Nasal Washing - Suggestions, Best Practices...

[scooter133]

So I've been using a Neti pot with the standard nailmed saline solution... Though I've water a couple you tube vids and read though the How-To. Seems like I'm doing it wrong... Is Neti pot the better way to clean out the Nose/Sinus cavity?

When I use the Neti pot, water goes in and quickly comes out the other side. Does not really seem like it stoping anywhere and washing anything out. Almost seems too Simple. So I figure I'm doing it wrong after all the time I'm doing it. How hot should the water be? Some times it burns and some times not. Where do you really hold your head when doing it, forward and to the side, just forward, just to the side or?

I've just had my diverted septum and turbinates altered so I want to be sure that I'm getting a good cleaning.

Any Recommendations, tips, pointers or what ever you have would be appreciated!

Thanks!
Scott<-

[chunkyfrog]

It sounds like you're doing it right.
To be safest, use distilled water to mix your solution, and keep your pot as clean as possible.

[scooter133]

Just seems like more stuff (icky stuff) should be coming out when I use it. The only time stuff comes out is at the end after I take the pot away and just blow though my nose into the sink, stuff comes out, though not always.

I guess I like Living on the Edge. (-: I use Well Water that has a Water Softener and a Manganese Greensand Filter on it. I do wash and rich before and after each use.

In the Humidifier I do use distilled water, though I don't clean it or the hose that Often. )-:

Thanks,

[Linus]

I get the same thing -- quick flow. What is important is that the allergens are being washed away. When you are finished, be sure to dry you sinuses somewhat by lightly blowing air out of your nose. When you get really stuffed up add a product called Alcolol. It clears mucus quickly.

Once you run out of the saline packets Just buy pickling salt. It works fine and it costs a lot less than the nelimend packets. Just make sure it is pickling salt because it just salt -- No additives.

[BasementDwellingGeek]

Just make sure it is pickling salt because it just salt -- No additives.

Kosher salt works well for the same reason. I prefer not to have the bicarb that that is part of the packets. I use water from the hot tap, close to body temperature.

[napstress]

I use Neilmed saline rinse. I tried the neti pot, too. Same basic principle. It's OK that the gunk only comes out after, when you blow your nose. I think of it as a wave that washes out the allergens and whatever bacteria/viruses are trying to get a foothold in there. They say that over time, any build-up of older crud will loosen and come out.

Stinging might mean that the water is too hot. I don't think it needs to be terribly hot. Super-hot is good for washing dishes, but can harm your sensitive nasal membranes. Warm does help soften the gunk, so I do it as warm as I can comfortably use.

I also like to use it about 3 hours before I plan to lie down so my sinuses have plenty of time to drain/dry. They say 1 hour is sufficient, but I'm still a little stuffy.

Be sure to wash your hands before and after touching the neti pot, so you don't insert cold/flu germs into your system or spread whichever ones you might be unaware you have to others.

I don't know if the rinse lowers my AHI, but it has come to feel really good.

[locust78]

I wouldn't worry too much about the water passing through quickly; it sounds to me like you have some nice, open, sinuses. I mix my own solution. Sometimes if the proportions of kosher salt/baking soda are off, I'll get some burning. Sinuses are very sensitive and differ from person to person, so if you're getting burning with the pre-packaged stuff, you might consider watering it down just a little more. As for temperature, I try to shoot for body temperature or just a degree or two warmer. Finally, I always used distilled water. I can really notice the difference between that and tap water. (Also, there have been some health concerns in some locations when using tap water in neti pots.) Here's a brief piece on the neti pot you might find interesting: http://www.betterrestsolutions.com/An-A ... _b_15.html

[RandyJ]

scooter,

As others have said, the most important thing is to use DISTILLED WATER...

If you want a deeper cleaning, tilt your head back a bit after inserting water; the water should travel down through the sinus and exit (most of it anyway) through your mouth. I usually do this a couple of times when irrigating. (Doing this is usually part of any post operative instructions on irrigating to prevent infection.)

[napstress]

If you want a deeper cleaning, tilt your head back a bit after inserting water; the water should travel down through the sinus and exit (most of it anyway) through your mouth.

In my instructions it very politely says that if some water goes into your mouth to "please spit it out." I am assuming that it would be harmful to swallow it, right? That is, those toxins that are washed out of the nose would go into the digestive system, which is what we're trying to avoid in the first place, right? Once in a while is probably harmless, but one wouldn't want to do it regularly. Or maybe the manufacturer wants to avoid the mix going into people's digestive tracts. I'm just guessing, here, and would love to know if my conclusions are not sound.

[chunkyfrog]

I assume your well water has been tested; if not I would boil your water a couple of minutes to
eliminate the worst microbes that wouldn't be killed by the processes inflicted on city water.

[RandyJ]

If you want a deeper cleaning, tilt your head back a bit after inserting water; the water should travel down through the sinus and exit (most of it anyway) through your mouth.

In my instructions it very politely says that if some water goes into your mouth to "please spit it out." I am assuming that it would be harmful to swallow it, right? That is, those toxins that are washed out of the nose would go into the digestive system, which is what we're trying to avoid in the first place, right? Once in a while is probably harmless, but one wouldn't want to do it regularly. Or maybe the manufacturer wants to avoid the mix going into people's digestive tracts. I'm just guessing, here, and would love to know if my conclusions are not sound.

I am not referring to any particular product or manufacturer's instructions. An ENT (Ear Nose & Throat specialist) gave me printed instructions for nasal irrigation. These included the option I have mentioned above for tilting the head back to allow the solution to EXIT through the mouth. Once again, you are spitting out, NOT swallowing. You are not ingesting or otherwise absorbing any toxins into your system. It is akin to NOT swallowing mouthwash...

In my post, where I said that "most of" the solution exits through the mouth, I neglected to mention that the balance usually exits through the nose. I didn't mean to imply that any of the solution would go into the digestive tract (which I think would be impossible in any case...).

Again, this is OPTIONAL and the OP inquired about deeper cleaning than just the in-one-nostril-out-the-other variety of nasal irrigation.

Note: While I am not referring above to any particular product but rather the GENERAL practice of nasal irrigation, I believe in the booklet that comes with a NeilMed set this option is also mentioned.

[archangle]

In my instructions it very politely says that if some water goes into your mouth to "please spit it out." I am assuming that it would be harmful to swallow it, right? That is, those toxins that are washed out of the nose would go into the digestive system, which is what we're trying to avoid in the first place, right? Once in a while is probably harmless, but one wouldn't want to do it regularly. Or maybe the manufacturer wants to avoid the mix going into people's digestive tracts. I'm just guessing, here, and would love to know if my conclusions are not sound.

Much of whatever is in your nose or sinuses probably ends up in your stomach from natural cleansing action anyway if you don't do neti.

The mix is just salt and sodium bicarbonate. And a netipot worth of solution is just a small amount of the two.

I wouldn't make a habit of swallowing the stuff on a regular basis because of the salt, but an accidental swallow or having the "dregs" end up in your stomach isn't going to do any harm. And it's probably somewhat helpful to have whatever gunk, pollen, germs, etc. there are end up in the sink instead of your gut.

Stinging -

Stinging usually means that the salinity of the solution is wrong, and usually too low. Use more or less salt to find the right mix.

Baking soda is to adjust the pH (acidity.) This might also relate to stinging.

[poppi2]

When I used to irrigate my sinuses (before CPAP), I used a tip similar to this one (http://www.allergyasthmatech.com/P/Sinu ... ip/764_344). It attaches to my WaterPik. I mix a liter of distilled water with a saline packet and Alkalol (a mucus dissolver). I adjust the pressure on the WaterPik. By tilting and nodding my head, one can feel the solution flowing into the different sinuses. Really weird, but beneficial. Earl

[napstress]

Much of whatever is in your nose or sinuses probably ends up in your stomach from natural cleansing action anyway if you don't do neti.

Thanks, archangle. That makes a lot of sense.

[sleepslikeadog]

i use neilmed sinus rinse. i use filtered tap water, one packet and 42 seconds in the microwave. that kills off any stuff in the water. works great