Neti Pot for Deviated Septum: Your Complete Guide

A neti pot is used for “nasal irrigation”, which involves flushing salty water through your nose to push out the mucous and debris from the nose.

Sinus Irrigation and Deviated Septum

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Sinus irrigation, sinus flush, or nasal irrigation is a complimentary treatment recommended in individuals with deviated nasal septum and symptoms of rhinosinusitis (inflammation of nose and sinus). It is believed that use of nasal irrigation improves blockage of nose and sinus by:

Improving the mucociliary function (clearing of mucus with bacteria and allergens).
Decreasing the swelling of the mucosa (inner lining of nose and sinus).
Decreasing the influx of inflammation-causing agents.
Enhancing the mucus clearance.

This procedure involves use of saline water (salt water) in irrigating devices such as bulb syringes, nasal sprays, squeeze bottles, battery-operated pulsed water devices, and neti pot. These devices are safe to use and pocket friendly. The use of sinus irrigation method improves symptoms such as nasal discharge, sinonasal congestion, headaches, cough and allergies.¹Tomooka LT, Murphy C, Davidson TM. Clinical study and literature review of nasal irrigation. The Laryngoscope. 2000;110(7):1189-93.

How to Irrigate Sinuses with a Deviated Septum

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The easiest way to irrigate blocked sinuses is to use a neti pot.

A neti pot is a teapot-shaped device with a conical tapered spout. The spout aids in easy insertion into the nostrils to form a seal.

The pot is filled with distilled water or warm water and mixed with salt (half a tablespoon of non-iodized salt in 250 ml water). The spout is then inserted into the nostril and position of head and pot are adjusted such that there is no spillage. This can be performed twice daily for few months. Neti pots are available in different volumes (30 to 500ml) and can be used along with essential oils.

It is a simple, cost-effective, and safe procedure which provides relief from nasal allergies, congestion, stuffy nose, and nasal discharge and clears the nasal airway. This technique is effective as an additional therapy and can also be continued after the correction of deviated nasal septum.²Scott, John. "Nasal irrigation for allergies, sinusitis-and winter sniffles?." Foods Matter (2008): 13.

YouTube - How to Use a Neti Pot with Deviated Septum

Here are some excellent videos on YouTube that show you how to use a neti pot with a deviated septum:

Frequently Asked Questions – Neti Pot and Deviated Septum

Will a neti pot work if you have a deviated septum?

The use of neti pot reduces the symptoms associated with deviated nasal septum, but cannot fix the deviated septum.

What effects does a neti pot have on deviated septum?

Neti pot helps reduce the sinus congestion by easing the drainage of mucus. This helps in reducing the congestion and clearing the airway. It also moistens the nasal mucosa and reduces dryness of nose. Nasal irrigation using neti pot is also effective after septoplasty (surgery to correct deviated septum).³Snidvongs K, Chaowanapanja P, Aeumjaturapat S, Chusakul S, Praweswararat P. Does nasal irrigation enter paranasal sinuses in chronic rhinosinusitis?. American journal of rhinology. 2008 Sep;22(5):483-6.

What essential oils are used for neti pot after deviated septum surgery?

The use of neti pot with 2-3 drops of essential oils such as tea tree oil, lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, or peppermint are effective after the surgery due to their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.⁴Huang S, Constant S, De Servi B, Meloni M, Culig J, Bertini M, Saaid A. In vitro safety and performance evaluation of a seawater solution enriched with copper, hyaluronic acid, and eucalyptus for nasal lavage. Medical Devices (Auckland, NZ). 2019;12:399.⁵Yarnell E. The Botanical Approach to Chronic Sinusitis. Alternative and Complementary Therapies. 1998 Apr;4(2):109-11.

Neti pot doesn't drain on one side deviated septum – what can I do?

In individuals with severe deviation of nasal septum, penetration of solution into the sinuses is difficult, and doesn’t provide any relief from sinonasal congestion. In such cases, it is recommended to undergo surgery to fix the deviated septum and then nasal irrigation can be used as an additional treatment.⁶Grobler A, Weitzel EK, Buele A, Jardeleza C, Cheong YC, Field J, Wormald PJ. Pre‐and postoperative sinus penetration of nasal irrigation. The Laryngoscope. 2008 Nov;118(11):2078-81.

Sources:

1
Tomooka LT, Murphy C, Davidson TM. Clinical study and literature review of nasal irrigation. The Laryngoscope. 2000;110(7):1189-93.
2
Scott, John. "Nasal irrigation for allergies, sinusitis-and winter sniffles?." Foods Matter (2008): 13.
3
Snidvongs K, Chaowanapanja P, Aeumjaturapat S, Chusakul S, Praweswararat P. Does nasal irrigation enter paranasal sinuses in chronic rhinosinusitis?. American journal of rhinology. 2008 Sep;22(5):483-6.
4
Huang S, Constant S, De Servi B, Meloni M, Culig J, Bertini M, Saaid A. In vitro safety and performance evaluation of a seawater solution enriched with copper, hyaluronic acid, and eucalyptus for nasal lavage. Medical Devices (Auckland, NZ). 2019;12:399.
5
Yarnell E. The Botanical Approach to Chronic Sinusitis. Alternative and Complementary Therapies. 1998 Apr;4(2):109-11.
6
Grobler A, Weitzel EK, Buele A, Jardeleza C, Cheong YC, Field J, Wormald PJ. Pre‐and postoperative sinus penetration of nasal irrigation. The Laryngoscope. 2008 Nov;118(11):2078-81.