For a lot of people, seasonal allergies are all about congestion, sneezing, and blowing your nose every 2 minutes. You are breathing in a ton of pollen and if you're allergic, your body creates all that mucus to try and flush it out.
To get rid of the pollen and dust in your nostrils, relieve some of the pressure in your face, and release some of that fluid from you nose and sinuses, you've got to try using a neti pot. Once you try it, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.
Need more specific instructions? Then read more
Here's what to do:
- Fill the neti pot with (finely ground) sea salt - check the directions on your neti pot to find out how much.
- Now fill halfway with warm water (not too hot or cold - that'll HURT) and cover both ends with your hands and squish around the water to dissolve the salt. You can also use a spoon to mix in the salt.
- Fill up the rest, hold the neti pot in your right hand, and lean over the sink. Make sure you have the correct head position - you want your face parallel with the sink. Then gently place the spout in your right nostril, and tilt your face to the right so your left cheek is pointing down.
- Keeping your mouth open, allow the warm water to gently flow through your right nostril, and out your left. If water is dripping down your throat, tilt your forehead down a little.
- Stop when you've done half the water. Then take short, quick exhalations out your nose to get rid of the extra water, and then blow your nose with a tissue. Then do the other side.
- If you are really congested, repeat the whole process again.
Fit's Tips: Once you get the hang of this, try doing it in the shower. It saves time, and the steam from the shower helps relieve nasal congestion even more.
There are many different kinds of neti pots, and most health food stores sell them. The Rhino Horn (12.95) is my absolute favorite neti pot because it's made of plastic, so you don't have to worry about it breaking (I've cracked two of the porcelain ones, and broken the spout off one metal one already).
Great vid, Fit! I use this on my son who has terrible allergies. He loves it. I've tried it a few times but it always runs into my mouth. Not exactly sure what I'm doing wrong...I kinda feel like I'm going to drown myself. And I panic. And the kids laugh at me because I spray water everywhere. Any tips on avoiding the drowning feeling?