seems more effective than that of the neti. I use one salt packet for about a week in the shower with Nasopure while the neti uses atleast one packet per use. Their website www.nasopure.com is very informative too and compares different nose washes on the market.

Posted on 06/18/2008 at 9:06:24 AM

 
It's uncomfortable, but surprisingly enough, it works.

Posted on 03/23/2008 at 9:03:00 PM

 
This sounds strange to me Patty. I must be behind the times.

Posted on 01/10/2008 at 10:01:21 PM

 
I'm sorry. I just have to say EWWW!! Now that is over, great write up.

Posted on 01/10/2008 at 3:01:40 PM

 
Gross subject, well done with it!

Posted on 01/10/2008 at 3:01:31 AM

 
Thank you Harriet :)

Posted on 01/09/2008 at 10:01:32 PM

 
Patty, I use saline drops. Sometimes it doens't work as well as I would like it to. I'll have to try this method. By the way, thank you for all of your wonderful comments about my articles. YOu write some good ones yourself.

Posted on 01/09/2008 at 10:01:12 PM

 
hmmm ... does not sound fun to me but if it helps people then that's what it's all about.

Posted on 01/08/2008 at 12:01:00 PM

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