Our Fav Alternative to Sinus Medication: Himalayan Institute Neti Pot
Stuffy nose? Before you run out to the pharmacy and snap up whatever Big Pharma is marketing today try a Neti Pot.™ This ancient remedy has been used for thousands of years in ayurvedic medicine to alleviate sinus and allergy problems.
How the Neti Pots Works:
Cilia, the tiny hair-like structures that line the inside of the nasal and sinus cavities, wave back and forth to push mucus either to the back of the throat where it can be swallowed or to the nose to be blown out. Saline solution helps increase the speed and improve coordination of the cilia so that they may more effectively remove the allergens and other irritants that cause sinus problems.
A few tips for using your Neti Pot:
If you choose to make your own saltwater solution, use bottled water that has been distilled or sterilized.
Tap water is acceptable if it's been passed through a filter with a pore size of 1 micron or smaller or if it's been boiled for several minutes and then left to cool until it's lukewarm.
When you are done be sure to rinse the irrigation device after each use with similarly distilled, sterile, previously boiled and cooled, or filtered water and leave open to air-dry.
Have a tip on how to un-stuff that stuffy nose? Post your best remedy in the comments below.