How (and Why!) to Use a Neti Pot

Step 1: Make a saline solution
The temperature of the water used for the nasal wash should be body temperature or very slightly warmer. Avoid very hot or very cold water. The correct amount of Aromatic Salt neti salt is: a rounded 1/2 teaspoon of Aromatic Salt to 8 ounces of warm water. The cap of the Aromatic Salt bottle can be used to measure the salt. Fill the cap until the salt just covers the thread - just over half a capful. The amount of salt needed varies depending on the mineral content of the water used. Be sure to adjust to find the amount of salt that's right for you.

If Aromatic Salt is not available, choose a salt which contains no added iodine, anti-caking, or free-flowing agents. The amount of salt needed varies depending on the fineness of the salt. The general rule is that the finer the salt, the less salt that is needed. If you are using a very fine salt, 1/4 teaspoon may be enough. If you are using a coarser salt, such as kosher salt, you will need 1/2 teaspoon or slightly more. Adjust the amount of salt until you have a solution that is comfortable for you.

Step 2: Rinse
With your neti pot filled with Aromatic Salt solution and standing over a basin or sink, lean forward slightly and tilt your head gently so that one nostril moves downward toward the basin and the other nostril moves up toward the ceiling. Insert the spout of the neti pot into the upper nostril. Gently pour the saline solution into the upper nostril and let it flow out through the lower nostril. When the pot is empty, blow out through both nostrils into the sink or into a tissue or handkerchief. Be sure not to close either nostril as you blow out. Repeat on the other side.

Step 3 Clear
When you have finished rinsing both sides, bend forward, and turn your head slowly from side to side to release any Aromatic Salt solution that may remain in the nasal passages.

More questions? Visit our Neti Pot Q & A page.

Many of us are exposed to cold and flu germs in the course of our day. Teachers, nurses, frequent flyers, and anyone who travels, works, or lives with other people are all at risk of exposure to cold, flu, and other germs. In the past few years, concerns have intensified with the advent of Avian Flu, SARS and most recently, Swine Flu. Using a neti pot to rinse your nostrils with saltwater can help.

The sinus, nostrils and the back of the throat are lined with mucus membranes. When we inhale through the nostrils, any foreign matter that we have breathed in, including cold and flu germs, are caught in the sticky mucus membranes and swept backward toward the back of the throat and into the stomach where they are killed by stomach acids.

Sometimes, the mucus membranes can become overburdened, losing effectiveness and leaving us vulnerable. Using a neti pot to rinse the nostrils with saltwater clears out excess debris, including cold and flu germs, reducing the burden on the mucus membranes, and supporting their healthy functioning. Healthy and effective mucus membranes clear the body of cold and flu germs and prevent disease.

Use a neti pot to rinse the nostrils with saltwater once or twice a day whenever you are concerned about exposure to cold and flu germs. Aromatic Salt Original neti pot salt contains a blend of essential oils. The essential oils in Aromatic Salt Original are soothing and refreshing. The blend includes the naturally anti-viral essential oils of tea tree and palmarosa. We recommend using Aromatic Salt Original neti pot salt in your neti pot daily.

The Natural Health Journal has posted a helpful article on the importance of using a neti pot in cold and flu season. Here is the link to Flu prevention with nasal cleansing...prevent colds and flu with a neti pot.

Hormones released during pregnancy can cause the the tissues of the nose to swell, restricting airflow and causing nasal congestion and sinus problems. Rinsing the nostrils with saltwater and a neti pot can help. The saltwater draws moisture from the nasal tissues, reducing swelling and opening the nasal passages for better drainage. And it sweeps away any dried mucus, pollen, dust and mold spores lodged in the nostrils. Use a neti pot daily and enjoy freer breathing the natural way!

Use a salt that contains no added iodine, no anti-caking agents, no free-flowing agents, and no additives designed to make the salt dissolve more easily.

Most table salt contains one or more of these additives.

It's easy to spot the added iodine - the salt will say "iodized salt". Avoid iodized salt for neti.

Other additives may or may not be listed on the ingredient list on the salt package. Even if the salt is labeled "natural", it may contain additives.

Some common salt additives are yellow prussiate of soda and tricalcium phosphate, but there are several others.

Most salt companies are accessible via their 800 numbers or via email. You can contact them to ask about additives in their products.

For greater convenience, there are salts which are specially packaged for neti pot use, such as Aromatic Salt brand of neti pot salt.

Aromatic Salt neti pot salt is made with pure natural additive-free salt.

Because Aromatic Salt neti pot salt contains no additives to prevent caking, we designed the packaging to protect the salt and to keep it from clumping in steamy bathroom conditions.

To learn more about Aromatic Salt neti pot salt visit www.IntoTheScentedGarden.com/netipotsalt