What I am I doing wrong with my neti pot

**homemaker66** · 01-13-2008, 07:34 AM

I bought the pot and used it a couple of times but it makes my sinus feel worse and my ears are full. I use warm water and a pinch to 1/4 tsp of salt with baking soda it will burn and find no real relief. Can you give me your ideas of what to do. I want this to work for my whole family because we all have sinus problems. Thanks a bunch.

**ballylarkin** · 01-13-2008, 09:37 AM

I'm having similar issues.....although my ears don't bother me, but then when I blow my nose I have a squeaky sound in my ears....

Not much is coming out, but I do feel drainage at the back of my throat.

**acidcookie** · 01-13-2008, 09:56 AM

I do not own one, but have considered getting one so I've read about it a bit. I've never seen directions to put in baking soda, just salt.

**emily_hope** · 01-13-2008, 10:28 AM

I've never used one, but I have sucked warm water up my nose when I was stuffed up. It helped. There used to be a lady that posted here that swore by the neti pot. Her name was Marcia and her username was slowtypinwoman. I haven't seen her post in awhile. Here are two quotes from her:

ok you guys, I know I have praised this before but I'm telling you it WORKS!
I use a thing called a Neti Pot. It cleanses the sinus passage. It is gross but I have not taken a allergy pill or asthma pill in nearly a year. I got mine at a health food store. Here's a link to explain what it is and does.
Neti Pot

and here is the other quote:

To use the neti pot you make a saline solution of 1:8 ration UN iodized salt and h2o, pour it in one nostril and it will come out the other. You need tohold your head at a certain angle over the sink. It is not for everyone but I have turned several people on to this and it has worked for most of them.

There is a post here from user canadiangardener on her instructions for nasal washings:
Nasal Washings

And here is another post from slowtypinwoman about the neti pot:
Neti Pot

I hope these will be of some help to you.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/SinuCleanse-Nasal-System-Unbreakable-Packets/dp/B000TFR6MG"]Amazon.com: SinuCleanse Nasal Wash System, Unbreakable Neti Pot With Salt Packets: Health & Personal Care@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41YhTCPiacL.@@AMEPARAM@@41YhTCPiacL[/ame]

**homemaker66** · 01-13-2008, 11:54 AM

Thanks for the great information. I guess practice make perfect.I hope this will work out and make me feel better.

**zazenist** · 02-15-2008, 10:24 AM

Bump to this topic because I am a neti pot crusader! Homemaker, I hope you've figured out by now something that works for you, but if not, here are a couple things I would suggest. Are you using non-iodized salt? Iodized salt can cause burning sensations. Also, try and get the water temp as close to body temp as possible - too warm or too cool can cause discomfort as well. I've never heard of baking soda in a neti pot, so I don't know if that is part of your problem or not. With the ears, I can say from experience that you will get that feeling of pressure and fullness if you have some wax blockage. Once I had that issue resolved, it was a lot better. Still, due to the individual dynamics of your sinuses, neti can still cause pressure issues. Does the sensation go away soon after? If so, it might just be an adjustment period issue. My ears ached for an hour or so after neti in the beginning, but that aching went away after I'd used it for a while.

I've had a lot of issues with my sinuses, and the neti pot has helped a lot. I'd recommend it to anyone!

**sweetlittle** · 02-15-2008, 10:32 AM

We use bottles made for the same thing here for two of our sons with allergies. It has worked wonders. We do not have runny noses here anymore. We do put in the soda because it seems to mellow the water a bit compared to just using salt. I was just told not to use it if you are "blocked up" because of the pressure, but I don't know how much of that advice is true. I do know that if we use them twice a day on a regular basis our kiddos have done great. Good luck.

**larabelle** · 02-28-2008, 09:19 PM

I HAVE HAD WONDERFUL RESULTS WITH MY NETI POT!!!
I use 1/2 teaspoon of non-iodized salt and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda....sometimes I have used a whole teaspoon of baking soda.
I use distilled water which I heat in the microwave to body temperature.
I have occasionally had the ear stuffiness however I solve that by inserting a capful of hydrogen peroxide in each ear after irrigating my nose with my neti pot. I have been able to solve my sinus infections WITHOUT antibiotics after using my neti pot every morning and evening for the duration of the infection. I have also been able to throw away all of my antihistamines (no more medicine head for me). I love it!!