Here are the step by step neti pot instructions for use from the neti pot authority.
Before you unpack your neti pot from the packaging, you should review the instructions for using it, because it is very easy to create a burning sensation if you don’t know what you are doing.
First and foremost, you should have 16-32 ounces of water to do a proper nasal irrigation, even if your neti pot is has a capacity of just 8 ounces. That’s because a normal neti pot session requires a full neti pot of liquid to be passed through each nostril, meaning you’ll fill it up at least twice.
If you are a bit stuffed up, you’ll probably want to do a double session, meaning you pour one neti pot through one nostril, switch nostrils and pour another pot through the other nostril, then refill your neti pot and go back to the first nostril and run another pot full, and finally refill and pour the final water solution through the other nostril.
Make sure your water is 98F! If the water is too cool or too hot, it will give you a burning sensation, which is defnintely something you want to avoid. Good news is, getting the right temperature is dead easy! All you do is run your tap water, and adjust the temperature by running the water on the inside of your wrist, adjusting the temperature until if feels the most comfortable (almost like you can’t feel it). Put the water in a container that can hold 4 cups, or 32 ounces, and add 2 tablespoons to the water, and mix it so it dissolves completely. Believe me, you don’t want granules of salt running through the back of your nasal passages, so mix it completely and do not use the solution until it dissolves fully.
You need to position your body correctly, too. Start by standing in front of a sink, or place where the water can drain, and bend your body over the sink. Ideally, your head should be bent forward from your body by 45 degrees or more, but not more than 90 degrees. You should be looking straight ahead, and then turn your head (looking to the side) about 45 degrees to one side. It doesn’t matter which side you start with, but if you do happen to have one blocked nostril, you should start on the other side.
The nostril that is on top, highest up, is the one you begin with. Simply take your neti pot filled with saline solution and put the tip of the pot into the nostril, creating a good seal, so no water drips out of the pot without going into the nostril.
If you need to see these neti pot instructions in action, this video has the correct netti pot techniques:
Gently tip the netty pot up, slowly, making sure no saline solution runs out of the top of the pot. You’ll start to feel this strange feeling of your entire nasal passage filling up with the saline solution, so make sure your mouth is open, because you’ll want to breathe through your mouth during this process.
During your initial sessions, you should make sure no liquid goes down your throat or out your mouth…it all should run out the other nostril.
How many times to practice jala neti? These neti pot instructions should be followed a maximum of two times per day – once in the morning and in the evening. One time per day is fine as well, and if you feel like using your neti pot just a few times a week, then that’s ok too. Just remember that the best practice for keeping allergies away and your sense of smell at its peak, once per day is recommended, and the morning is one of the best times to use your neti pot, right after brushing your teeth.
By the way, if you’d like to see the wrong way to use a neti pot, you can watch this video (below). Observe how his head is almost turned almost 90 degrees (he’s looking at the mirror), and is not lifting the netty pot up high enough.
Related articles by Zemanta
- Why people swear by the neti pot (cnn.com)
