On the Mend

[Griffin NoName]

Had no idea what you were talking about until I found this:



Wish I'd stayed ignorant

[Sibling DavidH]

How far does it go between in and out?

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

I'm told, by someone who actually uses this thing daily, that you use warm water, laced with salt and baking soda.   He and I were talking about it once, and he uses pre-mixed 'packets' which he adds to warm water.

I asked, why not just use some ordinary table-salt?  He said there are recipes out there for the mix, but they all advocate 'non-iodized salt'. 

Which immediately got my skeptical hackles up:  the amount of iodine in table salt is so very minute, that you cannot taste the vile stuff. 

And you are diluting this with water to the consistency of eyewash saline-- very, very dilute-- I've had soy sauce with more salt.  Then, you put in baking soda-- a buffering chemical (tends to make liquids both non-acid and non-alkaline). 

The amount of iodine that would be present in these quantities would barely be measurable by a lab-- your nose cannot tell, moreover, absorbing some of the iodine might be benificial.

He was adamant-- no iodized salt..  I dropped it.   

Homeopathy.

 

How far does it go between in and out?

As deep into your sinuses as you can stand.  Some users advocate holding the "off" nostril closed, letting the liquid "soak" and then lean forward letting it all run out.  Then do the 'off' side in a similar fashion.  Obviously, good breath control is a must, as is keeping your head down, (nose pointed to sink) so you don't let anything run down into your throat.  *yuuck*

I cannot stand stuff up my nose, so I'm disinclined to try.

[beagle]

Mrs H bought some menthol-type inhalation stuff in Egypt.  You put some in a bowl of hot water and sniff it with a cloth over your head.  It would knock out a camel, no wonder the poor old Sphinx looks the way it does. My eyeballs stung for days.  Cross that one off your list.   

It's not just an Egyptian thing, but as you say you only want a few menthol crystals in a bowl of hot water. I tried a teaspoon full the first time and couldn't even get in the same room with it.

[Aggie]

I haven't used baking soda for the neti solution, usually just a little salt.  I've heard the non-iodized stipulation, and also that sea salt should not be used (only pure NaCl).  I do use sea salt sometimes. 

There seems to be some buzz on the net about using xylitol in the neti solution; I may give it a go.  I could just throw a little toothpaste in the pot if it wasn't for the peppermint oil (make my own baking soda and xylitol toothpase; we have fluoridated water here).  I have some extra toothpaste base (saturated xylitol/NaHCO₃ supernatant) that could probably be salted and used as a neti 'syrup'.

For heavy congestion, having the neti flow into the back of your throat really cleans the pipes.  Too difficult for me to do most of the time, as you need to close up your throat to catch the crap that drains out, and then spit it up.

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

  I've heard the non-iodized stipulation, and also that sea salt should not be used (only pure NaCl).  I do use sea salt sometimes.  .

Anyone able to give a non-homeopathic reason to avoid iodized salt?  I.e. a reason based on sound science?

[Aggie]

Dunno on that one, I can't think of one offhand at the concentrations used - I tend to think it's not homeopathy but just the 'additives are bad, m'kay?' mentality.  It may be irritating to the sinuses, though, or perceived to be. 

[Griffin NoName]

Apparently if you do it regularly it destroys your nose, or sinuses or something. Probably like snorting coke.

Also, it's supposed to go in one nostril and out the other. I read the wiki.

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

Apparently if you do it regularly it destroys your nose, or sinuses or something. Probably like snorting coke.

Also, it's supposed to go in one nostril and out the other. I read the wiki.

"destroys the nose"?  Right. 

In one out the other?  yuuuck.   One more reason not to try-- the thought of that makes me cringe/shiver.

I have enough stuff goin' in me 'ead an'out th'other side as it is..... 

[pieces o nine]

Actually, my neti-using friends swear by them. Their nasal septums are intact, they seems to catch less colds, and suffer less from those they catch. One honorary 'dad' I have was convinced to try one by his (very mainstream) doctor, and experienced significantly less sinus problems this winter.

I accept their results; I just can't get past my irrational fear of pouring water up *my* nose, and am left with this far more attractive recourse:
   

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

So, perhaps I'm out of the norm but having water in my nose is usually very, very painful, I don't know if it has something to do with my frequent rhinitis but it hurts royally.

So, nope, thank you but no thank you, I won't be doing it any time soon.

[Opsa]

I was able to do it using some specially formulated neti pot salts. You add about a quarter teaspoon to lukewarm water.

I found the only way I could do it was to lean my head sideways over the sink and breathe through my mouth like I was snoring. The first time it went down my sleeve. the second time it went down my throat. Finally I got it to go out the other nostril. It was not entirely unpleasant, but not really helpful, either. But at that point I all ready had a sinus infection way, way up in the upper sinuses where the neti water could not have reached.

I've done better just having a cool mist humidifier in my room at night.

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

....I've done better just having a cool mist humidifier in my room at night.

Now, those-- I like.  In winter, I sometimes use the hot-mist ones, even though they are higher maintenance.

[Opsa]

I kind of like the noise it makes, too- but Mr. Ops does not appreciate it as much.

[Aggie]

I neti in the shower, less worry about where it ends up that way.