Afraid to Use a Neti Pot?Afraid to use a neti pot? If so, you’re not alone. And who can blame you? After all, it’s been drummed into us since childhood that water, quite simply, does not belong up our noses.
By breathing through our nasal passages, we deliver oxygen to our lungs. We need this oxygen to live. Yes folks, air in the lungs is good. Water in the lungs is bad. Veeeeery bad. But here's the good news. When you use a neti pot correctly, water gets nowhere near your lungs. Instead, the water flows in one nostril, through your nasal passages, and out the other nostril. Best of all, you can breathe the whole time. You can also sing, talk, or yodel if you're feeling particularly inspired. Not convinced? That’s understandable. So if you’re still afraid to use a neti pot, let’s review some of the most common fears so you can breathe easier about this whole nasal irrigation thing. Common Neti Pot Fears#1: “I won’t be able to breathe.”Happily, this fear is unfounded. One of the neatest things about using a neti pot is that you can (and should) breathe the entire time you’re using one. The secret? You’ll need to breathe through your mouth. You know, pretend you're a mouth-breather like that annoying guy who always stands too close to you in the express lane of the grocery aisle. Yeah, him.Odd as it sounds, the whole time water is flowing through your nasal passages, you can breathe easily. In fact, you can even talk, sing, or yodel, assuming you’re the yodeling type. Ready to conquer this neti pot fear? It’s easy. Just open your mouth and breathe. #2: “I’m drowning!” Or, “Help! I’m Being Water-Boarded!”Drowning occurs when liquid enter the lungs and prevents your body from absorbing oxygen. Water-boarding is an interrogation technique that forces water onto a victim’s breathing passages until they feel like they’re drowning.Using a neti pot is like neither of these things. As explained above in the “I can’t breathe” section, using a neti pot correctly should never deprive you of oxygen or comfort. When you use a neti pot, you’re in control the whole time. So breathe easier, literally. #3: "The Neti Pot Salt Will Sting My Nasal Passages.”If the old saying is true, "salt in the wound" is painful. Thankfully, your nose is not a wound, and the salt in your neti pot solution shouldn't cause you any pain or discomfort. And in fact, the salt is a good thing -- honest.In fact, the salt in your neti pot water is what enables the neti pot solution to mimic your tears and sweat. The salt actually makes the nasal irrigation experience quite comfy, all things considered. In fact, if you try using non-salty water in your neti pot, it will cause you discomfort, and quite possibly pain, as the cells in your nasal passages try to figure out what to do with that strange liquid that’s so foreign to our body’s natural composition. So remember, never use plain old water in your neti pot, unless you’re some kind of glutton for punishment. #4: “I’ll look silly.”There's more than one reason people can be afraid to use a neti pot. It's hard to believe, but some people fear they'll look silly. Alright, so you're leaning over the sink. You're pouring water up your nose. You may even be yodeling.But is this really undignified? Um, well, probably. But just think of how clean your nasal passages will be. Related ArticlesNeti Pot Dangers: Still Afraid to Use a Neti Pot? Oddly enough, most neti pot dangers are caused by dangerous neti pot users, meaning nasal irrigation fans who are doing something wrong. But never fear, with a little practice and neti know-how, you can tame your wildest neti pot fears.Back to Home Page: |
Even Scarier, Top 13 Non-Neti Fears
Way back in 2001, before neti pots made their way into the mainstream, a Gallup survey polled Americans to learn their biggest fears. Here were the thirteen most common.
1. Snakes! 51%. They're slithery, they might be poisonous, and they never, ever use neti pots. No wonder everyone hates them.
2. Public Speaking, 40%. Hah! I scoff at this. Try public neti-potting. Now THAT'S scary.
3. Heights, 36%. For something even scarier, try neti-potting from the top of a forty-story building. Bonus points if you do it in your underwear.
4. Being Closed in a Small Space, 34%. Neti pots are kind of small. I've never, however, been able to fit myself into one. But if I could, it might be kind of scary.
5. Spiders & Insects, 27%. Even scarier, spiders and insects are notoriously resistant to the idea of nasal irrigation. Seriously, don't they care about sinus health?
6. Needles & Getting Shots, 21%. Did someone say shots?
7. Mice, 20%. Neti-potting mice. How nice.
8. Flying on an Airplane, 10%. Must. Not. Mention. Snakes. On. Planes. (I am such a dork.)
9. Dogs, 11%. Dogs. What hogs. Sure, it rhymes, but it makes no sense whatsoever. Worse, it has nothing to do with nasal irrigation. You might want to disregard this one entirely.
10. Thunder & Lightning, 11%. Remember that old disco song, "Knock on Wood"? If not, you probably blocked it out, because let's face it, disco is a lot scarier than just about anything else on this list.
11. Crowds, 11%. See, this is where a neti pot comes in handy. Nasal irrigation is a proven crowd-disperser. Especially at fancy restaurants.
12. Going to the Doctor, 9%. But if you do visit your doctor, there's a good chance he or she will recommend a neti pot. Let's just hope they don't do it while wearing a "Jason-Friday the 13th" mask.
13. The Dark, 5%. If you were a genie locked in a neti pot, it might be kind of dark in there. Just sayin'.