How to Use a Neti Pot

According to The Chopra Center (which is run by health and wellness guru Deepak Chopra), Ayurvedic medicine is, "... a system of preventive medicine and health care that developed in India more than 5,000 years ago. The word Ayurveda comes from two Sanskrit root words: Ayus, or 'life,' and Veda, meaning 'knowledge' or 'science.' Ayurveda is therefore usually translated as 'the science of life.' "
Neti, which comes from the Ayurvedic cleansing technique called jalaneti, has been practiced for thousands of years to relieve sinus infections and prevent sinus problems due to allergies and illnesses. A neti pot, which resembles a small tea pot, is used to cleanse the nasal passages with a warm water and saline solution. The temperature of the water combined with the saline solution helps rid the nasal passages of excess mucus, irritants, and allergens. It can also relieve sinus pressure.
Some people are put off by the idea of using a neti pot because it seems new age or kind of gross. Having tried it myself recently, and by my doctor's recommendation, I can say that it isn't really a gross or dirty process. It is a bit uncomfortable at first, but I am getting used to it. If it can keep me from getting recurring sinus infections it will certainly be worth it.
Here is what led me to start using a neti pot and my initial experiences with it:
The last few years I've been having increasing problems with developing sinus infections and having allergy issues. A little over a week ago I caught a flu from my daughters, and it subsequently led to a sinus infection and bronchitis.
I'm sick of getting sinus infections, so I asked my doctor if there was anything I could do to cut down on getting them. Other than taking a decongestant to help keep my sinuses clear, she said that I could try using a neti pot everyday. I had actually thought about trying one before, but I never got around to it.
You put the spout of the neti pot into one nostil, turn your head sideways and slightly forward (while leaning over a sink), and allow the water/saline solution to go up your nasal passage and come out your other nostril.
Anyway, she gave me one, and I tried it when I got home. I can't say that it feels good while using it, but it does make me feel better after I'm done. It kind of feels like you when you accidentally inhale water in a pool, which makes me feel a little anxious while using it.
My daughters think it is hilarious to see the water pouring out of my nose. One of my daughters watched me the second time I ever did it and she cracked up; since she was laughing I started laughing and almost choked because the water went down my throat.
The fourth time I used the neti pot, something different happened. I did the rinse as usual, then gave my daughters a shower and put them in bed. I was leaning over the bed when I felt something start pouring out of my nose; I thought I had a nose bleed because that's what it felt like. It was water from the neti pot. When I used it that night it kind of made my head hurt like I had a sinus headache, and I thought maybe the water I used was too warm or something. I think maybe my left sinus is swollen and was able to keep a little bit of water trapped in there. Yucky! Anyway, my headache eased up after the water came out. It's just kind of crazy that it was up there for about 30-40 minutes after I used the neti pot.
The instructions with my neti pot does have a warning saying that you shouldn't use it within an hour of bed time because you may have some post-nasal drainage during that time. I thought it seemed odd that it might take an hour for the excess water to drain out, but now I know that it certainly can.
If you are considering using a neti pot or if you have chronic sinus problems, I recommend that you give it a try. I won't know for a while whether or not it cuts down on my long term sinus issues, but it does offer some relief in the short term.