Neti pot

Ceramic neti pot

A neti pot is a device used for irrigating the nasal passages.^[1] Typically it has a spout attached near the bottom, sometimes with a handle on the opposite side.

Function

Neti pots can be made from ceramic, glass, various metals, or plastic. They are used to flush out the nasal cavities by using gravity to draw the flow of saline. Some modern variants available from pharmacies are made of flexible plastic and can be compressed to exert additional pressure. In recent years alternative strategies have been developed,^[2] including bulb syringes in which the flow is created by squeezing a bulb and more advanced 'pulsatile devices' which mechanically pump the saline.

Bulb syringes provide the user with complete control over the pressure. Pulsatile devices either pump at a constant pressure or require the user to turn a control knob. Neti pots, on the other hand, require the user to turn the head (with the neti pot inserted) in order to control the pressure.

Efficacy and Safety

The use of a neti pot requires mixing up a saline solution that will be poured through the nasal passages. A typical saline solution is a mixture of around 500 ml of water with 5 g of salt. Sodium bicarbonate is sometimes added (2.5 g) to buffer the solution and make it more gentle on the sinuses, but the effectiveness of this is unproven.^[3] The neti pot used with a saline solution has been shown to be an effective treatment for hay fever,^[4] sinusitis, and other nasal conditions. Both isotonic and hypertonic saline is used for neti.

While nasal irrigation is generally well-tolerated, one death has been reported from the improper use of a neti pot, when amoebae infected a young man. This sort of infection is extremely rare, and can only occur when using water that is not potable, distilled or otherwise purified (for example, by boiling).^[5]

History

Nasal cleansing began as an ayurvedic medicine technique in ancient India. The practice of using a Neti Pot for nasal cleansing is called Jala-Neti which literally means to cleanse the nose with water.^[6] It is still commonly practiced throughout India. In modern times, saline nasal irrigation (SNI) has become more widely accepted as a home remedy to relieve conditions such as allergies, colds and mild sinus infections. Preliminary research indicates that SNI could also be an effective treatment for allergic rhinitis^[4] and chronic sinusitis.^[7] A conference abstract presented in November 2009 indicated that frequent nasal irrigation led to higher rates of sinus infections. Short term use, however, seemed to be effective.^[8]

References

1. ^ Mayo Clinic - What is a neti pot? And why would you use one?
2. ^ InterNeti - Jala-neti
3. ^ Web MD
4. ^ ^{a b} Rabago D, Zgierska A (November 2009). "Saline nasal irrigation for upper respiratory conditions". Am Fam Physician 80 (10): 1117–9. PMC 2778074. PMID 19904896. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=2778074. 
5. ^ http://apnews.myway.com/article/20110818/D9P66J183.html. Accessed August 18, 2011.
6. ^ http://neti-pot.info/neti-pot-history/
7. ^ Rabago D, Zgierska A, Mundt M, Barrett B, Bobula J, Maberry R (December 2002). "Efficacy of daily hypertonic saline nasal irrigation among patients with sinusitis: a randomized controlled trial". J Fam Pract 51 (12): 1049–55. PMID 12540331. 
8. ^ "Medical News: ACAAI: Frequent Nose Irrigation May Lead to More Sinus Infections — in Meeting Coverage". ACAAI from MedPage Today. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ACAAI/16870?userid=227287&impressionId=1257836779807&utm_source=mSpoke&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_content=GroupD. 

Further reading

Jefferson, Warren (2005). The Neti Pot for Better Health. Summertown: Healthy Living Publications. ISBN 9781570671869. 

External links

• University of Wisconsin instructions, study and video