Experience with a Neti Pot?

I think it is great for allergies and especially if you are prone to sinus infections!!!!!1 Don't know about the ear thing, but yes, I would highly recommend!
You use warm water and it comes with some packets of powered saline that you dissolve in the water......
Good luck

My husband uses his when he has a cold or allergies to very good effect. He uses a saline mix with some baking soda (instructions on the box). I've tried it, but don't seem to need it as much. My yoga teacher swears by it for allergies. After a little practice its easy to use (getting the angle right).

My husband uses it and he says it works really great for his sinuses. I am too scared to use it, but he swears by it. Now that I am pregnant and can't use medication, I might use it if need be. He bought a whole kit that has the solution and the neti pot and you just add water. We got it at Whole Foods. I would try it.

D.,

I bought a Neti pot after I saw Dr. Oz on Oprah a year or two ago. It helped somewhat, but at one point, I was severely congested, and as I attempted to -pour- water though my sinuses, NOTHING was moving. I had an extra old lavage bottle (clean, of course) that had come home in my hospital bag. I put the solution in it (I added a little bit of uniodized salt to the warm tapwater, but you can buy pre-made packets, and I believe that they include baking soda, as well). In severe pain, I held hot-packs on my face, to help relieve the pressure. When I gently squirted the water through my sinuses, you would not BELIEVE how much gunk came out!!! No wonder I was in such pain.

After three or four sinus infections last season, I finally got tested for allergies, and found out that I am allergic to all-that-is-outside. No wonder I was hurting so bad.

Try the Neti pot (or a bottle that will actually let you add a little pressure). I can't imagine how much worse-off I would have been last year, if not for my trusty bottle!

M.

The Neti Pot is amazing. I have used it for about three years. I come from a state that the climate was very dry and it really helped keep my sinuses moist. Here in Houston, it has helped me because of the high allergens. It really helps when you have a cold. You have to use filtered water, not tap water. I microwave a coffee mug of water for 30 seconds and then add 1/8-1/4 tsp of sea salt. Use half the mug of water for each nasal side. If you have a cold it takes longer for the water to clear your nasal passages because of the blockage but believe me it really works!!!! And so good for those with sinus and allergy problems. Be faithful every morning with it and when you miss a day you will know why you use it.

They are fabulous. I have used one for years. My cousin turned me on to it a while back. It has been used for hundreds of years
I use room temp nursery water, just never switched and served dual purposes when DD was small. They have a saline solution for them at Walgreens as well.
I still have to take some allergy meds on occasion, but not nearly as often as I used to.
It will not flush out the eardrums, nor should they be flushed, as they need to maintain some bacteria to be healthy. It will however help with sinus pressure that could aggravate the ear infection. I have never used it for ears, nor have I heard of people using it in their ears. I could be wrong, but I would be concerned with agrivation the ear infection, or not getting the water out.
Good luck. I hope you have fun.

neti pot will get out anything & everything. My mom, nephew, & one of my girlfriends swear by it. (she used it on her little one & OH BOY!-everything came out.) If you are congested or feel stuffed up give it a try.

Hi D.,

Go to Wikipedia and type in "Nasal Irrigation" for scientific results for using Neti pots (they say pulsating irrigation is best for getting rid of the common bacteria in sinus infections). As far as I can tell, Neti pots are only for sinus irrigation. I use a plastic one every night that my husband bought online. I put in a teaspoon of sea salt and warm water. I do it every day because I hope it will prevent the sinus infections (which can develop into ear infections). But, I was taking 10 mg. of OTC (over the counter) Loratadine when I got the last 2 infections...yet I haven't gotten another one since my doc suggested I try Zurtec instead, because it's stronger. Daily, I also use a corticosteroid nasal spray as a preventive measure. Good luck!

I haven't used an actual neti pot; I just use a cup. It helps clear out my sinus infections. I put water and salt into the cup and turn practically upside-down and have someone pour it in. You've got to be careful not to inhale while the water's in you.

They are great!
It's so rewarding to see what all comes out after a day of yard work. :-)
Just make sure you keep your mouth open while you do it or your ears will get clogged up.

I recommend using it. The neti pot is great to clean out sinus, and works wonders. I am sad to say I went long time without using one and wish I had started using it long ago. Buy one, I got mine for 14.00 at Walgreen's and it came with many packets to use with warm water.

Hi,
We have just started using the NeilMed Nasal Irrigation bottle with the solution that you buy. I am not sure if it is helping or not, but my son is breathing a lot better. It is the same kind of principle as the Neti but it is placed up to the nostril and gentley squeezed. I use it on myself too. I like it and think it is going to be very useful. It is really simple to use.

I have used a neti pot, but they don't recommend it for ear infections it is strictly for sinus drainage. It works well for that purpose. You put distilled or purified (filtered) water in. Its not hard to do, but kind of messy. Not recommended for children.

I used one when I had a sinus infection I couldn't get to clear up and it helped a lot. You boil water and then let it cool (of course). I had to practice for a few minutes, before I got the hang of it. I think I was holding my head back too far at first, so it was running down my throat. Anyway, it was easy to use and made me feel a lot better. Not sure if it would help with fluid behind the ear, though. Good luck. Hope you feel better.

Neti The Neti pot, while you may have never heard of it has been around for years and years, so it's not really a fad although it may seem like one. With that said I LOVE my Neti! You are supposed to use distilled water (so you don't have the added chemicals and minerals often found in tap water) and Neti pot salt or noniodized salt are a must. Your ear drum is a closed system, so I don't think the Neti will help first hand with any fluid there. What it does do is clean and lossen any mucus, dust, pollen, etc and help clear it from your sinus cavities. I find that although it looks strange and feels funny, until you get it right, it's really amazing and can stop a runny nose in a single pot, used on a daily basis, it can help reduce alleriges and improve your sense of taste along with smell!

I know it's hard to believe that a Neti can do all that, but in this case, simple is better! I highly reccomend giving it a try. You tube has a good instructional video on how to do it. (A Google search for Neti pot video should do it)

Good luck! I promise it's great!

Hi D.,

My name is E. Howard and my allergist, Dr. Tamboli suggested I use the neti pot to preclude me from getting sick as often as I was with sinus infections. I purchased and it sat in my storage closet for two years before I decided to use it. I had been sick at least four to five times a year and out of those five times with sinus infections, twice I needed about two weeks worth of anitbiotics. I only wish I would have used it immediately. Once I started using it, I have never stopped. It is the best thing since sliced bread. I have only had one sinus infection and only because my husband had a viral infection. I also highly recommend the NeillMed Sinus Wash. It is less cumbersome than the little pot. It is extremely easy to use. You may purchase it at Walgreen's or CVS. I even take it with me out of town when we travel. It works the same way as the other one.

God Luck

We use the neti at our house! My husband swears by it. I do not know about clearing out ear fluid, but I do know it works for sinuses. You can either buy the packets to add to water or use warm salt water, we have nothing but good things to say!! Good luck!

I have used it with great success. You use tap water mixed with the solution packet that comes with it. It's a saline base I think, but it works great!

A.
www.marykay.com/awisnoski

Not just a fad. I highly suggest you start using one. I will use one for a lifetime. I use the Nielmed nasal irrigation one instead of the actual Netipod. It's just a bottle with a straw in it that has a little rounded top with a hole in it. You squeeze the water at your own pace. It comes with 50 little packets of a saline mixture and I use distilled water or boiled water. If you want to buy additional packets, they are pretty cheap. The thought of using one made me cringe but my allergetic dad assured me it wasn't that bad. He was right. It has been wonderful for my severe allergies and when I have a cold. I'm not sure it would help clear fluid out from behind the ear drum. Worth a try though. They are only about $12 at CVS, Target or any other pharmacy.

I use mine about 2 times a day and it helps a lot with clearing my nasal passages. But, if I understand correctly it is NOT to be used if there is any problem with your ears. I think it might cause more trouble than help. Mine also came with specific instructions and little packets of saline solution to use in the pot.

Hi D.,

I love the neti pot and my husband loves it too. Warm tap water with a little salt goes into it; it is crucial to closely watch how hot the water is, and not to put in too much salt (we use non-iodized sea salt, but I don't know how important that is). Obviously water that is too hot hurts a lot, and so does too much salt. But the neti pot definitely helps to manage allergies and to fend off sinus infections. For me, I started to want something that would exert more force to clear the sinuses and have moved over to the gravity neti pot that is sold in drugstores, and the plastic squeeze bottle, both of which come with pre-measured salt packets and both of which push the water through the sinuses with more force. I find these to work better and to be quicker -- the regular neti pot is harder to use over a bathroom sink, but the plastic bottle I can use three times a day with no trouble. I think this is a wonderful tool; as someone with allergies, asthma, and a penchant for sinus an bronchial infections, without the general approach of sinus irrigation I'd spend a lot more time sick and, I suspect, would have had multiple hospitalizations. I should add that one key principle to fend off either a sinus infection or a serious allergy attack is to use the neti pot, or whatever, early and often -- when I've been 'too busy" to notice that things are starting to get bad and haven't gotten going until whatever the sinus issue is has had time to settle in, it takes longer and I still spend time feeling awful. Finally, for those who find this to be effective but want more, Waterpick sells a waterpick machine with a nasal attachment that is bizarre but incredible -- a friend of mine who gets regular sinus infections multiple times per winter has found that she doesn't have this pattern at all when she goes after early congestion with the waterpick, and I've found it very helpful too, although I lost the attachment and now use the plastic bottle and suspect it is almost as good, and it costs well over $100 less (and looks less bizarre, takes less space, travels, and has less little parts to lose)

All the best!
M.

Years ago my allergist recommended me using a Neti Pot. I highly recommend it. You need to add a little salt into slightly warm water and mix well but be sure not to put too much because it might burn if you're sinuses are raw. Water that's too warm will also burn. I buy sea salt but you can purchase salt packets to mix with the water. It's just unnatural for me to put anything up my nose so the first time I used it I was VERY unsure I'd be able to do it. I got over it when I felt the relief. I will say that sometimes my sinuses have been too clogged to even use it. Go for it! I don't think you'll regret it.

Hi D.!

The Neti pot is awesome. It doesn't clear up an ear infection but does help relieve some of the stress. My sister (who is a PA) uses it EVERY DAY. I'm not that "bad". I use it when I get the sniffles.

The Neti pot comes with saline solution packs. You just open one of those, put it in the pot with some sterilized warm water (not hot) and pour away. Very simple and very effective.

FYI- the only thing to clear out fluid behind the ear drum is antibiotics.

Good luck!
A.

Got mine at Walmart in pharmacy section. It is a small blue plastic pitcher and comes with the saline powder that you mix with water. It says to boil - however we have just used warm tap water and held over the sink. I first saw it with dr oz and then 2 different doctors recommended using one.

Hi D.,
I have terrible allergies and in the past have always had at least one bad sinus infection every year that required one or two courses of antibiotics. I started using a net-pot a little over a year ago and haven't had a sinus infection requiring antibiotics since. I got it at Walgreen's; it comes with little packets of saline powder that you mix with warm water; you can get refills of the powder packets without having to buy another neti pot. I only use it when I need to; i.e., when my allergies are really acting up, or if I get a cold and lots of congestion. I traveled over the holidays and forgot to bring it with me...I got sick and could feel the dreaded sinus infection starting. As soon as I got home I started using my Neti Pot, and it took about a week, but all the gunk finally cleared out and I avoided both a doctor's visit and antibiotics. I really think the neti pot has improved my life! Good luck, I hope you have good results too.

Hi D.,

I have used a neti pot to help clear my nasal passages before. I bought it at Peoples Pharmacy and followed the instructions in the box. Per instructions, I used warm tap water with salt.

It took some getting used to (you have be be a champ at breathing through your mouth and not your nose during the procedure) but results were well worth it!

I don't know how you would use it for ears. I've only heard of using it for noses/ sinus. Good luck.

I absolutely love mine. Before the neti pot really became popular, I learned how to irrigate my sinuses with a baby bulb syringe. It's basically the same concept. It truly made a difference for me. I would not recommend using plain tap water - it will burn. My recommendation is to get a box of non-iodized salt from the grocery store (salt containing iodine will burn) and mixing just a small amount into warm tap water. Best of luck to you!

I use a netti pot and love it. It cleans out the nose to keep from getting a sinus infection. It takes a couple times to get used to it but it works. Not sure about ear drum. It is just saline solution, which is what you should use to clean anythng on your body.

My husband and I use them all the time. They are great for cleaning out the sinus. I use warm tap water and a pinch of sea salt. The first time you try it, you will feel a stinging sensation, but you will love it.
Blessings,
D.

you put saline solution in it