Sinus Rinse

16 years ago

I will preface this by saying that I have had hayfever/allergies all of my life and was diagnosed with asthma about 5 years ago. I have a couple of inhalers, but I just hate the idea of being dependent on them, especially because one of them is a steroid based inhaler. On the other hand, I really enjoy breathing, LOL.

You can stop reading here if you don't want to talk about yucky stuff (my friends and family think it's yucky).

A couple of weeks ago I got an ad in the mail from a new store in our area called Elephant Pharm. Something called a Neti Pot caught my eye and caused me to do a little web search. Apparently it's not something new, but centuries old, but I had never heard about it. Kind of looks like a little teapot and holds about 8 ounces of water (you add salt to the water). I even found a demonstration on YouTube.

The idea is that your sinuses are a filter for the air you breathe and lots of yucky stuff ends up in them. You lean forward over the sink and warm salt water is poured into one nostril, circulates through your sinuses and exits the other nostril, clearing them of dust, pollen and bacteria. I convinced myself that I wanted to give this a try and found one at a local drugstore. But right next to the Neti Pots were another type of sinus rinse using a squeeze bottle. I ended up buying that one. I've made it a part of my morning routine I am amazed at the difference I feel.

I'm wondering how this has been around for so long and I never heard of it. Have any of you heard of sinus rinsing? Do any of you do it?

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Comments (5)

socks
16 years ago
Our school secretary just tried and said it was tremendously helpful when she had terrible head congestion and a cold that just hung on. I also saw the pots at Whole Foods. I have never tried it, but it might help.
carla35
16 years ago
I used a similar contraption that my allergist gave me to help clear me out. I've got to be the only person that has had a bad side effect from using it. About two weeks after daily use, I developed the worst sinus infection of my life. I think the contraption actually caused the bacteria/virus to spread to areas of my sinus cavity that normally would have been spared. For me, it didn't clean out the bacteria just spread it around at least that's what I think happened. I get sinus infections with face pain often, but I have never been in so much sinus/face pain in my life. I woke up in tears and wanted to rip my face off. Obviously, it could have been just one heck of a coincidence... but I have never gone back to using it.
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Orie, I also suffer from severe sinus issues. I have several polyps that cause horrible pain and pressure. Surgery has been advised, but I have been told the polyps will most likely return, as well as the other sinus issues, so I don't want to attempt it. It sounds like part of your husband's problem are dry and irritated nasal/sinus tissue. I use a Netti Pot which can be purchased at any drug store. It looks like a little tea pot, a mix of water and salt, then flush each nostril. It keeps the nasal passages moist and reduces/eliminates inflammation and irritation. No side effects from drugs and most people use it as part of their morning routine along with brushing teeth, etc.. I use saline sprays throughout the day as well and since using both have noticed a dramatic improvement, escpecially during the winter. Perhaps he can mention the Netti pot to his doctor and see what he thinks.
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I swear by ginger tea~~you can buy it or buy ginger and make your own. I am also into Echinacea Plus tea, I carry both in my purse~~~ginger tea is good for digestion/congestion~~my DH was sick at the begining of December with a very bad cold. I drank both of these teas daily, several times a day. I also added an extra Turmeric pill and was able to fight it off~~~daily I felt like I was getting sick, but did not. Yogi brand makes both of these teas and are sold in health/natural food stores or you can get both cheaper at the Mexican spice area of grocery stores at least here in So Cal you can;) I also use a netti pot daily, twice daily if I am really feeling bad. I do all the same as Katlan, but I use the netti pot. I know it helped me not get sick, if I get that nasty cold it always turns int a sinus infection and off to the dr I go. So I use as many home remedies s I can~~~most OTC stuff makes me jittery and feeling almost worse.
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Have you tried a Neti Pot to clean your sinuses? i kind of scoffed when I first heard of them but one time I was so clogged up I figured it wouldn't hurt to try,and it really helped. I've got s bunch of pre-cancerous spots, too. Once my Medicare kicks in in May, I'll be having the same procedure. I keep picking at them because they are rough, but you can barely see them. I'm also watching The Tudors. I am only on disc two. Henry is trying to get rid of Catherine of Aragon so he can marry Anne Boleyn. The sex scenes are wowza! I forgot this was produced by Showtime, not BBC. I have to laugh because all the naked women have real boobs, no implants. Guess they are being true to the times, although everyone has perfect teeth, so maybe not. I hope you feel better soon.
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Two back-to-back family parties has kept me away from the computer since originating this post -- but WOW - thanks for all of the informative responses! I will use a lot of this advice. Seeing an allergist is probably the best route to go -- but since his exams are this week, the best I can do is suggest things to him that will make him more comfortable. I am fortunate in that I am NOT a seasonal-allergy sufferer but for a few sneezes here and there... and so it only recently occurred to me to NOT HANG his clothes outdoors in the fresh air (DUH!) And to not have his fan blowing fresh air into his room. Seems so logical to those of you who suffer - but this is new to me. He does wear contacts (dailies), but I will suggest he doesn't for however long allergy "season" lasts. Thanks again for all the suggestions and tips. I am going back to reread all the responses... take some notes... and share them with him when he comes home later. Have a good evening!
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Mo
16 years ago
I've been doing nasal irrigation for about eight years. For me, it works better than any pill or decongestant spray, and I no longer use them. When I do need to spray, I just use a saline spray. Washing all that garbage and bacteria from my sinuses relieves the pressure and lets me heal much faster.

I don't have a Neti Pot, I just snort up the solution from a spoon. I've got a couple of those sinus rinse kits, but haven't tried them yet.
bud_wi
16 years ago
Oprah just had a show where a doctor(?) explained them. They had a person from the audience demonstrate the use over a bucket while we all watched. (Eeeeew.)

Supposedly if one does the netti pot daily you can stop taking all the meds for allergies and sinus problems.

I would be afraid to try one, and worried about just what Carla35 said happened to her.

Supposedly using a netti pot is a daily routine in some counties just like brushing and flossing.
mboston_gw
16 years ago
I bought something similiar several years ago, called a nasal douche. I have stuffiness/allergies all the time and will get terrible sinus headaches. You have to get used to using it, not tip your head back as the directions say but to the side and slightly back as the person did on Oprah. I don't use mine all the time but when I feel the tenderness or have a headache that won't go away with one Tyneol, I use it for a few days and it does help.

You have to be careful - the concentration of salt in the water is important. If you don't use enough or any then you dry out your nasal passages and you can end up with another infection. Too much and it burns really bad when you use it.

I think it is a useful product when done right. I have seen the kits and that is now what my allergy doctor recommends since it has the correct % of salt, but they are expensive to my thinking.

Carla - maybe you did push your infection back up further. Did you hold you head back or to the side.

Sinus Rinse

Comments (5)

socks

carla35

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