Comments | folkmew: I am a convert (and my sinuses don't hurt much now! yay!) (edited)

folkmew

I am a convert (and my sinuses don't hurt much now! yay!) (edited)

Apr 17, 2006 11:14

Sure, I'd heard about "neti pots" because of doing some yoga - but it just seemed weird. Even when I could understand in theory why it might work it still just seemed weird.

However, in a recent post I complained about my sinuses and how they were making me miserable and a few people mentioned that they did "nasal irrigation". So I figured - ( Read more... )

health, yoga

Comments 29

jecklar April 17 2006, 08:48:30 UTC

Oh, darling, darling! You should have waited for me to respond to your earlier comment! There are some things you need to do to keep it from being painful. When you do it right, it isn't painful even slightly.

First and foremost -- DO NOT USE TABLE SALT!!! It's the iodine added to table salt that causes the pain. If you use kosher salt or sea salt, it's fine. In fact, it isn't even painful to use too much salt, then -- it's the using of too little that can be ouchy (that's from the water ( ... )

folkmew April 17 2006, 09:27:07 UTC

AH. Table salt. Right. I knew that. ahem.

I have a ton of sea salt. I shall try that next time.

I also will try the bend over thingy. Haven't done that yet. I figure this has a pretty forgiving learning curve. I suppose you could somehow do serious damage but I can't see how doing what I'm doing. :-)

easternsun April 17 2006, 09:13:40 UTC

I've had a couple of people or so say that it works really well, and now that you've the same thing, maybe I'll give it a try. My sinuses and nose have been driving me crazy because of all of this pollen.

kitanzi April 17 2006, 09:32:24 UTC

I'm definitely going to point ACat at this. There's no knowing if it will help him, but it doesn't sound like it could hurt.

folkmew April 17 2006, 11:45:55 UTC

That was my theory! Plus, when a few people I really like and trust said they are regular users well... I figured I would try it.

I am already convinced that I need a netipot. I found a stainless steel one that is cheap so will probably get one. That plus the seasalt NOT iodine. :-)

tlatoani April 17 2006, 10:42:06 UTC

My doctor recommended Sinus Rinse, which is basically a big squeeze bottle that you fill with heated water mixed with pre-measured packets of stuff. It's less complicated to use than a neti pot -- it works very well for me, I haven't been anywhere near as congested since I started using it.

Around here, you can get it at Meijer's, so it should be available in your neck of the woods too.

jecklar April 17 2006, 11:06:50 UTC

The learning curve for irrigation is very forgiving. (Well, except for the table salt part...)

I was first turned on to this more than 10 years ago, when I was diagnosed with minor allergies. A friend in the same professional choir with me was one of those people who had allergies so bad she sometimes ended up in emergency rooms. She explained how I could mix salt and water in a mug, sniff it up my nose (and let it exit through the back of your throat -- then spit). "When I do that in the morning and evening during the worst allergy season, I don't even have to take my medication." That was a huge endorsement, so I tried it ( ... )

folkmew April 22 2006, 17:03:00 UTC

I have to say that I can see why people secretly become total converts to this! I haven't had a real sinus headache since starting to do this. I think my allergies to pollen have gotten worse and that was why I was getting so many sinus headaches lately and also why nasal irrigation has stopped them. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even Ed is getting slightly intrigued. I mentioned your story about sleep apnea and such and perhaps he'll try it ( ... )