i have a feeling this is part one in a series of questions about my laziness and forgetfulness.
I find saline rinses very helpful, my problem is, when i am sick and not feeling great, i have a hard time waiting for the boiling water to cool, and then when i come back to check on it it s too cold.
I've tried boiling on the stove, I've tried boiling in the microwave. but the cooling/waiting time seems to be the problem.
what i've settled on is boiling a little less than half the water in the microwave, then adding in cold water from the brita filter in the fridge. and mixing the two until the temp is right, but i'm a little concerned that the brita water might be impure enough that there would be a problem? am i worrying too much or not enough?? and how do you do it?
I was pretty sure the instructions said to boil water to be sure it was pure and didn't have any yucky stuff in it. i have city water if it makes a difference. we generally don't drink out of the tap, we use the brita but i don't think we would get sick from the tap water just don't like the taste.
ok I could probably do distilled but once you open the distilled water can you cap it back up or is it contaminated??? I've only seen it sold in gallon jugs and all i'll need is 6oz.
I don't boil water I use tap. If I had to boil water I would never use it. I wouldn't be able to wait around for it to cool.
I don't boil the water for my sinus rinse. I wash my plunger out after use with a tad bit of alcohol and then store it in a sealed ziploc bag.
No wonder you don't want to do the rinse!! what a pain in the rear!!! I think you are WWWWWAAAAAYYY over thinking this...the saline kills the germs.
Talk to the pharmacist. But really. Over thinking it. I HATE the netti pot - wwwwaaayyy too messy. I use the plunger. It really does help keep my sinuses clear!
I used to use mine all the time with warm tap water, then I read about the possibility of introducing Meningitis from tap water. After that I began boiling the water, but have the same issues as you do. I have put the neti pot in the fridge to cool it down, but even then it takes too long.
Never heard of boiling the water... sounds like someone scared you.
I am sure there is is some paranoia about it just like there is paranoia about everything. It is a wonder we are alive today!!
I use warm water from the faucet.
I've never boiled water. I just add warm water and rinse. neveNOt sure why you need to boil?
Our ENT says either use distilled or boil your tap water, as do the instructions on the neti pot.
Water straight from the faucet really can give you infections. Yes, plenty of people have been fine; not every person will get an infection. But it can happen. The most serious concern is Naegleria fowleri, which was a rather "popular" news story a couple years ago when 2 people died from using tap water in their neti pot. Again, very rare, but it doesn't hurt to take precautions.
The saline packets do not get rid of bacteria. Saline makes the water more "comfortable" (i.e. close to or matching the tonicity of the cells).
We use the gallon jug of distilled, and capping it after use is fine. It will not get contaminated with any bacteria that would be a problem to your sinuses if you just pour and re-cap.
I think instead of all the work of boiling/cooling/mixing etc, just go pick up a gallon of distilled. It's cheap and easy :)
I wont use them at all due to the slight chance of infection with my brain being right there, absolutely boil ALL the water you're using and sterilize the items...
i do then on my 6 year old and i have never boiled water. i just use warm water out of the tap. never had a problem with infection or anything like that.
City water is already purified. Don't bother boiling it. Just run the tap at the temperature you like.
I've always just used hot water from the tap. Never had a problem.
I use the distilled water. We just cap it. I find it too cold a room temp so I heat it for about 15 seconds in the microwave.
YouTube has videos of neti pot instructions.
Warm tap water.
No need to boil.
Did you know you can also just use the bottled saline nose spray for a nearly neti pot experience?
You can either use distilled water that you buy at a grocery store or do what I do - I boil a huge pot of water and when it cools off, I funnel it into an old plastic milk jug. I have five saline rinse bottles that I prefill with everything I need, including the water. Each morning before I get into the shower, I fill the sink with scalding hot water and let the bottle float in there just while I'm showering. It's the perfect temperature to use when I get out. Hope this helps!
I use water fromt he sink. But then again we have public water that is heavily chlorinated - not sure if I'd do it with well water. I've never had a problem either and always feel soooo much better after using my netti pot. Gross concept but it works wondefully.
I have done what you mentioned above and it worked out fine.. However, like you, sometimes I need faster sinus relief and because of that have purchased the prepackaged saline solution packets. It does cost a bit more, but since I don't use them every day, I am ok with the price. Also, although I do like the idea of using salt, IF I am not careful to measure it just right, I find that my sinuses can get dried out from it.. Hard to safe if the Brita is pure enough.. to be extra careful, maybe try the packets..
good luck!
We have a reverse osmosis filter under the kitchen sink and we use that for all cooking/drinking, humidifiers and in the neti pot too.
I heat up the kettle and use about 3/4 cup hot water then use about 1 1/4 cups for the rest with filtered water from the tap - the temp comes out perfect for me.
Then I mix in the salt, baking soda and about 1/2 tsp of glycerine.
It's very soothing to irritated sinuses.
http://www.ehow.com/way_###-###-####_neti-pot-natural-rec...
