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Step 2) Water Quality
Because the nasal passages are so close to many critical organs, it is important to
use pure water to cleanse them. Always use sterilized water, such as boiled or
distilled water, during nasal cleansing. If you boil your water, please make sure it
is cooled to body temperature before using your Neti Pot.
Step 3) Head Position and the Nasal Cleanse
Correct head position ensures a comfortable ow of water through the nasal passages.
Lean over the sink so you are looking directly into the basin and then rotate your head to the
side so that one nostril is directly above the other. The forehead should remain level with the
chin or slightly higher.
Gently insert the spout into the upper nostril to create a comfortable seal. Keep
your mouth open and raise the handle of the Neti Pot gradually so that the
saline solution ows in through the upper nostril and out through the lower nostril.
Trouble shooting:
n If the water doesn’t ow, lift the pot a bit higher, but avoid turning the head over the
shoulder. This can cause water to ow into the Eustachian tube and make the lower ear
feel clogged. This is uncomfortable, but not dangerous, as the water will drain over the
next few hours.
n If the water drains out through the mouth, lower the forehead in relation to the chin.
n If you get a headache after using the Neti Pot, you probably had your forehead lower
than your chin, and some water drained into the frontal sinus. This will drain out, but is
uncomfortable and best avoided by keeping the forehead higher than the chin.
n Sometimes the nose is too clogged to allow water to ow well. If this is the case, stop
and try later.
Step 4) After the Wash
n After you are nished cleansing one nostril, rotate the head so you are looking into the sink
and exhale sharply through both nostrils to clear the nasal passages of excess mucus and
water. Quickly drawing the abdomen toward the spine with each exhalation will make your
exhalations more forceful. You might like to use a tissue, but do not compress one nostril
while you are blowing through the other; the pressure generated can cause damage to the
sensitive inner ear structures.