Neti pots can help clear congestion, but only if you use them correctly. ENT doctors explain how

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With cold and flu season here, you may be looking for ways to ease a stuffy nose without reaching for medication. Neti pots, the small teapot-shaped devices that rinse your nasal passages with a saline solution, are a popular option. They can help flush out mucus and irritants, but if you’ve never used one, pouring water into one nostril and out the other can feel odd or even a little intimidating.

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To find out whether neti pots are safe for everyone and how to use one correctly, I asked two ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctors to walk me through it. Below, they explain what to know before you start and the steps to follow for a comfortable rinse. I also rounded up highly-rated neti pots to shop if you want to add one to your cold-season routine.

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“A neti pot is a container [typically] shaped like a small teapot, used to flush out the nose and sinuses,” says Dr. Ryan Salvador, an ENT surgeon at Sinus and Snoring Specialists in Austin.

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If you’re nervous about…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/health

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