Nasal rinses are an inexpensive and easy way for people with allergies, nasal congestion, nasal congestion, and post-nasal drip to provide relief, says Dr. Melissa Pynnonen, co-director of the Michigan Sinus Center and assistant professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Michigan:
“For most patients, the benefit of nasal irrigation is that it does an excellent job of treating symptoms that are not otherwise well managed with medication. Nasal irrigation can be considered a first-line treatment for common nasal and sinus problems. It is often more effective than medication.”
Nasal irrigation involves rinsing the nasal passages using a neti pot filled with a solution of a quarter teaspoon of kosher salt and 200 ml of warm water.
If you have a sinus infection, you can rinse your sinuses with a neti pot mixture two to three times a day:
- 1 cup warm/hot filtered water (some tap water contains infectious microorganisms, so it’s best to boil or filter the water first)
- 1/4 tsp. Neti Pot Salt (use Himalayan or Celtic Sea Salt if you don’t have Neti Pot Salt)
- 1 tsp. or 1 drop of colloidal silver (at least 22 ppm)
- For a stubborn sinus infection, add an additional 4 drops of wild oregano oil (use 2 drops for children) OR 2-3 drops of iodine
How to use the Neti Pot:
1. Mix 1/4 teaspoon of finely ground Neti Pot salt with 8 ounces of warm/hot filtered water. Use the purest salt available as impurities in the salt can be irritating. For a sinus infection, colloidal silver, wild oregano, or iodine may also be added.
2. Lean forward and turn your head to the side over the sink. Keep your forehead at the same level as your chin or slightly higher.
3. Gently insert the nasal beak into the upper nostril so that it forms a comfortable seal.
4. Gradually lift the neti pot so that the saline solution flows in through your upper nostril and out of the lower nostril. Breathe through your mouth. Make a “K–K–K” sound when you feel the solution running into your mouth. Pour out half of the contents of the neti pot.
5. Then stand by the sink and breathe out forcefully without pinching your nostrils.
6. Switch nostrils and repeat the process on the other side. Once the neti pot is empty, exhale forcefully again to clear the nasal passages.
*Open your mouth and make a “K” sound to prevent the solution from coming out of your mouth.
Why a nasal rinse? The nasal passages are lined with a thin layer of mucus, which is one of our body’s first lines of defense against disease. Nasal irrigation keeps this layer of mucus moist, clean and healthy and can also kill inhaled pathogens. Compared to other nasal irrigation techniques, using the Neti pot is easy.
Use it anytime to:
- Remove excess mucus due to constipation.
- Clear your nostrils of pollen and other allergens.
- Clean the nasal mucous membranes from dust, smoke and other airborne contaminants.
- Relieves dry nose due to air travel.
- Improve breath flow before using relaxation or meditation techniques.
This short video also shows you how to use a neti pot (it is recommended to use a full neti pot for each nostril – I have never found this necessary, but do what feels good for your body):
Original post from May 2008. Last updated January 2022.
Jini Patel Thompson is an internationally recognized expert in natural healing for digestive diseases. She healed herself from widespread Crohn’s disease and has been medication and surgery free for over 25 years. Jini has appeared on numerous podcasts, TV and radio shows in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, giving people hope and vision on how to heal their colitis, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) using all-natural methods. Her books on natural healing of digestive diseases have been sold in over 80 countries worldwide. Jini is married and has three children, nine sheep, 11 horses, a cat and three dogs.
