Neti Pots: One way to beat the spring sniffles

15 years ago

Neti Pots:

One way to beat the spring sniffles

By Carrissa Hankins, APRN, FNP

    The spring sinus season is here, and it seems as if no nose is safe. Sinus and nose troubles are one of the top complaints which motivate people to seek care in a retail health clinic. While it is important to get a health care provider’s professional opinion when you think you have a sinus infection, it is just as important to know how you can help yourself to feel better in the meantime. 

    One thing adults may want to try for sinus congestion is nasal irrigation using a neti pot. With a shape similar to a porcelain tea pot, the warm, salty solution inside of a neti pot irrigates, or flushes out, the nose to help get rid of the dirt, allergens, bacteria, and virus particles that can cause sinus misery. If the bacteria inside the stuffy nose can be flushed out, the risk of getting a secondary bacterial infection on top of the common viral sinus infection is less. Getting rid of allergen particles sticking to the inside of the nose and sinuses also helps to decrease some of their negative affects on the body, helping you feel better sooner.
    To use a neti pot, follow the package directions for mixing the salt water solution; some come with pre-mixed packets of powder, while others just include a recipe for you to follow. Then, standing over the sink or in the bathtub, create a seal between your nose and the spout of the pot by gently placing the spout into one of your nostrils. Tilt your head toward the non-pot side and lean forward to allow the warm salty solution to run through your nose and sinuses and drain out the other nostril. You can repeat this process with the other nostril if desired.
    Side effects are an important consideration with any treatment you decide to try. Some people experience excess tearing of the eyes, nasal burning, and a feeling of fluid behind the ears while using a neti pot. I tell my patients not to be surprised if the first few times feel strange and uncomfortable. While using a neti pot may not be for everyone, it might be just what your nose needs to help it through this spring sinus season.

 

    Carrissa Hankins, APRN, FNP is one of the nurse practitioners at The Clinic at Walmart, a retail health clinic specializing in the care of minor illnesses like colds, flu, earaches, and sore throats. To find out more about retail health care and The Clinic at Walmart, join TAMC and the Mars Hill Rotary Club at a health fair on Saturday, May 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fort Street Elementary School in Mars Hill.