Ask

Michelle, I use one, and as a matter of fact my old one broke so I rushed to get a new one this weekend. I get mine at a local health food store called Mother's Market, unfortunately they are local. I have seen neti pots at Wallmart, Wallgreens and many other stores but I trust those made with more natural materials.

I am a frequent shopper at the Chopra Center since they are just a few miles from my house. I know they carry the same neti pot I just bought at Mother's Market. Here is the link to Dr Chopra's website, maybe you can order it from their website. Try using very fine sea salt if you do not get saline solution. Most come with instructions. They are great and even my daughter uses it to improve her allergy symptoms.

http://store.chopra.com/showitems.asp?deptcode1=602

My husband is addicted to the neti pot. For a while he was using it a couple of times a day every day until I told him to give it a break. He swears that he can actually smell fresh air and that it performs miracles. I have never even been able to use nasal drops let alone use something that shoots water up one nostril and comes out of the other. But, like I said..if you ask my husband, he will tell you to buy it. (He bought his at bed, bath, and beyond)
Here is what I found on webMD about it. "Many patients with chronic sinus symptoms from bacterial infections, allergies, and environmental irritants also have begun to regularly use the Neti pot or other nasal irrigation devices, claiming that these devices alleviate congestion, facial pain and pressure, and reduce the need for antibiotics and nasal sprays. Research backs up these claims, finding that nasal irrigation can be an effective way to relieve sinus symptoms when used along with standard sinus treatments."

If you'd like to read more on it I attached the link! :)
WebMD

Neti Pot seemed like it required too much physical coordination for me, so I opted for a different product from the NeilMed brand, Sinus Rinse (http://www.neilmed.com/usa/index.php). I used it the whole time I was pregnant since I seemed to get sinus infection-on-top-of-sinus infection, and couldn't take any "good drugs" to help. It did the trick, and I've continued to use it as needed. You can purchase it at any national drug store chain, but I got mine from a local pharmacy store (gotta support the little guy).

It's a re-usable plastic bottle that you fill with 8oz. of warm distilled water, and one of the packets included (it comes with 100!). Lightly shake to mix the liquid, and then leaning over the sink, gently squeeze the water solution into one nostril--it comes down the other nostril, or out your mouth. It is a bit "chokey" the first couple times, but I do swear by it particularly for allergy sufferers like me.

At first symptom, I use it twice a day, to hold off developing a sinus infection. If you use it at bedtime, you have to use it at least 1 hr beforehand to avoid choking on the post-nasal drainage of solution while sleeping. As I described to a friend of mine, it's like a douche for your sinuses. I'm sure he loved that imagery...use it in good health!

I don't use it, but my husband uses it a lot. My acupuncturist recommended it & my husband did not want to try it. Finally, his allergies got so bad that he decided to try it out & started using is all the time. The first couple of times it is a little messy, since you are figuring out how to use it, but I think it really works.

In order to stop your self from coughing you have to orient your head so that the water flows out the other nostril rather than down your throat. Make sure you read up on the correct technique to use before attempting jala-neti.

Also, if you are suffering from sinus problems you might benefit from using a hypertonic solution when performing nasal irrigation. - The chances are your friends are using isotonic solution. Isotonic solution is more comfrotable though so you might want to start with that for the first few times.