Power Neti

Meet the Sinus Irrigator, If You Dare

Who Needs a Sports Car When You've got THIS? See this contraption? It features a state-of-the-art micro touch power button, electronic LED display, encapsulated motor and pump assembly, fully adjustable pressure and pause control, a calibrated pulse rate, measurement scale, and hi-capacity water tank with hygienic cover. And unlike that smokin' hot Lambroghini, this pulsatile nasal irrigation device is even available at Amazon.

What's a Sinus Irrigator? In some ways, a pulsatile nasal irrigation device is a lot like a neti pot. It's specially designed to flush your nasal cavities. The mechanics are similar to those used by neti potters everywhere. The saline solution (or in some cases, a special sinus irrigator blend) goes in one nostril, travels through your nasal passages, and flows out the other nostril, leaving your nasal passages and sinus cavities cleaner and healthier in the process.

But if it's like a neti pot, then why use a sinus irrigator at all? Good question, and you're smart to ask it, especially if you're on a tight budget. Just looking at these devices, you can probably guess they're significantly more expensive than neti pots. Your first clue? It has a cord, and you need to plug it in if you're in the mood for any nasal-irrigation action.

Plus, sinus irrigators have multiple parts and are manufactured from multiple materials, compared to neti pots which are made of only one material apiece, whether that material is plastic, ceramic, or stainless steel.

Sinus Irrigators have electronic LED displays, encapsulated motors, and pump assemblies. Neti pots have handles, spouts, and, if you're lucky, maybe even a lid.

For these and other reasons, these high-tech devices are anywhere from five to ten times more expensive than netties. If your average neti pot costs $10 to $15, expect to pay almost $100, and sometimes even more, for a pulsatile nasal irrigation device. You can get them slightly cheaper, sometimes under $80, by watching for sales. For example, as I'm writing this, two of the most popular models, Grossan Hydro Pulse Nasal and Sinus Irrigation System , and SinuPulse Elite Advanced Nasal Sinus Irrigation System are on sale at Amazon for just under $80.

But even on sale, they're not exactly cheap. This begs the question, why buy something so high-tech when you could buy a nice little collection of neti pots for the same price? Do the math. For the price of one "power neti", you could buy classic neti pots for you, your family, and a few of your closest friends, and maybe even one for your worst enemy, especially if they're afraid of water.

So why buy these things? To see why it's sometimes worth it, let's review how pulsatile nasal irrigation devices are different than classic neti pots, and why these little gizmos have been increasing in popularity in spite of their cost.

If a Neti Pot is a Bicycle, the Sinus Irrigator is a Sports Car. Think of it this way. A sinus irrigator is like a neti pot the same way a bicycle is like a sports car. They both travel on wheels, they're both amazing inventions, and they both get you from one place to another.

Like a bicycle, a neti pot is powered exclusively by your own movements and the laws of physics. For the neti pot, we're talking gravity. You tilt your head, lift the pot, and gravity alone powers saline solution through your nasal passages.

Because there's no motor or external power device, neti pots and bicycles are pretty darn affordable, relatively speaking.

In contract, the sinus irrigator is the sports car of nasal irrigation. It's flashier, engineered with more complexity, and it's got power, baby. Yes, you might still want to tilt your head (unless you want one heck of a mess in your bathroom), but the heavy lifting is done by the sinus irrigator.

WARNING: Don't Brush Your Teeth With This Thing. It looks like an electric toothbrush, doesn't it? In a way, it's a distant cousin because it uses some of the same style and design specs, but seriously, don't look for this thing to give you minty-fresh breath or healthy gums -- at least not if you're following the right directions.

It's Like a Yogi In Your Nose, and I'm Not Talking the Bear Variety. When an average Joe (like me, even though I'm more of a Josephine) does nasal irrigation, they simply let the water flow steadily through their nasal passages.

The pressure and stream doesn't vary a whole lot. When Yoga gurus or hard-core nasal irrigation experts do nasal irrigation, they're often more ambitious – rhythmically sniffing the saltwater, for example, to accomplish a pulsating sensation. This pulsating helps "massage" the nasal cilia, which has a restoring effect.

Product Reviews Reveal Why Some Neti Potters Have Gone High-Tech. If you're curious why some people prefer the sinus irrigator to the old-fashioned neti pot, it's worth reading the reviews of one sinus irrigator. Some people tried a neti pot first, and found it wasn't enough to solve their more serious sinus issues. Others tried the neti pot first, and had a hard time mastering the old-fashioned nasal irrigation experience. Others say that the high-tech method is less sloppy than a traditional neti pot.

A few others indicate that while it's pricier than your average neti pot, it's still a lot cheaper than nasal surgery, a round of antibiotics, or repeated trips to the doctor. And you can't argue with that logic.

The Bottom Line: Is It Worth It?

If, however, you're not completely satisfied with the classic nasal irrigation methods, you're still having sinus trouble, or you want to pamper your sinuses with some high-tech luxury (cilia massage included), the "power-neti" experience of pulsatile nasal irrigation just might be worth a second look.