Neti Pots

December 11, 2005 3:54 PM

Clear your head with a neti pot. [video inside]
posted by cmicali (42 comments total)

Demonstration Video [wmv] - Fantastic acting!
posted by cmicali at 3:57 PM on December 11, 2005

clear your ass with a butt candle.
posted by quonsar at 4:00 PM on December 11, 2005

I'd rather have cannabis pot, but thank you..
posted by alteredcarbon at 4:00 PM on December 11, 2005

Thank you, I already do. You would be fascinated by the evil chunks that exit my sinuses.
posted by Uncle Glendinning at 4:01 PM on December 11, 2005

You would be fascinated by the evil chunks that exit my sinuses.

By using a butt candle? DAMN! That's hardcore!

... and I wouldn't use the term fascinated. Maybe repulsed would be better.
posted by tkchrist at 4:05 PM on December 11, 2005

You learn something new every day.
posted by fungible at 4:11 PM on December 11, 2005

Anyone use these? Do they help?
posted by craniac at 4:17 PM on December 11, 2005

These actually work, as odd as it seems, and they really aren't as uncomfortable as you would think. I made fun of them too, but then about a year ago I had the worst cold ever and in my desperation, I ordered one. Cleared me up for hours in a way sudafed never did.

Of course it's also something my three boys never get sick of watching ever since my youngest walked in on me once - they think it's magic.
posted by routergirl at 4:21 PM on December 11, 2005 [1 favorite]

Oh yeah, they sell these at my local hippy grocery. My friend says her mom uses one and it works well.
posted by thirteenkiller at 4:29 PM on December 11, 2005

I swear by mine. i've been using mine almost daily for about a year and a half or so now. My allergies, which were unbearable before, are hardly there or nonexistant. I breathe easier and smell better, plus the big thing for me is it helps my voice.

The whole reason I started is because I heard it's an actor's trick. Also, I haven't gotten a common cold in at least a year or so.

just my two cents.
posted by freudianslipper at 4:37 PM on December 11, 2005 [1 favorite]

i've heard nothing but good things from any friend that's tried a neti pot.
posted by flaterik at 4:37 PM on December 11, 2005

I breathe easier and smell better, plus the big thing for me is it helps my voice.

That's a relief, 'cause you used to fucking stink.
posted by interrobang at 4:43 PM on December 11, 2005

Sorry, but nobody else wanted to tell you, and I drew the short straw.
posted by interrobang at 4:44 PM on December 11, 2005

Be sure to use evian, not perrier, and definitely not chlorinated tap water. Stings like you'd expect bleach would.
posted by nervousfritz at 4:46 PM on December 11, 2005

Long ago, I vaguely remember that there was some kind of buzz over President Reagan using some nasal irrigation system like this, as well as a corresponding SNL skit.
posted by zerokey at 4:47 PM on December 11, 2005

It does feel a little strange.
posted by muckster at 4:57 PM on December 11, 2005

YMMV, but I've done it for awhile (allergies) and it hurts like an absolute bitch. But then, I've always hated getting water up my nose while swimming. I've never gotten used to it, and it doesn't seem to have a very big effect on my sinuses.
posted by booksandlibretti at 5:06 PM on December 11, 2005

Up your nose with a rubber hose: the board game.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 5:19 PM on December 11, 2005

I don't know, I'm pretty into the neti pot. I suffer from seasonal allergies, and on top of the rinse factor, the salt you add to the water helps dry up the cruds. I was really terrified the first time I used it, because I hate the feeling of water up my nose, but once I got the head position and the hand position right, I found that it worked quite well. Perhaps it isn't for everyone, but I'm a fan.
posted by Teh Bean at 5:28 PM on December 11, 2005

When I do it, I do it in the shower. Less mess that way, and the water temperature is just about right for filling the bottle.

Also, instead of an official Neti Pot™ I use a sports water bottle - the kind with the squirt top.
posted by cheineking at 5:43 PM on December 11, 2005

"YMMV, but I've done it for awhile (allergies) and it hurts like an absolute bitch."

I use a neti pot when I have my worst allergy symptoms, and it is effective. I especially tend to use it before going to bed. There's even a new study out that says that it reduces the risk of getting colds and flus.

That said, I find it doesn't hurt at all if you use luke warm water with enough saline packets. If you do not use saline, use a bad homemade mix, or fail to use enough of it, it will hurt!

The home solution most commonly suggested is mixing one cup of warm water with one-fourth a teaspoon of both salt and baking soda for a rise for your nose. If you can get sea salt, I would do so, rather than using table salt.
posted by insomnia_lj at 5:46 PM on December 11, 2005

books, if you use non-saline solution, it does hurt like crazy. It's very painful. If you use saline, however, it's completely painless. It's easy to make your own.

Keep in mind that commercial saline has preservatives (thimerosal mostly, I think) that you may not want in your sinuses. Making your own is better, but remember you have to make it fresh daily... it doesn't keep at all, even in the fridge.

If even saline solution hurts, you may be doing something wrong. You might want to check with your doctor.
posted by Malor at 5:48 PM on December 11, 2005

books, if you use non-saline solution, it does hurt like crazy.

Your body has salt. It likes this. There's two cases where it gets annoyed.

1) Water, no salt. Salt rushes into the water from your tissues to try and fix this.

2) Too much salt, not enough water. Water rushes from your tissues to try and fix this.

The first results in pain. The second results in pain, and a reduction in swelling. This can be used to your advantage, if you have a cold/allergy/bogus histamine reaction going -- extra salt, draw water out of tissues, I CAN BREATH.
posted by eriko at 6:01 PM on December 11, 2005 [1 favorite]

It works really for me, except when the water gets blocked up into my ears (I have chronic sinus problems).
posted by rottytooth at 6:07 PM on December 11, 2005

If it hurts, you may be using iodized salt. Use the non-iodized form (also inexpensive), and buffer the pH with a bit of baking soda. I use a couple of ordinary 4 ounce plastic squeeze bottles. Squeeze gently--forcing fluids up into your inner ear is not a best practice. I've been off of allergy meds since I starting rinsing a few years ago.
posted by dws at 6:14 PM on December 11, 2005

commercial saline has preservatives (thimerosal mostly, I think)

The stuff they sell at the drugstore has benzalkonium chloride.
posted by rxrfrx at 6:14 PM on December 11, 2005

Sorry, guys, I'm using the kit my ENT gave me. It comes complete with little sachets of a specially-balanced saline concentrate -- I just add good water.

I think there are some people who just don't like getting water up their noses, and I'm one of them. If you guys like it and it works for you, that's awesome.
posted by booksandlibretti at 6:27 PM on December 11, 2005

George Sibley gave me one.
posted by papakwanz at 6:48 PM on December 11, 2005 [1 favorite]

The stuff they sell at the drugstore has benzalkonium chloride.

But the benzalkonium chloride also has a curse!
posted by hincandenza at 6:51 PM on December 11, 2005 [1 favorite]

Here is the modern version: Grossan Hydro Pulse Nasal/Sinus Irrigation System. I use one and swear by it.
posted by seymour.skinner at 6:58 PM on December 11, 2005

Hey anyone on Meta get random bloody noses due to dry winter weather? Been getting some chronic ones recently.

Anyway, you think this may help?

Sorry maybe I should post this on ask.meta.
posted by countzen at 7:17 PM on December 11, 2005

maybe adding a little Lysol would help a nose douche?
posted by MonkeySaltedNuts at 7:21 PM on December 11, 2005

I used to get random bloody noses during winter then I stopped doing so much cocaine.
posted by I Foody at 9:11 PM on December 11, 2005

I get minor winter bloody noses, especially when the first cold snap hits and sucks the moisture out of the air.

When I stay up too late I often get congestion and nasty sinus problems the next day. I'm buying one of these suckers. I have snorted saline, but this seems more intensive.
posted by mecran01 at 10:09 PM on December 11, 2005

clear your ass with a butt candle.

Boy am I glad that site didn't have a demonstration video.
posted by clevershark at 10:24 PM on December 11, 2005

I got one of these because I didn't really want to use a steroid nasal spray for post-nasal drip. It has changed my life. It's painless if you use the saline packets and warm water. And if you position your head properly, you never get that water-up-your-nose feeling. At first it feels a little weird, but not uncomfortable. I find it is so much more effective than a saline nasal spray.
posted by mokujin at 10:52 PM on December 11, 2005

I also heartily endorse the neti pot. My crazy yoga instructor friend *made* me try it and I'm glad I did. The damn thing works and it's not uncomfortable at all.
posted by ryanhealy at 11:02 PM on December 11, 2005

I've thought of buying a neti pot, but my improvised solution (involving a Tupperware pitcher and the tube-part of a turkey baster) has worked so well that I haven't bothered. :) I use it in my morning shower, and again later in the day if I feel like I'm coming down with something. While it doesn't completely prevent me from getting colds, the last couple of infections I've gotten have been far less severe and cleared up very quickly compared to the ones I've gotten in the past.
posted by Ironwolf at 1:06 AM on December 12, 2005

I work with someone who uses a neti pot everyday and swears by it -- he says that it surely cleans out sinuses but also that it has a role in cold prevention.
posted by bluesky43 at 5:02 AM on December 12, 2005

The whole reason I started is because I heard it's an actor's trick.

This is what, the fourth time I've heard this phrase on MeFi lately? Hint, guys: actors get sick too, it just doesn't usually make the tabloids because NO ONE CARES. Yes, their jobs are really stressful with long hours and lots of pressure, but that doesn't mean they don't occasionally get colds that throw the whole thing off. If a neti pot can clear your voice up, I'm sure they shove water and whatever else is necessary up their noses to get that one last take before they collapse into bed.

Implied celebrity endorsement is a dud. Unless you think Scientology or Kabbalah might help the common cold too.
posted by mikeh at 6:53 AM on December 12, 2005

This is oddly hilarious because it is the third reference to Neti Pots I've seen in the last week, starting with "The Office" holiday party, then an episode of Six Feet Under. I'll have to look into getting one of these.
posted by clgregor at 12:26 PM on December 12, 2005

I got one after some AskMe discussion and am well pleased. I only use it on troublesome days and not for cold prevention; I use my zircam nose spray when I start to feel under the weather.
posted by phearlez at 1:58 PM on December 12, 2005