Why You Should Never Use Contaminated Water For A Neti Pot

By Author: Stephanie Thomas
Total Articles: 4
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Have you ever used a neti pot to clear your sinuses? A neti pot is a small teapot-like tool that comes from the Indian Ayurvedic tradition, and is useful for nasal irrigation. It works by pouring salted warm water into one nostril and allowing it to flow out of the other. It helps clear up unpleasant allergy symptoms that lead to sinus infections.

Nasal irrigation with a neti pot has been a "cleaning ritual" that’s been done for many centuries, and has offered tremendous effects for many people. However, make sure that the water you use for your neti pot goes through an efficient water filter system, and is free of unwanted and potentially dangerous contaminants.

Take this incident, for example: two Louisiana residents died after being infected by Naegleria fowleri, also called the “brain-eating amoeba.” Apparently, the victims used tap water contaminated with the said bacteria in their neti pot. Inhaling the amoeba through the nasal cavity gave it easy access to their brains.

Beware: Dangerous Contaminants Are ...
... Lurking in Your Tap Water

The problem today is that many municipal sources or government agencies can no longer be trusted with the task of providing people with safe, clean water.

In a report from ABC News, Senator Frank Lautenberg, D-NJ revealed that over 140 chemicals in the United States drinking water supply are not regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Some examples of these chemicals are pesticides, gasoline, rocket fuel, and even prescription drugs.

What’s more, over 20 percent of water treatment systems in America have violated key provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act in the last six years. What’s disturbing is that less than six percent of the violations were fined or punished!

Some potentially harmful substances are also added to water supplies intentionally. One notorious example is fluoride, a highly toxic poison linked to osteosarcoma and dental fluorosis. Fluoride is added during the water treatment. Many places in Europe have already eliminated fluoride from their drinking water, but this substance is still widely used in the US.

These facts should be enough to convince you to install a reliable water filter system in your home, whether or not you’re using a neti pot.

What’s the Best Water Filter for You?

It is a good idea to install a whole house water filtration system in your home. Look for a filtration system that uses at least 60 pounds of filter media and produces eight or more gallons of filtered water a minute. This recommendation works for a home or apartment up to 3200 sq/ft. If you have a bigger residence, such as one with three or more bathrooms, you may need at least two whole house water filtration systems.

About the Author:

Stephany Thomas is a blogger. Thanks to her efficient whole house water filter system, she does not need to worry about bacteria mixing into her neti pot saline solution. She shares this health news with other people, to warn them about the dangers of using contaminated tap water.