Netti Pot sounds funny, hah

October 10, 2007 8:37 AM

Chicagofilter: My girlfriend wants a netti pot. Where can I purchase one?

Preferably somewhere within 4 miles of Wicker Park, but I can make a longer bike ride out of it if need be.

posted by whatitis to health (20 comments total)

CVS Drugstores carry them, if there's one near you.
posted by iconomy at 8:39 AM on October 10, 2007

I bought a plastic one at Walgreen's, I'm sure CVS carries them too.
posted by beowulf573 at 8:40 AM on October 10, 2007

Any drugstore will have them around where they have the cold/allergy medications/treatments. Usually they are near any sort of vapor treatments or nasal sprays. The brand I use is SinuCleanse. It comes with a few packets to mix with water to make a saline solution.
posted by tastybrains at 8:45 AM on October 10, 2007

You can get nicer ones up on Devon or at yoga studios in your area. Moksha Yoga on Carpenter (near Chicago/Ogden/Milwaukee) has them, and I'm pretty sure Ruby Room on Division has them too.
posted by smich at 8:54 AM on October 10, 2007

Moksha Yoga usually carries them, and I think they'd likely be a little nicer/more ceramic-y than the plastic versions, if your girlfriend cares about that.

Near Chicago and Milwaukee, the Riverwest location is close to Wicker Park. Their stock varies, so I'd contact them before going there.
posted by asuprenant at 8:55 AM on October 10, 2007

And I even previewed! Zounds.
posted by asuprenant at 8:55 AM on October 10, 2007

Three online sources:

netipot.org
healthandyoga.com
Narial Nasal Cup

All courtesy of Wes.
posted by Phanx at 9:36 AM on October 10, 2007

Sorry to piggyback - do these things work?
posted by walla at 9:42 AM on October 10, 2007

They work as far as clearing gunk out of your sinuses, but if you have a nasty head cold you may find that your sinuses are all too happy to fill up again quickly.

I got mine at Whole Foods. (Kosher salt is best, btw.)
posted by kittyprecious at 10:07 AM on October 10, 2007

They help me when the weather changes and my sinuses block up. They're not the end all be all that some sites say they are.
posted by beowulf573 at 10:16 AM on October 10, 2007

Yes they help if you have issues with your sinuses, if you are feeling sneezy or whatnot. Like kitty said your sinuses will probably fill right back up. It is not an insta cure. Over several days it seems to help though.

Tilt your head sideways, pour in one nostril so it drains out the other. At first I tilted my head back too much; this seemed to allow too much penetration of the saline into my sinuses. The result is it wouldn't drain fully and I would feel drippy and stuffy all day as that saline gradually found its way back out.

I have experimented with making the saline solution and the best I have found is this:

-2 cups water; filtered or bottled
-microwave about 1 minute .. experiment to find the temp you like
-mix in 1/2 heaping tsp kosher salt, 1/4 ish tsp of baking powder
Use immediately. This should fill a typical neti pot about 3 times.
posted by jockc at 10:17 AM on October 10, 2007

If you search for 'neti' you will find more options online, but when I upgraded from a little plastic squeeze bottle to a proper pot I got it at CVS.

It works great for me, though the process is a whole lot more cough-and-sputtery than the mellow little videos you see online.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:18 AM on October 10, 2007

Having gone through a few different ones, I've found that the "horn" style is a lot more convenient for me than the more traditional styles. Amazon has an example here.
posted by nonliteral at 10:38 AM on October 10, 2007

EarthFare was where mine was purchased. I prefer sea salt in the bulk foods section.

Does kosher salt actually break down and dissolve in the water?
posted by ijoyner at 10:45 AM on October 10, 2007

As Kitty says, they work somewhat but they're not life-changing. I like mine and use it when I'm feeling particularly clogged or sneezy but it's not as if I am miserable without it.

Personally I am lazy and since I don't use it more then a few times a month I just use the little tear-open packets. I got a box of 50 or so for under $20 at Costco and the convenience of finely-ground pre-measured is worth $20 for 1-2 years.
posted by phearlez at 2:29 PM on October 10, 2007

I got mine at amazon.

Here's another thread that discusses whether they work and how to use them.
posted by booth at 2:52 PM on October 10, 2007

You want non-iodized salt. Kosher works for that. And definitely add a bit of baking powder to adjust the pH.

I use set of 4oz, $0.99 squeeze bottles. The trick is to squeeze very gently.
posted by dws at 6:53 PM on October 10, 2007

I saw them at Wal-marts the other day, near the pharmacy counter. Blew me away! I bought mine several years ago from a health food store.

The one's at Wal-mart were labeled "nasal pot" they were ceramic and if I remember correctly, they were under $15.
posted by JujuB at 7:48 PM on October 10, 2007

CVS had NO clue what I was talking about. Even at the pharmacy counter.
Try Walgreens. That is where I got mine.
posted by nimsey lou at 8:33 PM on October 10, 2007

one thing I do to make the kosher salt dissolve faster is to grind it up in my morter and pestle first.

I find the Neti Pot helps my colds go away a little quicker.
posted by any major dude at 10:35 PM on October 10, 2007