Is Neti Pot safe?

Did your doctor talk to you about nasal  “rinsing” or “irrigation” with a device called Neti pot? It’s used to flush out clogged nasal passages and help to breathe better. The use of Neti pots with a saline or saltwater solution has been proven to be effective adjunctive therapy treat sinusitis, viral upper respiratory infections, colds, and allergies.

However, those devices can also be hazardous. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), improper use of these neti pots and other nasal rinsing devices ( bulb suctions) can increase the risk of infection if you do not use them properly:

• Rinse only with distilled, sterile, or previously boiled water. Tap water isn’t adequately filtered and may contain bacteria and protozoa, including amoebas. In the nose, these organisms can stay alive in nasal passages and cause potentially dangerous infections. 

• Boil water for 3 to 5 minutes, then cool until it is lukewarm and store in the refrigerator container for use within 24 hours.

• Use Nasal spray bottles for moisturizing dry nasal passages.

•  Irrigation devices are better at clearing out mucus, allergens, and bacteria.

• Read detailed instructions on how to use neti pots safely in adults and children on the FDA website.

Key resources

Rabago, D., & Zgierska, A. (2009, November 15). Saline nasal irrigation for upper respiratory conditions. American Family Physician, Vol. 80. American Academy of Family Physicians.