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tap water boiled 3 to 5 minutes and then cooled until lukewarm.She had been using filtered tap water and had been clearing out her nostrils semiregularly for a month before she developed complications.Īccording to the FDA and CDC, the type of water that's safe to use with neti pots is: In one instance, in 2018, a woman who used contaminated water in her neti pot died after contracting a rare brain-eating amoeba. Of course, there are other ways to alleviate nasal congestion, but neti pots are one of the older home remedies. But the most common shape is the teapot.ĭoctors will sometimes recommend a neti pot to alleviate the nasal or sinus congestion that comes with a common cold, sinus infection, or allergies. Some versions of neti pots include bulb syringes, squeeze bottles, and pulsed water devices. This story is part of Insider’s guide for Treating the Common Cold.Ī neti pot is a series of devices that you use to flush mucus or allergens out of your sinuses.This article was reviewed by Graham Snyder, MD, MS, who is the medical director for the Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology branch at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Anyone can use a neti pot for nasal congestion from illnesses like the common cold, but it’s especially effective for people with chronic nasal problems.After filling the neti pot, tilt your head sideways and pour the liquid into one nostril and wait for it to exit through the other nostril, ideally carrying any excess mucous with it.
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