Using a Neti Pot for Hay Fever

Neti Pots

What are they?

Neti pots, or nasal saline irrigation is a system of cleansing out the sinus and nasal cavities. in order to help a range of nasal symptoms from colds, allergies, sinusitis or just for hygiene.  Although the idea of the Neti pot has been around for centuries but has recently been increasing in popularity.  This is especially true for those with hay fever because of it acts as effective maintenance of clearing out the allergens with minimal side effects. This especially applies for those year round hay fever sufferers.

How do they even work?

To understand how the Neti pot works, the anatomy and physiology of the sinuses needs to be stated.  Sinuses are air cavities in the cranial bones which help reducing weight of the skull, create resonance in the voice, and most relatable for this, for humidifying the air in the nasal passageway. The paranasal sinuses include the maxillary, frontal, sphenoid, and ethmoid. The body is constantly producing mucus in these cavities which normal works as a protective and lubricating barrier and should just go down the throat as a post nasal drip and be swallowed.  However if  infectious agents, allergens, dirt, dust or other particles are present this mucus can thicken up and have a harder time being removed. This build up causes pressure in the sinuses, worsening symptoms of nasal congestion and rhinitis, and even can lead to cough, sore throat, and hoarseness. With the Neti pot, the solution is designed to thin out the mucus and irrigate it through the sinuses and out the nostrils. Attached is a youtube video of a more in depth explanation.

So do they work?

Studies show that they do help in relieving symptoms. Ear nose and throat  [ENT] surgeons often recommend them to their patients after having nasal surgery because how effective their irrigation works. Research has backed up the claims of both companies and users of the Neti pot. However this may vary from person to person. Don’t start a new regime without constulting your primary care physician. 

My Personal Results

As a fellow hay allergy sufferer I decided to give this device a whirl. I bought the  Neil Med Nasal Flow one at Target for 17.99. When I first started it made my head feel full and I had to make sure my head was tilted just right over the sink otherwise I would taste the salty solution in the back of my throat. However, it didn’t take long and was painless- the best news is I saw results almost instantly. I physically saw mucus in the sink (gross I know, but better out of my sinuses than in!), also I felt better. I was able to breathe better almost instantly. There was the occasional trickle of solution for then next fifteen minutes but nothing bad. I did however feel a little lightheaded for about an hour. I have now tried this regime three nights in a row- deciding I would slow down as soon as I had a successful (little or no mucus left) go around. I have noticed have had little or no congestion in the morning and throughout the day and barely even sneezed. Personally I am loving the Netipot.

Attached are some links you may be interested in about the products.

Check out http://www.amazon.com/Himalayan-Institute-Ceramic-Neti-Pot/dp/B000WJIC3G

http://www.sinucleanse.com/netipotlanding.htm

http://www.neilmed.com/usa/adword_np.php

Alternative Therapies- Butterbur, Honey, and Acupuncture

Alternate Therapies-

Complementary alternative medicine (CAM) is any healing practice that isn’t part of the practices of conventional medicine. It can range from receiving acupuncture to taking herbal supplements. Because it is alternate however, there is not sufficient evidence to back these treatments as certified but many people vouch for effective results none the less.

Like most conditions, there are “alternate therapies” for Hay Fever. Some of the most common ones include rinsing sinuses (nasal irrigation), which will be discussed in a later blog. Also, common herbal therapies include butterbur, Tinospora cordifolia, cat’s claw, choline, goldenseal, belladonna, bromelian, and honey. Alternate therapies also include hypnosis, acupuncture, and probiotics.

This blog entry will be discussing butterbur, honey, and accupuncture

For information on the other alternative therapies check out http://nccam.nih.gov/ and http://www.rateadrug.com/ for more information and to evaluate your own experiences with these treatments.

Butterbur- (Petasites hybridus) Extracts taken from this shrub-like plant have been used as medicine for for migraines, stomach cramps, coughs, allergies and asthma.

Although how it works is unknown, butterbur is believed to block the action of histamine and leukotrienes resulting in a decrease in inflammatory reactions. There have been studies involving participants with hay fever taking doses of butterbur which had a greater relief in symptoms than those with the placebo. However no studies have been conclusive to classify this as an effective treatment. Side effects include indigestion, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrha, and constipation and is not intended for those who are pregnant, children, and with renal or liver conditions.

Butterbur - Petasites hybridus

Honey- Honey has been studied as a potential therapy for those with pollen senstitive patients. The idea behind it is that the traces of pollen inside the honey desensitizes the body to honey, therefore reducing the hay fever symptoms. This idea is a much like that of immunotherapy.

Honey

Acupuncture- a Chinese healing process which has been practiced for thousands of years, has been studied for the benefit of many diseases. As for hay fever, research suggests that those who receieved accupuncuture with Chinese herbal tea noticed a lessening of hay fever symptoms. But like the other alternate treatments, the study isn’t conclusive.

Acupuncture

Keep in mind with all of these that it is CRUCIAL that you discuss this with your doctor before starting treatment. Herbs and alternative therapies may be harmful to other predisposing medical conditions, need to be taken cautiously, and need to be monitored. Make sure you tell your doctor if you are taking any because although they are not classified as a convention treatment there is still a physiologic impact on the body. Also make sure to by your herbal remedies from safe sources. Herbals are not FDA approved therefore not regulated so doses may be misleading.