Specialty Neti Pot Salts: Are They Worth It?

But are they worth the money? And how expensive are they anyway?

While sinus rinse packets or those designer neti salts are definitely more expensive than your basic kosher neti pot salts, they still won't break the bank.

Let's review the positives and negatives of this popular nasal irrigation choice.

Advantages: Created specifically for nasal irrigation, has the correct texture and blend, great for travel, sometimes includes buffering agents for extra comfort.

Disadvantages: Not always easy to find, slightly more expensive than kosher/pickling salt.

The Downside: Slightly More Expensive Than Pickling Salt

To clarify, it's still pretty darn affordable. It might, for example, cost you a dime or quarter per neti pot experience compared to a few pennies a serving.

The Upsides: Super-Convenient, Easy to Store, & Still Pretty Affordable

You can buy these designer neti salts in different types of packages, whether bundled in little tear-open packets (such as the Neilmed packets in the below photo) or in jars/bags, where you have to scoop out the appropriate amount.

Like other neti pot salts, these packets might be a little more pricey than salt from the grocery aisle, but they're incredibly convenient and pre-blended especially for nasal irrigation. Photo Credit: www.neti-netti-pot.com. Ok to use with attribution.

Also, many of these nasal irrigation salts include the optimum amount of sodium bicarbonate (a fancy name for baking soda) that acts as a buffering agent, which means it helps regulate the pH levels of your neti pot experience.

To someone like me, this sodium bicarbonate addition is a bit of a luxury, since I'm not inclined to pull the regular ol' baking soda from my cupboard and add it to my classic (pickling) neti pot salt solution. Maybe I don't trust my baking soda's purity, or maybe it's because I haven't found the baking soda addition to necessary. To me, pure salt is comfy enough.

But if a neti pot salt manufacturer wants to find the exact kind of sodium bicarbonate, and add it in the perfect ratio, hey, I guess I'll take it, right?

Plus, the little packets are great for travel. Scrooge might not be so proud if you went with this option (as opposed to the super cheap pickling salt). But then again, Scrooge was kind of a home-body and probably didn't even own a neti pot.

Quick Tip for Beginners: If you're a nervous neti newbie, and are slightly intimidated about mixing your own neti pot solution, these special packets/containers are a great way to get started.

Usually, the directions are very clear, the salt amounts are pre-measured (or at least very clearly spelled out), and you know exactly how much neti pot water to add.

After you've practiced a few times, and are comfortable with the nasal irrigation experience, you might feel emboldened to make your own neti pot solution from scratch, using kosher/pickling salt.

As for me, I usually keep some of these packets on-hand regardless. If nothing else, you can't beat them for travel.

What Do I Use for 'Specialty Neti Salt'?

Even now, as an experienced neti potter, I still keep some of these packets on-hand, for when I'm in a hurry or want to take my neti pot on the go.


These Are the packets I keep on hand for travel or extra convenience. Pre-mixed, pre-measured, and super-easy to use and store. As the old saying goes, just add water!