I heard Dr oz say on Oprah a while back how fantastic netti pots are for alleriges and cold. I actually have one, but i'm a little scared to use it. Does anyone swear by it??? How often do you need to use it?? Do you need to buy special solution or can you mix your own? Is it safe for children over the age of 6? Is there any harm that it can do?? Just looking for someone to ease my fears and tell me if this is worth doing.
We prefer the Sinus Rinse bottle.
It is a bit hard to get used to overall but once you do it a couple of times and feel better, you'll swear by it.
We use the packets that come with the bottle and you can buy extra packets when you need them.
I think all your questions have been answered, I just wanted to say I LOVE my neti pot (just used it a minute ago), you will feel soooo good after using it and it's not bad at all to get the hang of. Trust me, it's a piece of cake and you'll benefit greatly from it!
OH, and the NeilMed pots and packets come with detailed instructions and answers alot of your questions.
It is great... my Husband and daughter who is 7 uses it. And she uses it properly... with my Husband helping.
My Husband, has Sinus problems... this is the only thing, that helps him and prevents secondary infections...
My daughter will use it when sick. She was able to use it from about 4-5 years old with no problem. But that is her. Some kids may not want to try it.
It is safe.
You buy it from Whole Foods or any natural food store.. they have packets of "salt" that you use in the neti pot.
OR, you just use it with warm water... without adding anything to it. My Husband does that too.
I have used the Neti pot too and my Mom uses it too.
Very good.
it is worth it.
NO.. you cannot just use any ol' thing or any ol' salt in it... it has to be 'clean' salt and table salt for example, will burn your nostrils... you NEED to know, how much to put in, proportionately, in the water...
You need to use it properly.... otherwise, water will be going UP your nose... into the nasal cavity and may not dry out... you don't want to inhale the liquid...
all the best,
Susan
I had a horrible cold and sinus infection and my doctor suggested the Neti pot. I didn't have a clue as to what I was buying and I was a little freaked out by the whole thing myself. The one I bought came with a bunch of packets to dissolve in the water. The first time I used it, my son poured it in my nose. It was actually quite funny to watch and weird feeling at first.
But I did it for a couple of days and it cleared me up. I use it whenever I need it, but now I use it in the shower. It's a little less messy that way.
But yes coming from someone who didn't even know what it was and was weirded out by having to pour water in my nose, I would say it's worth it and it works.
I just started using something similar. I use the Neil Med solution and squeeze bottle. I have really bad ragweed allergies and it does help. It is a little awkward the 1st couple of times, but you get used to it. It has made a difference, especially when I use it regularly. Took me a couple of years to try. Me pediatrician uses one on her young child, but I can't tell you if it is recommended or considered safe. She suggested one for my 11 year old, but he really was a bit scared and I didn't feel the need to force him to use it. It's not that bad though once you use it the 1st time...just follow the instructions.
I really have found mine helps. I actually use Ayr Nasal Wash which is a squeeze bottle b/c the Neti Pot just wasn't working well for me - I think b/c of a deviated septum. I always try to use it before taking a decongestant or antihistamine, and most of the time I won't need to take one afterward. It's amazing how much goop can come out even after you've blown your nose well!
When I am sick, I use it up to 3x/day, but I skip it when I'm feeling good. I used the packets that came with the solution the first time, but after they were gone I had a good idea of how much salt to use on my own. The one I had came with instructions to use one packet for general use and 3 for use when sick - you are a good woman if you can use 3 and not have it burn the heck out of your nose! It really helped clear up a persistent sinus infection that I was on a third round of antibiotics to get rid of. Give it a few times and you'll get used to it.
it always helps my sinus problems, it feels a bit weird at first, but not as bad as you think - takes a bit of practice to get the angle right - it is safe for kids, but my son who is 8 won't use it because he breathed in and it made his head hurt - but he is very highly strung, a calmer child may be ok
We have used it for years. All of us - husband, both sons (started at age 6) and me.
When you do it, just don't forget to keep your mouth open and breath thru your mouth - that was the best piece of advice I was given. After you do it the first time, you will understand why. It will feel weird, almost like going under water (thus the breathing). Also, have a kleenex next to the sink, so you after you blow your nose in the sink and get all of that snot out of your head (and you will get a lot of snot out of your head), you will want to wipe off your face. Alternate each nostril at least twice.
Yes, you need the saline packets that are for neti-pots - you can get them at Wal-Mart, Target, CVS, Amazon etc.
Once you do it, you will never want to take nasal sprays or decongestants again - we haven't!
When allergies are bad we use it 1-3 times a day. My kids ask for it when they are stuffy. My husband uses it in the shower so he doesn't have to be neat about it :)
It is totally worth it! You will wonder why you didn't start using it earlier than now :)
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Neti pot! I started using it when I was pregnant and use it now, not everyday even though you can if you need to. I'll use it when I feel I need to and during allergy season. I started my daughter on Nasaline, it's a syrnge type nasal irrigator. I had to work with her a lot to be able to do it but she does. She started using the Neti pot at 7 so I think you could try with a 6 year old. You need to be careful with The Nasaline as you are forcing the water up as opposed to using gravity. It can plug your ears and I imagine cause problems if you do it incorrectly. I just use filtered water with a pinch of non iodiozed sea salt for the solution. Here's a link about Nasaline:
http://www.squipusa.com/nas_faqs.php
It can't do any harm besides the feeling that water is going up your nose (which can kind of hurt!) You can just use non-iodized salt and warm water if you want, or you can buy a solution (I always made my own). I used it 2 times a day during high-allergy times. It's completely safe but it won't be comfortable the first couple of times you do it. But it gets better as you get the hang of it, and it really does help!
I use a neti pot and it works so much better than any of the decongestant pills on the market.
How often I use it depends on how congested I am - usually in the morning before I go to work, when I get home, and before I go to bed.
Since the saline solution you use is extremely dilute, I wouldn't recommend making your own - you're likely to make it way too strong and burn your nasal lining. The saline in your body is something like 1/10 of one percent salt. If you make your own and get it too strong, it's going to feel like the Dead Sea going up your nose. The pre-measured packets are fairly cheap.
I've never tried it on a child - I didn't discover it until my daughter was grown.
The Sinus Rinse Bottle is the exact same idea but ia much easier to maneuver. The SInus RInse Bottle is by Neil Med (they also make a Neti Pot...not sure if they are the only ones that make the Neti Pot. I suspect not) comes with packets that you mix with warm water. The sinus rinse bottle also comes in a child size bottle although I've really only seen the regular size retail. My husband uses it every day. I use it when I have a sinus infection and it works wonders. Try it, you only have $10 to lose (and that $10 includes the packets).
I love mine, but was scared to death to try it at first. I'm going to use it in a couple of minutes for my head cold. To make myself feel better I watched a bunch of videos I googled and read any info I could. It is pretty easy once you get the right posture for it. Try and get a good warm temp, but not too warm and I use the saline packets. They are soooo easy. Have tissues nearby and don't plug your nostrils when blowing. Like a previous poster said, blow into the sink first and then use tissues. One of the best tricks/tips I've heard is to say "K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K" softly to yourself as the water is going through your sinuses. I think this helps with your breathing and so you don't swallow any. Also, make sure the spout of the pot is small enough for your nostrils. A friend of mine couldn't figure out why her's didn't work well. She had a ceramic one with a huge spout. Go for the cheap plastic one that will fit you. Good luck. You are going to love using it once you get the hang of it.
I'm guessing they are safe for children mature enough to learn how to use it. I still have a little guy. You'll know once you try it yourself whether or not your kids are ready. Have them watch you so it feels natural to them.
