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In Praise of the Neti Pot
Is it just me or has it been a rough allergy season so far? All the rain we had this winter combined with the nicer weather lately has put enough pollen in the air to make allergy sufferers out of people who have never had allergies before. It would be bad enough with the runny nose, sneezing, stuffiness and fatigue. But when you realize that allergens also distract your immune system from fighting all the cold germs that are floating around—then look out.
If you haven't had the cough or sore throat or muscle ache that's been going around, I'm sure that you know someone who has.
By the way, has anybody else noticed how popular the Neti pot has become? I remember when I first discovered them about 15 years ago they were objects of curiosity. Now it seems like everybody—including Oprah, Dr. Oz, the doc in the Sunday paper and every magazine article on the topic of allergies—has discovered the noble Neti pot.
If you have allergies and you haven't tried using a Neti pot yet, it's not too late.
You may have already seen one and not recognized it. What looks like a miniature teapot or watering can is actually the most valuable tool for protecting your sinus health. When you fill one of these little pots with a gentle saline solution it becomes the most efficient way to deliver a soothing bath to a part of your anatomy that is otherwise not readily accessible. When I have patients with sinus allergies the Neti pot is always one of the most important parts of the treatment plan I prescribe.
Not everyone takes to the Neti pot like a duck to water. The idea of running water in one nostril and out the other may not be exactly everyone's cup of tea, so to speak. I try to explain that sinus rinsing, while perhaps awkward at first will become perfectly natural, like brushing your teeth if you practice for a few days. And the results will be enough to keep you at it.
Common mistakes are having the water too hot, too cold, too salty or not holding one's head at the correct angle. With just a little practice you too can be a gold medalist Neti pot user. Hey, if Jessica Simpson can do it, so can you.
While the Neti pot should be the number one sinus relief tool for allergy sufferers, don't forget there are number of safe, effective and inexpensive herbal remedies that can help as well. If keeping your sinuses healthy was as simple as popping Claritin, Zyrtec or Sudafed you probably wouldn't be reading this right now. While these OTC's work for some folks, there are number of all-natural Chinese herbal formulas that can help without making you drowsy, groggy or cotton mouthed. My favorite is "Bi Yan Pian." If you have itchy eyes as well as a runny nose, then Dr. Shen's Allergy Pills work as well as anything I've tried.
If you have kids with a phlegmy cough I recommend San She Dan Chuan Be Ye for gentle relief. These are just a few of the complementary therapies that can make allergy season a whole lot more bearable. To find out more about Neti pots or if chinese herbs are right for you, please give me a call at 370–3839.
© 2010 Larry Forsberg. All rights reserved.
Articles posted on this Web site are for personal use only and remain the property of Larry Forsberg, L.Ac.
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