Allergy Follow-Up: Neti Pot?

niel med makes a sinus rinse that is easier to use than the netti pot. The worst that will happen is you will swallow some and its gross. I just put my tongue to the roof of my mouth leave my mouth open tilt my head and give it a squeeze. Once you do it its not too bad.

lol, it's really easy... Weird the first couple times but after that you won't think twice about it!!!!

Don't be scared! It's easy, gentle, and effective. Once you use one you'll wonder why you waited so long. My 13-year-old son recently started using it and he has no common sense whatsoever, so if he can use it, you can too.

I usually have extreme hayfever and of course try not to take anything when I am pregnant, I don't care for the neti pot, but the inventor of that also makes a sinus rinse bottle. You squirt the saline solution into 1 nostril and it flushes out everything through the other nostril. if your nose is pointing down into your bathroom sink while you do it, it doesn't interfere with breathing. YOu just breathe through your mouth. I also use some essential oils that have natural antihisitmines in them. Eucalyptus, Lavendar. doTerra is the site I use, here's my consultants website if you want to go see. www.mydoterra.com/natestoddard The oils are amazing, and almost all of them are safe during pregnancy. if you get really interested, let me know and I'll give you a list of which ones to avoid.

I swear by my sinus rinse bottle. Anytime I have nasal congestion, I use it, then follow up with my oils. Works great!

Oh no, you'll be fine. We actually prefer the sinus rinse better than the netti pot. Same effect.

I won't lie - it isn't a pleasant experience! BUT, as long as you keep on breathing out through your mouth (even better, make a "khaa" sound while you do it), you won't be able to choke on it. It definitely takes some getting used to, but it works really well. My 9-year-old even uses it willingly when he is congested.

I was a little scared at first but my mom bought me one when I was really sick a few years back. I tried it and it help tremendously. I still use it when I start feelling sick and have the stuffy/runny nose. It really gets it out. My husband has major problems with sinus and he was a little skeptical but he uses it when his starts to act up and he says it works really well. Just lean your head over the sink to one side or the other and then you pour in one nostril and it comes out the other. Keep your mouth open a little and that prevents the salt water going down the throat. Good luck.

I've actually never used the Neti Pot and instead just make my own salt water/baking soda concoction then put it in a bowl, sniff in one side and then the other. Sounds gross but I always sleep at night when I have a cold - no meds and it doesn't feel anything like you would expect. It's easy, breezy and you feel soooo much better! You know you're using it correctly when your sinuses start popping clear and yes, it does go all the way through and some gets in your mouth. Just be sure not to use too much salt water - I always taste a little to make sure I'm not overdoing it. I get terrible sinus infections but when I was in college a nurse there told me that if I didn't start using a salt rinse I'd be bypassing antibiotics until I was immune to them all. Now at the first tingling of getting sick, I mix up a batch, keep it in a mason jar and rinse at least once a day, sometimes twice. I very rarely have sinus issues anymore - big trick is to start the rinse at the first twitch of feeling something happening in there! :) Good luck - I always tell people, you're not that sick if you're not willing to try it. Those who use it, swear by it. I think it's actually part of the daily hygiene regimen in other countries.

its actually really easy but be sure to get all the water out of your nose after you're done. you can watch youtube video for specifics. they have these stretches that you can do afterwards to make sure you get all the water out and i scoffed at it but one time i didn't get all the water out and i ended up getting sick. so be sure to follow instructions!

I prefer the actual rinse because it cleans out better. Doing the rinses has changed our lives significantly. I now can get buy without a nose spray. My son still has to use both oral and a nose spray, but without the rinse, he still can't breathe. With the rinse, you'd never know he has severe allergies. It's amazing! I can also control sinus infections with them. GL!

If I feel any slight cold or allergy coming on, I use it and 95% of the time, it doesn't develop into anything more. My husband even uses it. It's not the most enjoyable thing but it's natural help with meds. Don't worry about choking, you just have to read the directions about tilting your head correctly.

much to my M.D husband's dismay, I used one. My mother gave it to me. I had no expectations of it working on my allergies, but I acctually got huge relief from it. Its a little strange to use and feels a bit like getting water up your nose in the swimming pool, but the worst that can happen is a little goes down your throat and you swallow a little salt. Its not the most pleasant thing to do, but its worth the relief and you get used to it the first time around.

I've used it, and have never had a problem with inhaling or choking. I use it when I feel a cold coming on and I'm a lot less congested. I don't have chronic sinus problems, so don't know whether using it will improve them. One mistake I made once (you only make it once) was not testing the water temperature before putting it in the pot - it was way too hot. Make sure you always test the water (should be lukewarm) and let it cool if necessary.

I know you have gotten a lot of responses to this but I wanted to give you a "recipe" that a friend of mine just gave to me for the neti pot. She swears that since doing this once a day she has not gotten a sinus infection in over 3 years now. I usually get them twice a year so I just started this a few weeks ago to see if it works for me. What you do is warm up 3/4 cup of distilled water in the microwave. For me I do it for 25 seconds and that gets the water to the perfect temperature. Put it in your neti pot and add to that 1/2 tsp. of liquid glycerine, a pinch of baking soda, and about 1/4 tsp. of salt and I use the salt that is recommended for the neti pots that you can get at any healthfood store. Stir it up and use half in one nostril and half in the other. I do this once a day. Once you get used to using the neti pot it is second nature and becomes so easy. Good luck!

I highly recommend the NeilMed sinus rinse system (I think there's a coupon for the starter kit at Costco right now.) I was really afraid of nasal rinses, too, due to my phobia of getting water up my nose. But, once I tried it, it was so easy and really helped. You just put the tip of the bottle at your nostril and squeeze it. The water goes up one side and out the other. I've never felt the way I do when I accidentally get water up my nose while swimming. Good luck!

I'm with all the others on preferring the Sinus Rinse bottle. My doctor recommended it to me - I swear it took me two weeks to get the nerve up but now I'm a firm believer! You won't believe the relief you'll get. My whole family is now hooked on it because it really does help.

It's absolutely no big deal. You won't inhale the water or choke. I do it all the time. It was great when I was pregnant too!

I was scared to use one too. And I don't actually use a neti "pot" they have a bottle version that you can squeeze -- it seems easier for me then trying to find the right angle with the pot that you have to pour. Key thing is that you have to be mostly uncongested to use them. If you are too stuffed up they don't do any good, but if you can get uncongested enough to use one they work fantastic. My husband, if he really needs it, uses afrin to get uncongested enough to use it, then rinses extra well to rinse it all away.

i was sooo scared, but i did try and it really helps.

If you have the choice they make ones that look like teapots and others that look like squeeze bottles. the squeeze bottles are alot easier to use because you control the pressure by how hard you squeeze.

If you do it wrong your body will protect you, it will just feel like it does if you accidentally get splashed hard at the pool. but it is only a second because you stop the flow. I have a pretty severe gag reflex so if my head isn't tipped enought I do gag but only once because you stop and adjust.

I would try it in the shower first it might be easier and don't try to empty the bottle or pot just tell yourself you are going to try each nostril two times and then you give your self permission to quit. Then you'll love it and keep going.

I do think i blew my nose too hard after using it once or maybe didn't have my head tipped right and got some fluid in my ear and ended up with something that was kindof like an ear infection but not as severe. so that would be bad, but suffering through allergies is TEN times worse.

make sure your water is a comfortable temp, I put a bit on my wrist like they used ot do for baby bottles. and have a full box of tissues ready to blow it all out.

You will feel soooo much better. I promise!!

It is sooo easy! It is a weird feeling, but you will be amazed at how much better you feel. Just do not add more than one packet of the stuff ( it will burn if you put more than one packet in at a time) It is even helping me with all the smoke & ash in the air from the AZ fires. Good luck!

This is one of those things you have to just do!! I resisted for so long, and wish I hadn't. I get sinus infections all the time, and once I finally tried the neti pot I've cut them down by like 75 %. I tell my hubby it's the grossest and coolest thing ever. I actually like the pot better than the bottle, I like gravity to work for me. Plus I think the pot is easier to start with, and then you could go up to the bottle if you like. Good luck!

I do it during allergy season. The trick is to relax, tilt your head forward and slightly to one side, and very gently breathe out while you're pouring. Afterward blow your nose GENTLY into a tissue. It takes a little getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, it's great.