Plagued by chronic sinus problems? Perhaps you need to obtain and use a neti pot. These little wonders are ancient and simple devices that allows the user to wash their nasal cavities.

Neti pots resemble teapots--some even describe them as resembling the magical genie lamps. Regardless of the shape, the pot has a definite purpose--flushing the sinuses.

Using the neti pot is easy. The flushing process uses a warm saline solution, so the user will need to mix this formula.
The amount of salt to use depends on the volume of the pot. Most pots will require about one quarter teaspoon full of non-iodized or kosher salt. Mix this into the warm water and stir until it dissolves.

The next part of the process is to lean forward over a sink and gently press the spout of the neti pot up against one of your nostrils. If you are starting with the right nostril, then you should have your face turned to the right and keep your head down close to the sink to allow the water to exit your left nostril. Yes, you are going to pour a stream of salt water through your nose.

Gently tip the neti pot up until you feel the water start running through your nose. It should begin running out the other nostril, and there should not be any water entering your mouth. You can breathe normally through your mouth while doing this procedure. Do not swallow while there is water in your nose or it will then enter your throat.

The concept is to learn to tip the pot and keep the face aligned with the spout. This is to keep a watertight seal against the nostril. You'll want to keep a steady stream of water flowing through your nose, and keep this up until the neti pot is empty.

Once you have successfully flushed the nostrils from the right side, refill the neti pot and flush once again. This time of course you will want to flush from the opposite nostril. In this case, just turn the head to the left and keep the head down close to the sink as before.

Once you have flushed your sinuses, you can gently exhale through your nose to blow any excess water out. It is a good idea to keep a tissue handy while using the neti pot.

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