Friday, September 12, 2008

Neti Pot for Sinus Infections and Allergies

I saw my doctor on Monday because I've been majorly congested and sleep deprived (hard to sleep when your breathing is impaired) and was diagnosed with a sinus infection. My doctor gave me a prescription for antibiotics, but told me there was nothing else I could take besides Tylenol due to my pregnancy. He explained that medications are put into three categories. The first and safest category has only one medication - Tylenol (acetaminophen). He said everything else falls into the next two categories. My antibiotic falls into the second category because there are no known problems for pregnant women. Decongestants and allergies medications all fall into the third category meaning I can't take them.

(The following information is not medical advice - just opinions of those I have talked to and online research. Please consult your doctor for medical information.) One of the librarians at my local library noticed I was feeling poorly the other day when we were doing our returns and she recommended that I try a Neti pot. My ears are clogged up now too and I was greatly fatigued and didn't hear a lot of what she said. Then Julie (from Flower of the Family) left me a comment recommending the same thing and I decided I had to find out about a Neti Pot. I did an internet search and came up with more than I cared to read. Then today I went back to the library to inquire further. A different librarian gave me information from her personal use and told me that Rite Aid and CVS sell Neti Pots. I went to the drug store and purchased one late this afternoon. I need to go clean my pot and give it a try. Wish me luck! I will post in the comments section regarding my level of success.

Please consult your physician before using a Neti Pot to make sure it's okay for you.

Neil Med NasaFlo Neti Pot Instruction Video

Information and pictures of Nasa Flo Neti Pot

Customer Reviews for the Neti Pot I purchased.

Addition information from my doctors visit: (Please consult your physician regarding the following info before making a decision for yourself.)

I asked my doctor if I could use Chloreseptic spray and he said definitely not. He even advises his non-pregnant patients not to use Chloreseptic spray. He said he used to work with an ear/nose/throat specialist and learned of the dangers of this OTC medication. He said that Phenol one of the ingredients is also found in formaldehyde. Wikipedia gives this information -"It is also used in the production of drugs (it is the starting material in the industrial production of aspirin), herbicides, and synthetic resins (Bakelite, one of the first synthetic resins to be manufactured, is a polymer of phenol with formaldehyde). Exposure of the skin to concentrated phenol solutions causes chemical burns which may be severe; in laboratories where it is used, it is usually recommended that polyethylene glycol solution is kept available for washing off splashes. Washing with large amounts of plain water (most labs have a safety shower or eye-wash) and removal of contaminated clothing are required, and immediate hospital treatment for large splashes. This is particularly important if the phenol is mixed with chloroform (a commonly-used mixture in molecular biology for DNA & RNA purification from proteins)."

My doctor told me that when you use an OTC medication with Phenol you are killing the living cells in your mouth and throat and he doesn't advise it. I'm not big on taking medication prescription or over-the-counter, but feeling this miserable I was hoping to try something to relieve the pain in my throat.

Here's hoping the Neti Pot will solve some of my medical issues...

6 comments:

Robin said...

I used my new Neti Pot...

At first it was a bit awkward, but once I got the hang of it - it did clear me out some.

The instructional video and the written instructions inside the package are helpful.

The materials say it can be used twice a day and I plan to try it. It also instructs that any unused solution should be thrown away. I used most of the solution in the first try.

I'm going to look for the recipe a friend gave me for her nasal flush. My problem with using my friend's was a couldn't ever find anything to dispense it with... I'm sure it will work just as good as the prepackaged ones that come with the Neti Pot. I will share it in the comments when I find it.

Robin said...

Here is one recipe - http://www.recipezaar.com/70486

Robin said...

* Want to say again - this is not medical advice *

This is the recipe from my friend, but I'm not sure where she found it from originally -

FYI - Isotonic saline disinfecting wash (salt water that is about as salty as your body fluids)

1 teaspoon salt(NOT table salt - use sea salt or picking salt)

1 teaspoon baking soda(NOT baking powder!)

1 teaspoon xylitol (a sugar alcohol - purchase at a Healthfood store or online http://www.xlear.com/shop.aspx?prod=XYLB1&info=show)

2 c (1 pt) of water (I use distilled or filtered water)

Warm two cups of tap water and bring it to a boil, or very hot. Then stir in salt, baking soda, and xylitol. Store the unused portion in fridge.

Use a rubber bulb syringe to irrigate (it is sold for the purpose of irrigating the ear, but works just fine for the nose). The instructions given by the doctor are to lean over the sink and shoot the fluid up one and then the other nostril, until the fluid comes out the other side.

IF you are fighting an infection or considerable swelling of nasal tissue then use 2 tsp of salt - It will help constrict the cells.

Robin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Robin said...

I just looked back through my medical records online and found this recipe from my doctor from a couple years ago when I had another sinus infection...

Homemade SALINE / SALT WATER spray - distilled water 1 cup with 1/4 - 1/2 tsp salt --use spray bottle or inhale and spit

I remember this being challenging - the Neti Pot is easier to use, but this could be an alternative recipe for the Neti Pot.

Jack said...

Just a lurker searching about Neti Pots....but...had to comment on this:

"Homemade SALINE / SALT WATER spray - distilled water 1 cup with 1/4 - 1/2 tsp salt --use spray bottle or inhale and spit."

The solution that the Neti Pot companies designed include Sodium Bicarbonate...also known as Baking Soda. This ingredient helps prevent the saltwater solution from burning your nasal passages. Think...snorting seawater. It's rather painful. The extra ingredient in it prevents that burning :)

Happy, er, flushing :)