Neti Pot Danger – 3 Easy Ways to Minimize It

Stories of neti pot danger abound, whispered in hushed tones among neti pot newbies and the occasional neti veteran. “It stung so bad, I didn’t finish.” Or, “It felt like water-torture.” Or, “My ears are still crackling. What? No, my steers aren’t cackling, but what’d you say? Something about a yeti cot?”

Ear problems aside, it all gets very confusing.

As if trying a neti pot — whether for the first time or after an unsuccessful first attempt — isn’t daunting enough, we must face our fear of neti pot danger too? What’s a neti potter to do?

Take heart, future neti gurus. When done correctly, using a neti pot should never cause panic, pain, discomfort, or ear-problems – because most of these so-called dangers are merely neti-newbie mistakes in disguise. Thankfully, these mistakes are easily corrected with a little practice and some neti know-how.

For a safe and comfortable nasal irrigation experience, below are three common mistakes to avoid.

1. Blowing Your Nose Incorrectly. Nasal irrigation almost always involves nose-blowing. This feels very productive, because the salt-water flowing through our nasal passages has thinned the mucus, making all that hardened congestion suddenly more willing to budge. However, this newly thinned mucus also can budge into places it doesn’t belong — specifically the ear canals. To avoid blowing water or worse, mucus, into your ears, resist the urge to plug one nostril while blowing your nose, or even to pinch the bridge of your nose during the nose-blowing process. Keep your nose open while blowing, and you’ll help ensure the mucus ends up where it belongs, in the tissue, not crackling around in your ears.

2. Using Non Nasal-Friendly Water. Water straight out of the tap can be a big neti no-no. Why? Because when city officials pronounce water safe, they generally mean for drinking and bathing, not for nasal irrigation. For starters, tap water is often loaded with chlorine – something our nasal cavities appreciate far less than the average pool technician. For a more comfortable neti pot experience, you’re better off buying distilled water, using filtered water, or boiling the tap water at least five minutes to release the chlorine. Just remember, if boiling is your preferred route, don’t forget to let the water cool before pouring it into your neti pot — because there’s more than one way to burn your nasal passages.

3. Using the Wrong Kind of Salt. Neti pot salt should be pure. This means it should be free of iodine, anti-caking agents, food coloring, and other non-nasal-friendly things. This rules out most table salts, all seasoning salts, and the vast majority of cooking salts found in the average kitchen. Purity is best, and here’s why. Those unnecessary ingredients can irritate the sensitive nasal passages. So, unless you’ve bought specialized neti salt or sinus rinse “salt” packets, you’ll want to make sure the ingredient-list on your salt box says one thing, and one thing only – salt. A quick tip: If the label says “safe for pickling,” you’re probably on the right track. Photos and more neti pot salt tips are available at http://www.neti-netti-pot.com/neti-pot-salt.html.