How to Use a Neti Pot

Nasal irrigation with a neti pot is an ancient Hindu practice most popular from Yoga called Jala Neti, which in Sanskrit, literally means “water cleansing”. It is a popular practice to flush out dirt and excess mucus from nasal cavities in order to keep them healthy from infection and aid with breathing techniques for overall good health. Today, it has become a common household item for many families around the world to help prevent allergy flare-ups, infection or inflammation from sinusitis.

Nasal Cleansing Solutions

Before using a neti pot, it is important to choose a good nasal irrigation solution that will work best for safely cleaning out the nasal passages. The most common type is a simple saline solution using pure sea salt, but there are many others who use iodine-free table salt. Regardless of the type of salt used, it is important to find clean and pure salt that is free from additives and chemicals, though there are some practices where a very small amount of sodium bicarbonate is added to the saline solution to make it gentler on the nasal tissues.

In general, it is recommended to have less than one percent salt concentration in the liquid solution, which would come out to be approximately one teaspoon per 500ml of water. The saline solution temperature will vary from one person to another. For example, some people prefer a slightly warmer solution to room temperature while others like a cooler one, but it would be a good idea to have a general temperature that is close to one’s own body temperature. This will keep the process comfortable without potentially aggravating the inner nasal tissue.

Steps to Properly Use a Neti Pot

Prior to use, always ensure the neti pot is clean inside from any foreign particles and small debris. This is important to keep the saline solution pure and keep other potentially hazardous materials from entering the nasal passages, instead of cleaning them out.

Using a neti pot requires a few simple steps for the best nasal irrigation results.

1 – First, mix the saline solution by stirring the salt in the water until it has completely dissolved, then pouring it into the pot.

2 – Then, lean your head forward with the chin angled towards the chest. If the right nostril will be cleaned first, angle your head slightly to the left. This procedure is best done outside, leaning over plants or indoors over a sink to catch the runoff.

3 – Next, take the neti pot spout and gently insert it into the first nostril. Make sure not to press the opening of the spout against the nasal wall since this may block the water flow.

4 – Now, keep your mouth open for air and to allow the water to redirect through the nasal passages, rather than down the throat. While some people may experience runoff to the back of the throat, it is usually due to the procedure or some physiological attribute, which is easily solved by simply spitting it out followed by gargling clean water.

5 – Finally, tilt the pot to allow the water to flow through one nasal passage and exit through the other.

Make sure to practice the proper procedure in order to clean the nasal passages thoroughly without any discomfort. While many yoga practitioners use neti pots prior to every session, it is recommended to use it every now and then, especially during high allergy times or sinus flare-ups.