WILLisms.com: Recommendation of the Week: Part II.

« Trivia Tidbit Of The Day: Part 465 -- Some Good News. | WILLisms.com | Wednesday Caption Contest: Part 124. »

Recommendation of the Week: Part II.

This week: HELP FOR COLD & FLU SEASON.

Sometimes trends have a way of amplifying themselves from nothing to "the next big thing," almost overnight. This week's recommendation is, frankly, a little weird.

It's the neti pot. No, it's not Irie grass from Jamaica. Actually, it's the opposite of drugs. It's a way to breathe easier this time of year (or any time of year), without drugs. The neti pot has apparently (allegedly) been around for several decades in "the West" and millenia in "the East," although I first heard about these things no more than a few weeks ago. Now that I have heard of it, I am seeing references to it all over the place. The character Dwight, from NBC's The Office, uses what looks like a neti pot, in a recent promo for the show. I've seen them promoted in magazines and elsewhere. All of the sudden. From nothing to a trendy health item, just like that.

As someone with occasionally severe allergies, I am always looking for ways to clear my passages and prevent actual infections from taking hold.

I've tried all sorts of allergy medications, both over-the-counter and prescription, and both pills and nasal sprays. Some of them work fine, but I feel like a zombie when I take them. Not good.

I've also tried the saline nasal spray, which is just salty water. It definitely irrigates well, sweeping pollen and dust and pollutants out, but sometimes I feel like I am spraying a drizzle up there, when I need a firehose. Another option that works extremely well is to take about 4 steamy showers per day during allergy season, clearing out the sinus cavities each time around. Obviously, this schedule is also not particularly convenient.

Enter the neti pot. It's bizarre and awkward to watch someone do it (see YouTube video below), but it works fantastically well.

While this video is a bit creepy (what's with this lady's glassy stare?), this thing just plain works. Even if you don't have bigtime allergies like me, it really opens up your nasal passages, allowing easier breathing. You might be surprised what all is stuck in there. Indeed, a good friend of mine unwittingly left a bloody gauze in his nasal passages for months after competing in a boxing tournament. Stuff just stays up there for a long time, causing infections and other problems.

Mrs. WILLisms.com claims that she sleeps better after using this ridiculous device, the neti pot, in the evening. She wakes up feeling more refreshed and alert from a restful sleep.

Although I am not a doctor, I am not offering medical advice, and I am not promising this thing will cure your cold, I am personally sold on the neti pot. It just seems to work. You can buy one here.

Last week's recommendation: Five Guys Famous Burgers & Fries.

Note: I am not being compensated for these recommendations. I just think they might be useful to WILLisms.com readers. I always welcome your alternative suggestions, as well.

Posted by Will Franklin · 12 December 2007 03:17 PM

Comments

So waterboarding does serve a healthful purpose!

Posted by: JGsez at December 12, 2007 03:28 PM

My husband was taking allergy pills twice a day until he started using something quite the same as the nettie pot. Now he is off all of his allergy pills. YAY!

Posted by: Zsa Zsa at December 12, 2007 03:38 PM

Could you use a regular tea pot?

Posted by: John at December 13, 2007 01:09 PM

You probably could, but this is designed to prevent spilling, it's spout is designed to create a tight seal in your nostril, etc. And you can buy one of these things for under 10 bucks.

Posted by: Will Franklin at December 13, 2007 01:12 PM

An alternative is a plastic squeeze bottle by Neilmed available at CVS. Recommended by my ENT doctor last year after sinus surgery. Makes a big difference!

Posted by: David G at December 13, 2007 06:33 PM

prescription 30 no phentermine diet prescription phentermine no

Posted by: phentermine no fl prescription at December 14, 2007 02:20 PM

Careful with this if you've ever broken your nose. My wife has been using one for years, but I cannot use it. I have an old break that never healed right from when I was a kid, and pouring water into my nose essentially dumps it right into my lungs. I don't drain properly.

I also can't hold my breath underwater without holding my nose tight, so if you're the same, that should be a pretty good sign that this isn't for you.

A pity, though, because it works wonders for the wife. Ear candles are fantastic, too.

Posted by: Jason Kallini at December 16, 2007 01:31 PM