will wonders never cease

[rivendellrose]

There appears to be decent, scientific (not just anecdotal) evidence that the much-touted Neti Pots actually work!

I feel much less guilty about my plan to pick one up, now. :) Now I just have to hope I don't manage, in a fit of my typical clumsiness, to somehow drown myself the first time I try to use it.

Comments

[katherineokelly.livejournal.com]

Awesome. I've got two friends who swear by it, but I'm a little squicked out to try it. Does it feel as bizarre as it looks like it would? (But, hey, I'm such a wimp about water in the face, I have trouble gargling) How does the water flow through if your passages are all blocked up?

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

These are the mysteries that I'm pondering, as well... there's something about the whole "saline in the nasal passage" concept that just fills me with crawling dread.

Also, heeee, your icon. ♥

[narsilion.livejournal.com]

What you still haven't tried it?
You will LOVE it!

[alto2.livejournal.com]

Your nasal fluid is mostly saline anyway, so you're really not introducing anything new, for what it's worth.

[narsilion.livejournal.com]

take a nice warm shower, blow your nose when you
get out and your good to go. There is a Neti bottle for people who need more force, but I would start with the pot if it were me.

[alto2.livejournal.com]

It doesn't feel weird. It feels good. You really don't feel the water flowing in any noticeable way. You do need to blow your nose a few times and be careful to have a kleenex handy in case you didn't get it all (I sometimes have trouble if I bend over to pick something up afterwards--which is how I find out there's still water in there). But it's really quite simple and helpful, and not at all uncomfortable.

[velleitas.livejournal.com]

Tell me how it works! I've been thinking about one, but I always get squicked about putting water up my nose.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Me too, but I get squicked about seasonal sinus junk, too. I'm still weighing which I like less, but I have a feeling the neti pot will win.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

You too, huh? Ah yes. Fond memories. *Shudders*

[velleitas.livejournal.com]

haha oops,... i accidentally deleted my post. you got the idea though. :P

[velleitas.livejournal.com]

I used to have to do nasal sprays when my allergies were really bad in primary through high school. Definitely not a pleasant experience for me! haha

[nekokoban]

\o/ VINDICATEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

[phillipalden.livejournal.com]

I could probably use something like that. My allergies are terrible.

[snakewhissperer.livejournal.com]

I just picked one up on the off chance it would work - as my sinusses are crappy - so awesome!

[alto2.livejournal.com]

I don't understand. These things have been used for centuries and only now we have "scientific proof" that they work? Trust me, the idea of running warm salt water through your nose is weird enough that NOBODY would do it if it didn't provide some sort of relief. I resisted it for ages, preferring the "simple" method they list in the article, and I gotta tell ya, that's better than nothing but not by a whole lot. The water may get in there, but it has no momentum to DO anything other than sit there. When I finally broke down and bought the Neti pot, I was stunned by how much better it worked and how quick it was. Neti is useful not only to get crap washed out of there but also because it gives you a sense of just how clogged they are. If the water comes right out in a steady stream, you're pretty clear. If you're really congested, it won't--it'll trickle, making half a cup of water feel like about three gallons. I usually Neti when I have a cold/sinus infection, and I use the flow as a gauge of my recovery.

My advice for Neti is this:

*Make sure your water temperature is right. You'll know if it's too hot or too cold, and believe me, too hot is no fun at all. Too cold is tolerable, but may not work quite as well since it may irritate the tissues.

*Start with an isotonic solution and work your way up to hypertonic, also to avoid irritation. I buy the packets that NeilMed or SinuCleanse sell because you know the formula is right. If you do it yourself and you do not have the formula right, you'll also know, because it will sting like you've just inhaled water. The salt is what makes it soothing rather than irritating.

*Be sure to breathe through your mouth while you do it, otherwise the water may flow down to your throat rather than back out your nose, and you do not want this. Breathing also ensures that you keep your mouth open (otherwise you'll essentially "drink" the stuff) and keeps you from, as you say, drowning, choking, etc. It's not difficult to get the hang of it. I don't recall any nightmares my first time. (There are videos on YT showing how to do it, if you're worried.)

*Be prepared to see whatever's clogging things in there--I usually feel a sense of victory at having got rid of some of the gunk, but if you're not prepared to see something (probably not a lot), you may be grossed out by it. It's no worse than what shows up when you blow your nose, though.

But I am still baffled by this whole "scientific evidence" thing when doctors of all colors and stripes have been recommending them for centuries for a reason! (And I'm even more perplexed by why you'd feel guilty about buying one...?)