My DIY Neti Pot Journey

Unfortunately for me, seasonal allergies and sinus problems typically go hand-in-hand. Growing up, I was frequently plagued with sinus infections. They were so frequent and intense that it was rare for me to have the ability to breathe out of my nose.

Neti pot

My mom would always say, “Why don’t you try a neti pot? It will help irrigate your sinuses and remove all the mucus and allergens that have built up. You’ll feel better and be happy that you tried it!” Like all kids my age, I knew better. Like the legendary Fresh Prince said, “Parents just don’t understand.” Plus, I was so disgusted by the concept that I didn’t want to try it - regardless of how effective it might be.

Balloon sinusplasty

As time went on and my issues intensified, I decided to explore some options to treat my sinuses. This is when I discovered balloon sinuplasty. For those of you who don’t know, this procedure is rather new and relatively non-invasive. An ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist inserts a balloon into your sinus cavity and slowly inflates it until the passage has expanded. Needless to say, this option costs a considerable amount of money, and I wasn’t too keen on having a balloon placed in my nose. I decided to move on.

Neti pot for allergies and sinuses

This is when I remembered the infamous neti pot of my childhood. By this point, I was so fed up with my sinus issues that I decided that it was finally time to give one a try. A quick Google search revealed that neti pots have a wide range in cost. Some are priced around $10 while others are north of $100.

DIY Neti pot

Instead of heading to my local pharmacy to purchase one, I decided that I’d make one out of the materials I had at home. This proved to be extremely easy. All you need are the following items:

• 1 nasal syringe
• 1 small pot
• 1 teaspoon
• 2 cups of water

DIY Neti pot solution

Once you have all the items, it’s time to create the saline solution that you’ll be using to irrigate your sinuses.

1. Add two cups of water and a teaspoon of salt into a pot.
2. Stir the contents and put on the lid.
3. Boil the solution for 10-15 minutes.
4. Set the pot aside and let the saline solution cool down to room temperature.

Homemade Neti pot instructions

Now it’s time to clear your sinuses! Carefully fill the nasal syringe with the saline solution and squeeze its contents into your nose. I highly recommend doing this process over a sink. Otherwise, you might not be too pleased with the outcome. Just repeat this process until the intended results are achieved. Personally, I like to blow my nose between applications in order to remove any mucus that has been dislodged during the process.

A Friendly Reminder: As a friendly reminder, please make sure to sanitize the nasal syringe before and after each use. This will greatly reduce the introduction of any unwanted bacteria or organisms into your sinus cavity.

It truly is amazing how much better I feel after this process. If you’re on the fence like I was, give the DIY neti pot a try!