A Testimonial about the Neti Pot

How to Beat Hay Fever

It had been a particularly bad allergy season--several months of popping Claritin like candy, wearing a dust mask to sleep, and yet still I sneezed all day, and my eyes itched, and I wanted to claw the back of my throat out.

I got angry at my allergy. I resolved to be more aggressive and do something about it!

My physician referred me to an allergist, Dr. W in San Jose. Dr. W cheerfully marked a grid on my back with a Sharpie, then scratched each square with an allergan-tipped needle. The needles were labelled like something out of a gardening manual: Oak, Walnut, Sage. There was also Milk. And Bee Pollen. I was told not to scratch, to let my immune system do its thing. Fifteen minutes later, my back was a mass of itchy, red, burning welts.

Dr. W sat down with me and explained that I had tested positive for allergies to all types of plants, trees, molds, and food. He enthusiastically stated that unless I took preventative action, I would suffer for the rest of my life and as I got older, things would only get worse. The dollar $ign$ flashed in his lupine eyes as he recommended a three-to-five year regiment of weekly allergy shots. He told me to stop by the office next door, where we could discuss payment options.

I didn't like Dr. W. I got the feeling that he really wanted my money. Plus he couldn't tell me about Dust Mites.
I stuck with the Claritin.

Fast forward to 2001:
Meredith discovered the neti pot from a yoga instructor. She gave me her extra neti pot (her used extra neti pot). The neti pot is nothing more than a small tea pot or genie lantern with which you rinse out your nasal passages. I was skeptical--this is exactly the type of thing that scornful non-Californians have in mind when they picture Crazy Californian (alongside Governor Schwarzenegger and veggie kabobs), plus the process sounded intrusive. On the other hand, the solution makes intuitive sense: if a substance is irritating your body, then rid yourself of that substance. Desperation spoke: alright, I'll try it. I mixed up some salt and warm water, tilted my head, and poured the saline through one nostril. The water coursed through my nasal passages (a curious feeling), and exited through the other nostril. Afterwards, I distinctly smelled flowers. Several sessions later, I decided it's actually quite nice.

And the results? The neti pot clears up my allergy symptoms instantly. What's more (and unexpectedly), there have been long term positive effects: my allergy is definitely no longer as severe as it once was. I've been Claritin-free since 2001.

thanks, Meredith