A while ago, I was watching an episode
of the Oprah show with Dr. Mehmet Oz. He was showing off a product
that clears the sinuses; it is called the neti pot.
The purpose of
the neti pot is to help with allergies, congestion and sinus
infections. The process of cleaning the nasal passageway with the
pot is called saline nasal irrigation. Recalling that my mother has
one and uses it occasionally, I wanted to question how
effective and popular it is among people.
How does the neti pot work?
First, you fill the pot with warm salt water; second, you tilt your
head to the side and slowly pour it in the superior nostril. The
water mixture will travel through your nostrils, thinning out and/or
pushing mucus through to the other nostril. This method is an
alternative to nasal sprays, strong medication, and surgery. The
video below gives a visual demonstration on how it works.
It is assumed that the neti pot
is easy to use, everyone can use it, and all pots [made from
different materials such as plastic and ceramic] work the same way.
It is also assumed that it will completely clean the sinuses and
nostrils of mucus and allergies in one shot.
Looking at customer reviews on
different websites (such as amazon.com, for example), a lot of people
love using the pot. Some people did not like it because the spout
did not fit comfortably in their nostril. They also did not like the
feeling of water going through their nasal passageways. Some people
complained about getting bacterial infections from using the pot
(possibly from not cleaning it after every use). I also found some
cases where a couple of people in the US have died from a particular
fatal brain infection (Naegleria
fowleri,
a “brain-eating amoeba thriving in unsterilized
water) due to using infected tap water.
I came across a randomized research
study testing the effectiveness of the neti pot. Seventy-six
participants with sinusitis from six different clinics were divided
into two test groups: Neti pot users and control. The neti pot group
underwent saline nasal irrigation everyday for six months while the
control group continued their usual treatment. The results of the
study concluded that daily nasal irrigation is more effective than
usual treatment for sinusitis. It helped decrease both symptoms and
the number of medications people were on for their sinusitis. It was
also recommended that people that want to use it get proper training
so they do not get an infection from it due to user error.
I have used the pot myself a couple of
times. From my experience, it did not have that much of an
effect on me; I did not feel it helped with my congestion, even
though I was not using it everyday like I probably should. Despite
my personal testimony, I do conclude that while the neti pot
may not be for everybody, for those who use it, and use it on a daily
basis, it is a very effective way to improve symptoms in the sinuses;
it is positively recommended by many doctors and physicians.
Links I used:
A few years ago i used a neti pot when i had a sinus infection. It temporarily eased the pain and pressure and allowed me to relax for a while. But it only eased the symptoms it did not cure my infection. So i can say that it is effective but it is not a cure.
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