Wellness

[I am still oxox]

My allergist said it is best to use distilled water in a neti pot for a saline rinse, this is the first time I have heard of this

[Lipstickdiva]

The instructions on my pot said to use distilled water or bottled water, never, ever use tap water.

I always use bottled water.

[Alison Wonderland]

Did the doctor say why? I suspect it's for safety. Doctors have been recommending bottled water or boiled/microwaved water since 2011.

In 2011, two people have caught a brain-eating amoeba from using tap water in a neti-pot. Both died. Both were from the same area in Louisiana and remain the only known cases of anyone getting said amoeba from a neti pot, but it's still recommended that you use bottled water, boiled water, or water you zapped in the microwave to be safe. I microwave my water, then let it cool so it's comfortably warm before I use it in my nasal irrigator.

The same amoeba was found in that same Louisiana water supply again just this past June. You can read more about it here: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/brain-eating-amoeba-found-louisiana-terrebonne-parish-pointe-aux-chenes....

My doctors mention it to me when I tell them I use nasal irrigation and they say I'm fine microwaving my filtered water.

[sidsmom]

You would think as much as I watch those

‘Monsters Inside Me’ parasite shows,

I would be uber-ultra-careful about nasal rinses but...

I just use good ‘ole tap water in the shower.

I’m in the shower, everything is temperature right,

so it’s one & done. 

[SilleeMee]

Saline is not used because saline is not very effective at removing mucous or other body fluids. Saline hydrates and 'feeds' the problem.

[chiclet]

Yikes.... I used tap water but I boiled it first..

[I am still oxox]

@SilleeMee

Hmm well I am following doctors orders.

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@SilleeMee wrote:

Saline is not used because saline is not very effective at removing mucous or other body fluids. Saline hydrates and 'feeds' the problem.

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[Lipstickdiva]

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@SilleeMee wrote:

Saline is not used because saline is not very effective at removing mucous or other body fluids. Saline hydrates and 'feeds' the problem.

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I use a Neti Pot, recommended by my doctor, that uses the premixed packets of sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate.  I mix that with 8oz of bottled water and heat it in the microwave about 35 seconds.

There are days that I have a sinus headache and using my neti pot is the only thing that gets rid of it.  It's not something I use daily   

[SilleeMee]

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@Lipstickdiva wrote:

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@SilleeMee wrote:

Saline is not used because saline is not very effective at removing mucous or other body fluids. Saline hydrates and 'feeds' the problem.

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I use a Neti Pot, recommended by my doctor, that uses the premixed packets of sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate.  I mix that with 8oz of bottled water and heat it in the microwave about 35 seconds.

There are days that I have a sinus headache and using my neti pot is the only thing that gets rid of it.  It's not something I use daily   

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Yes, adding the sodium bicarb to the saline changes the pH of the solution slightly to become more alkaline. This will act more or less as a 'detergent', a cleanser. Saline all by itself has a pH of 5.5 which is identical to most normal skin pH and saline is used to prevent stripping of mucosal linings or flesh by preserving the normal pH environment.

[sidsmom]

@SilleeMee

What about these pre-made packets?

I use this since my nasal rinses are infrequent.

Thoughts?