How to Irrigate Your Nose

Sinusitis, a condition that inflames and swells the nasal passages, and other health conditions (like post-nasal drip, allergies, and upper respiratory diseases), can create chronic nasal congestion and thick nasal secretions (mucus) that become more acute in dry, cold weather conditions. Many common medicinal remedies can decongest the nasal cavity; however, using a simple device called a neti pot can clear out heavy mucus and can relieve the symptoms that are associated with it. The neti pot can yield effective results in combating nasal congestion.

Things You'll Need

• Clean, purified water
• Non-iodized table salt, kosher, or sea salt
• Nasal saline irrigation device (Neti pot)

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Instructions

• 1

  Boil tap water and let cool to a usable warm temperature. Warm water not only flushes out the nasal cavity more efficiently than lukewarm or chilled water, but boiled water (or bottled water) has fewer bacterial particles that can irritate the nasal cavity.

• 2

  Mix ½ cup of water in addition to ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized table salt. For best results, mix kosher or refined sea salt as it contains properties that detoxify and balance the body, eliminating nasal-clogging toxins that produce breath odors.

• 3

  Tilt your head forward, over a sink, while placing the neti pot's end into your right nostril for at least 30 to 45 seconds. Make sure that your head remains tilted so that the neti pot can thoroughly irrigate the nasal cavity and drain out of the left nostril.

• 4

  Keep your mouth open during nasal irrigation. This will prevent the mixture from going down your throat, causing you to choke. When finished, allow the remaining mixture to flow out of the left nostril. Repeat the process on your left nostril.

• 5

  Complete your nasal irrigation by gently blowing your nose so that any remaining solution is cleared away. Do not blow too harshly because the solution can move outwards towards your ear canal, causing painful ear pressure.