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Most of us did not know what a Neti Pot was before Dr. Oz introduced it to us on the Oprah Show. It looks like a teapot–but you do WHAT with it, and WHY!? The Neti Pot or Nose Bidet, as it was called on the Oprah Show, is recommended by many Ears, Nose & Throat Specialists (ENT) to help irrigate your sinuses.

Cleansing your sinuses with a Neti Pot can help to relieve symptoms related to allergies, sinus infections, colds, and nasal dryness. Because it also helps to eliminate swelling of the tissues, some people use it successfully to stop snoring. I say it is worth a try if you sleep with someone who snores. And because you’re cleansing your sinuses naturally, many times it’ll lessen the need for medicine use.

You can purchase many different types of Neti Pots– plastic or ceramic, in health food stores or drug stores. Most come with a small packet of salt for use with the pots. Sea salt is recommended, however, if you use table salt do not use salt that contains iodine.

Fill your pot with warm water and add approximately 1/4 tsp. salt. Some prefer to add as much as 1/2 tsp. of salt–start out with less and work your way up. I find that 1/4 tsp. is plenty for me. Stir making sure that the salt has dissolved in the water. Leaning over your sink, place the tip of the pot into one nostril, and tilt your head slightly to one side, the saltwater should flow into one nostril and out the other. I save half of my solution and repeat in the other nostril, you may prefer to use the entire pot for one nostril then refill for the other side.

This is important–keep your mouth open and breathe through your mouth. It will take some practice the first time you do this until you figure out how far to tilt your head in order for the salt solution to drain out your nostril and not down your throat. If you are a visual person like I am, be sure to watch the Himalayan Institute.org for visual instructions as well as more information on Neti Pots.

Remember to keep your Neti Pot clean and sanitized. DO NOT share your Neti pot with anyone–everyone should have their own. I would recommend discussing the use of this irrigation system with your doctor before proceeding. Good Luck!