What Is a Neti Pot—And Does It Actually Work?
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Medically reviewed by Benjamin F. Asher, MD
Neti pots are ceramic or plastic teapot-like containers that rinse out clogged nasal cavities using a saltwater solution. This popular home treatment is a type of nasal irrigation, meaning it flushes out mucus and debris from the nose and sinuses (the air-filled spaces behind your forehead, cheeks, and nose). Like other forms of nasal irrigation, a neti pot can help clear your sinuses to reduce sinus congestion.
Using a neti pot can be good for you if you have clogged sinuses. However, using the wrong type of water or failing to keep your neti pot clean can lead to infections.
Why Are Neti Pots Used?
Neti pots are used to improve sinus and nasal congestion caused by colds, allergies (allergic rhinitis), or sinus infections (rhinosinusitis or sinusitis). When someone is infected with certain germs, the nasal cavity can become blocked due to mucus and inflammation of the nasal cavity and sinuses. Allergies can also inflame the nasal passages and cause mucus buildup.
Using a neti pot can help:
Remove mucus buildup from the nasal passage
Remove allergens from the nasal passage
Reduce congestion and improve breathing
Neti pots may also be used for religious or ritual purposes. People who practice Yogic, Ayurvedic, or Islamic traditions may perform ritual nasal rinsing with a neti pot. For instance, Muslims may complete a ritual nasal rinse as part of a cleansing process—called wudu or ablution—to prepare for prayer.
How Do Neti Pots Work?
Neti pots force saline, or saltwater solution, through one nostril and out of the other. As this happens, the saline moves through your nasal passages at the bottom of your sinuses to push out mucus, pollen, and dust. At the same time, the rinse helps thin out mucus so it can flow out of your nose.
Saline is used instead of plain water in nasal irrigation because the saltwater helps reduce water from burning or irritating the delicate nasal membranes. The saline solution also helps add moisture to dry nasal passages.
Are Neti Pots Effective?
In general, nasal irrigation effectively clears sinus congestion caused by colds, sinus infections, and allergies. It can also help remove irritating debris, like pollen and dust, from the nasal passages.
Research has found that high-volume, low-pressure nasal irrigation devices—including neti pots—were the most effective methods to relieve symptoms of bacterial rhinosinusitis (sinus infections caused by bacteria). Through the study, researchers found neti pots could effectively clear mucus and relieve post-nasal drip, which is when snot and mucus that drain down the throat. Both post-nasal drip and mucus buildup are also symptoms of allergies and colds.
However, a downside of neti pots is that they don't treat the source of sinus infections, colds, or allergies that cause the congestion in the first place. They also can't be used with completely clogged sinuses. Neti pots will only help clear nasal congestion and alleviate symptoms like stuffy nose, post-nasal drip, and sinus pressure.
Are There Any Risks to Using a Neti Pot?
Neti pots are typically safe when used and cleaned properly. However, using unboiled or non-filtered tap water with your neti pot is unsafe and poses health risks. Tap water can contain organisms like bacteria. When swallowed, your stomach acid can kill these organisms, but they can survive in your nasal passages. As a result, using water straight from the tap in your neti pot can increase your risk of infections.
Using tap water with neti pots can specifically put you at risk for being contaminated with a life-threatening amoeba called Naegleria fowleri, known as the brain-eating amoeba. If the tap water you use has these amoebas, the tiny organisms can travel from your nose to the brain and cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). PAM destroys brain tissue and usually causes death. However, developing PAM because of a neti pot is rare.
Using your neti pot too often can also come with risks. Overdoing nasal irrigation can leave salt behind, causing nasal dryness or nosebleeds. In some cases, excessive nasal irrigation can further irritate the sinus lining and cause sinus infections. To avoid these risks, stick to using your neti pot no more than once per day.
Neti pots might also pose risks to certain populations. You should avoid using neti pots on infants and children who can inhale the neti pot solution into their lungs. People with immune system issues should also consult their healthcare provider before trying a neti pot.
How to Use Neti Pots Safely
The trifecta of neti pot safety includes using safe water, following neti pot instructions, and keeping your neti pot clean. Following these guidelines can help you use your neti pot safely.
Use Safe Water
Neti pots require a saline, or saltwater, solution. There are some saline solutions made specifically for nasal rinses that are sold in stores. You can also make your own saline rinse. The water you use to make the rinse is key to your safety.
You should not use water straight from the tap in a neti pot. Instead, use water that is labeled "distilled" or "sterile." If you don't have this type of water available, you can use tap water but only if you boil or filter it first.
To boil the tap water, boil the water for three to five minutes and then cool it until it's lukewarm. You can store extra boiled water in a clean, closed container—just use it within 24 hours.
Using distilled or sterile water, or boiled-then-cooled tap water, are the preferred and safer types of water to use in a neti pot. But filtered water is another potential option.
When filtering water, use water filters labeled "NSF 53" or "NSF 58" to trap potentially infectious organisms like Naegleria. Filter labels that say "cyst removal," "cyst reduction," and "absolute pore size of 1 micron or smaller" can also effectively remove Naegleria.
To make your own saline solution, mix:
1 teaspoon of canning or pickling salt (without iodine)
1 pinch of baking soda
2 cups of warm distilled, sterile, boiled-then-cooled, or filtered water
Follow Instructions
Before using a neti pot, talk to your healthcare provider to ensure it's right for your symptoms. You should not use a neti pot if your sinuses are completely clogged. To do a nasal rinse with a neti pot, carefully follow the instructions included with the product. The instructions will likely include the following:
Wash and dry your hands.
Fill your neti pot up about halfway with saline solution.
Lean your head over a sink or go into the shower.
Tilt your head sideways to form a 45-degree angle (this helps keep liquid out of your mouth).
Place the net pot spout into the upper nostril and breathe through your mouth as you gently pour.
As liquid drains out of your lower nostril, tilt your head as needed to avoid liquid draining into your throat and ears.
Blow your nose to clear your nostrils of lingering saline and mucus.
Repeat on the other side.
Keep the Pot Clean
Make sure you're cleaning your neti pot so it doesn't harbor bacteria and other germs that can make you sick. Before using your neti pot, always ensure it is clean and dry. After you use your neti pot, always wash it with soap and water. Then, dry it with a paper towel or allow it to air dry before using it again.
A Quick Review
Neti pots are a form of nasal irrigation that flushes mucus, pollen, and dust from the nose and sinuses. Using a neti pot forces saline, or saltwater, through the nasal cavity to help reduce mucus and debris that cause nasal congestion. As a result, using a neti pot can help relieve sinus infection, cold, and allergy symptoms like post-nasal drip, sinus pressure, and stuffy nose. Using a neti pot is considered safe if you follow instructions, keep it clean, and use sterile water. If you use tap water that has not been boiled or filtered, you can put yourself at risk for severe and even life-threatening infections. Before trying a neti pot, chat with your healthcare provider.
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