“I used a neti pot with hot water. Will this cause a reaction in my nose?”
I am using neti pot treatment for my cold. This time I tried using the Neti pot with hot water. Could this cause a bacterial reaction in my nasal passage? What can I do to prevent it from happening and to make sure I am taking the right precautions?
7 Answers
Use distilled water at a comfortable room temperature. Clean your Neti pot regularly to avoid introducing bacteria into your nose/sinuses.
I know of no evidence that supports Neti pot use. There have been several reported deaths from their use as a result of amoebic meningitis. If you must do it, use bottled sterile saline or boil the solution you’re using for 15 minutes and let it cool. Again, no evidence.
The water should be at room temperature mixed with the salt that comes in the containers in the proportions ccording to the instructions. Hot water will damage the mucosa, lack of the sat will also damage it. Water should be boiled but must be cool down.
The use of sinus irrigation devices "Neti Pot" is effective in the treatment of sinusitis. Distilled or sterile water is recommended. Tap water can be used once boiled then cooled to lukewarm prior to use.
Use distilled water in the Neti Pot and body-temperature water.
Using warm or even hot water should be fine (as long as it is not uncomfortably hot). The most important thing is that you want to use distilled water. Tap water has minerals in it that can irritate the nasal mucosa. More concerning is that some tap water can contain amoeba which do no harm to you if you swallow them (i.e., drink or cook with). However, if you rinse your nose out with tap water containing an amoeba, the organism can latch on.
Neti pot needs regular cleaning to prevent bacterial and yeast growth. If water too hot, could cause thermal damage to intranasal tissues.
