Ah, the nose. Such an undervalued appendage…until it’s stuffed up. Our nose takes a beating each and every day as we breathe in pollutants, germs, and allergens that build up in our nasal passages. This buildup sets the stage for congestion and infection. Fortunately, salt can save the day!
If you only use salt on your food, you are truly missing out! Salt has been used since the time of the ancient Greeks to build the immune system, develop healthy upper respiratory systems and reduce inflammation in the body. The scientific community finally stood up and took notice when Polish salt miners in the 18th century were recognized as having stronger immune systems and sinus and lung health than their families.
Salt therapy or Halotherapy (from the Greek halos, meaning salt) is now gaining popularity the world over. People travel to European salt caves to treat a variety of breathing issues, and now salt rooms are becoming all the rage in the U.S. These rooms are filled with real salt that mimics the salt caves’ effectiveness of detoxifying and cleansing nasal passages.
But you don’t have to travel to European salt caves or costly salt rooms to use salt therapy yourself using a neti pot and nasal salt inhalers! I’m going to tell you how to use salt therapy in your very own home at an unbeatable price!
Healthy Benefits of Neti Pots and Nasal Salt Inhalers
Both neti pots and nasal salt inhalers cleanse irritants and thin mucus that can go from mildly irritating to a full-blown sinus infection. Salt has antibacterial, antimicrobial and antifungal properties, which makes it the perfect treatment for all types of upper respiratory issues such as:
- Chronic sinusitis
- Colds and other upper respiratory illnesses
- Sinus infections
- Nasal dryness
- Sinus headaches
- Asthma
- Snoring caused by sinus congestion
How Do Neti Pots Work?
Neti pots have been a foundational part of Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years, but they can now be found in any drug store in the West. These pots are usually made of plastic or ceramic and look like a miniature teapot, long spout and all. A simple mixture of purified water and Himalayan sea salt, or a saline wash, allows you to cleanse your nasal passages to remove excess mucus, allergens, irritants, and bacteria.
To use a neti pot, you want to stand in front of the sink and tilt your head to one side. Put the tip of the pot firmly into the upper nostril and let the solution stream until it drains from the opposite nasal passage. Let the solution stream through until the pot is empty.When finished, remove the tip of the pot and sniff a couple of times. This gets the solution into the deeper parts of the sinus cavity. Then, gently blow your nose to remove the solution and any other stubborn irritants. Then, repeat in the other nostril.
It takes some people a little getting used to using a neti pot because the sensation of water going through one nostril and out the other is kind of weird. But the benefits you’ll see far outweigh the weirdness, and after a few days, nasal irrigation will become just another part of your daily routine.
I also love adding essential oils into my neti pot to give the whole experience a boost. Plus, they smell good too! My favorite oil to add is Thieves Essential Oil, for added immune support!
How Do Nasal Salt Inhalers Work?
Nasal salt inhalers are perhaps a little more straightforward then neti pots, though they haven’t gained the same popularity yet. These inhalers hold compressed pieces of real salt inside their chamber. Once the inhaler is inserted into the nostril, the inhalation causes microscopic salt particles to release and enter the nasal cavity. The salt then does its job by lowering inflammation, thinning and drying up mucus and balancing histamine response.
One of the reasons I love my nasal salt inhaler is that it’s so portable. When away from home for the day, you may not be able to use a neti pot, (and if you did, you’d get a lot of strange looks in the washroom) but you can pull out your nasal salt inhaler and use it anywhere!
Final Thoughts
Nasal irrigation and salt inhalation are all-natural ways to deal with congestion and upper respiratory illnesses. In medical studies, salt therapy has been found so effective that participants were able to greatly reduce the amount of over-the-counter medication they had previously used to reduce symptoms.
Though none of these issues is usually life-threatening, they are darned irritating! I’ve personally found using a neti pot and nasal salt inhaler has drastically reduced my seasonal and environmental allergies. We also use them to prevent the buildup of bacteria and viruses that lead to colds and the flu. And since using both is completely safe for children, all of my family uses them.
5 Replies to “Healthy Benefits of Neti Pots and Nasal Salt Inhalers”
I have been using a Neti Pot for several years now. It beats a big bowl of water to snuff up into the sinus which was how I used to clean them out. I have not tried adding essential oils but will try that the next use. You didn’t say how many drops so I will start with one or two mix with salt first as EOs do not mix with water.
Yep I do 2 drops max and always mix with the salt first
Hi Kate! Do you use the neti pot and inhaler every day? Both? And where can I purchase a good salt inhaler? I always have such bad sinus issues that it causes me to get vertigo at times ?
I only use them when I am having issues with respiratory stuff or sinus stuff. Here’s the one I use: https://amzn.to/2GBZ7bo
Do you add oils to the nasal inhaler also?