Sinus cleansing / Netti pots

[ReefTroll]

I have been using a netti pot for a while now to GREAT effect with a mix of 1tsp salt, 1/4 tsp bicarb per 500ml of warmish water. It totally removes my usual morning dust allergies etc.
I'm interested to what other people are mixing up in their netti pot waters. What sort of things work better, worse?

 

[mishu1984]

Ive been using one too for the last two months. back when i was a smoker i used to rinse at night right before bedtime so that i could smoke as much as i wanted to. when using a netti-pot i noticed taht i didnt want any smoke anywhere near me after a rinse.

after quitting i can honestly say that its greatly helped getting all the crap out of my nose. its also been great for my allergies. on a dusty day (and we have many) il rinse twice a day. so far ive been using the pre-packaged mix, but once those run out il switch to the formula prescribed by the manual of freediving which is one tablespoon (or teaspoon - please correct me if im wrong) per litre of water. ive heard this can cause a stinging sensation and adding baking soda can help remedy this.

lukewarm water is the way to go. cold water causes the blood vessels in the nasal passages to contract somewhat violently increasing discomfort.

i rinse in the shower and most of the time the water is properly hot so its a steamy environment. im not quite sure if that helps.

 

[slingshaft]

Hi, could you mention which ingredients are in the formula prescribed in The Manual of Freediving?

 

[mishu1984]

sorry it took me a while. it says one teaspoon of salt per liter of water.

 

[sgnips]

i'd say everyone makes his own "recipe" on how much salt to use
i personally prefer it much less salty than a teaspoon per litre (even less than a half)

less salt, and i feel stinging
more salt, and i get some burning feeling

 

[dimitris33]

Do u guys boil your water well, then wait an hour to be lukewarm and then do the job?

Or do u take any special water? Or do u boil water, let it cold, then store it in plastic bottles and then do neti whenever u want?

I usually boil some water until it gets up to the body temperature, then fill the pot, put the salt in, blend and do the sinus cleaning.

Water should be clean.

 

[bobdonny]

Do u guys boil your water well, then wait an hour to be lukewarm and then do the job?

Or do u take any special water? Or do u boil water, let it cold, then store it in plastic bottles and then do neti whenever u want?

I usually boil some water until it gets up to the body temperature, then fill the pot, put the salt in, blend and do the sinus cleaning.

Water should be clean.

I add a scoop of organic salt to a small plastic container. Then I add 80ml boiling water and stir (boiling water will dissolve more salt and lead to less buringin stinging) I then add 120ml of cold water so the overall mixture is lukewarm and use.

Works perfect for me.

 

[mishu1984]

we have a reverse osmosis filter that we use for our drinking water here at home. i just take about 450ml, stick that for 12 seconds in the microwave, and then stir in the salt and rinse

 

[slingshaft]

I prefer more salt, and bicarb.
I avoid clorinated water.

 

[ReefTroll]

So it seems the mix I stumbled upon is the "standard" so to speak, apart from some personal tweaking, thanks guys!

 

[BigShot]

I'm thinking about using netti to help with my hayfever and so have been doing a bit of homework.
Once thing I found that may be of interest is this:
Medical News: ACAAI: Frequent Nose Irrigation May Lead to More Sinus Infections - in Meeting Coverage, ACAAI from MedPage Today

I'm still inclined to give it a go, but certainly won't be using it that heavily.

 

[prudence12]

Do you let it flow in the nasal area? I mean, did you make a saline solution with it?

 

[verticalsoup]

Squeeze bottle with regular tap water + the Neilmed premixed saline packages. I rinse twice a day mostly during the allergy season.

Don't recommend rinsing before doing yoga.... did a rinse 30 min before a class one time only to have saline shooting through my nose while doing downward dog.... ouch!

 

[SteveM54]

I use the premade salt packets with distilled water only and I don't get the burn. I'm a locksmith by trade and drilling wood doors makes a lot of dust that bothers me so I use the squeeze bottle two - three times a week. I also make sure that I never use it just before bed as my nose will run all night if I do.

 

[Poida]

Being a fitness trainer I understand the importance of breathing through the nose and clear sinuses and not having obstructions in the nasal cavities.

But I am wondering why it is necessary in diving where you have a snorkle in your mouth and therefore breathing through your mouth and bypassing the sinuses and nasal cavities, do you need anything to clear them when diving.

Of course sinus pressure can build up, if that is what you are refering to.

I wouldn't mind an explanation.

 

[ReefTroll]

Poida,
main reason I use mine is I have what is apparently a morning dust allergy. Makes me blow my nose, cough up, etc for around about 1 hour or more each day. Generally feel very unwell. No medications take the edge off it, but my netti pot is my salvation. That's my reason anyways.

 

[Poida]

Thanks Reef Troll,

I had the same problem that seemed to be getting worse every year.

Even when my nose was clear from mucus I could still feel some obstruction.

Eventually I sought medical advice and it appeared I had polyps growing in my nasal cavity and sinuses.

Apparently it is vey common and people are generally unaware that they are there.

It's only a day surgery to have them removed and since I have had it done, less than a year ago, I feel 200%.

Previously I had to use a vapouriser and stuff.

So in general is the discussion on netti pots to do with diving or to clean nasal passages in every day life?

 

[BennyB]

Hi Poida,

The main reason for freedivers is to allow equalisation. When I head away for a freedive comp the sinus rinse bottle is usually the first thing I pack. Particularly if you travel somewhere to dive - there's air con in the plane, new pollens and air you're not used to, different climates that can give you a sniffle and/or proper lurgy. Quite often i'm sniffly the first couple of days away until I acclimatise. In these instances the sinus rinse is a brilliant tool for cleaning the passages out to minimise the risk of a blockage during equalisation. Also reduces the risk of a reverse block which can feel pretty nasty from what i'm told.

But even if you're not travelling, a good sinus rinse before a dive will be beneficial for gettting any gunk out.

Cheers,
Ben

 

[Siku]

Don't recommend rinsing before doing yoga.... did a rinse 30 min before a class one time only to have saline shooting through my nose while doing downward dog.... ouch!

This means you're not clearing your sinuses properly afterwards. Have a look at this:

Jala neti | Vajrasati Yoga

About 2/3rds of the way down, under How to Practice Jala Neti stage one point 3:

"3. Dry immediately after Neti: bend forward and let your head hang loosely down with the crown facing directly down (bend your knees if needs be), so that the remaining water can run out of the nose. Blow gently (not forcefully) until the nose is dry. Then stand up and breathe rapidly in and out through one nostril while closing the other one of with your fingers or thumb five to ten times and repeat on the other side. Finally, breath rapidly in and out through both nostrils simultaneously, five to 10 times. This exercise to dry the nose is a vital part of nose cleansing, and should be done thoroughly every time."

That ought to do it !

 

[Poida]

Yeah Verticalsoup I used to have that problem after snorkling when invited to functions.

Maybe a few hours after swimming I would bend forward to pick up an 'orderve, ordirve oardoove, them nibble things, and a couple of buckets of water would pour from my nose.

I found my invitations to functions slowly reducing over the years.