Many sinus sufferers use neti pots or other saline-irrigation devices for relief from allergies or dry winter air. But irrigation devices could do more harm than good if used incorrectly.
Neti pots have been used for centuries to clean nasal passages, reduce congestion and relieve sinus headaches. But whether you use a traditional pot (some look a little like Aladdin's lamp) or a plastic squeeze bottle from the drugstore, it's important to use only water that's distilled or that has been boiled and cooled.
Two people died last year after using unboiled tap water contaminated with the amoeba Naegleria fowleri, which caused an infection that destroys brain tissue and causes brain swelling, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drinking the water does not cause infection.
"Saline irrigation helps improve symptoms of sinusitis or allergies," says Scott Stringer, chairman of otolaryngology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.
Irrigation devices can help clear out excess mucus and reduce the likelihood or severity of sinusitis, viral infections and allergies, he adds. "While they don't cure diseases, they make them all heal better and shorten the duration of symptoms."
But he says they should be cleaned regularly with soap and hot water to prevent growth of bacteria.
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