You have heard of the Neti Pot deaths in Louisiana. Tragically a brain eating amoeba called N. fowleri caused these deaths from Neti Pot use.

What is significant is that the amoeba is only transmitted via the nose.
At the roof of the nose you have the organ of smell called the olfactory organ. Here sensors come from the brain into the nose to pick up smell particles so that the brain can identify barbecue odors and wine.

However this opening to the brain is ideal path for the N. fowlari amoeba to gain entrance.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 32 cases from 2002 to 2011 prior to the Neti Pot deaths. One of the findings: persons who swam in the water didn’t get infected; nor did those who drank the water. But persons who dove into the water did. Apparently the pressure drove the contaminated water into the olfactory area, similar to what happened in the Neti Pot deaths

In the Neti Pot use, the head is turned to the side. This directs the flow against the olfactory area, where the amoeba can enter the brain. The pressure is variable and not easily controlled: it can be too high.

A very important factor to consider is backflow. When the pot is used, some of the person’s own mucus flows back into the spout and makes an ideal breeding spot for bacteria and other growth.

As a result, many persons who perform daily pot or squeeze bottle irrigation may be reinfecting themselves, even though they are using distilled water. Remember you are using the pot to irrigate the nose and sinuses where bacteria normally abound. Usually these bacteria remain in check by the body’s normal immune factors. But when they are deposited into the Neti Pot, with the mucus, they may multiply. Then when the pot is used again, a highly concentrated bacteria count is introduced and re-infection may occur.

In the May 2012 review of contamination of irrigation devices in the American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy, contamination rates of these types of irrigation devices as high as 80% were reported!

In a report by J. Lee, he reported that even after he gave careful instruction to his patients, 50% showed infection due to Pseudomonas aeroginosa in the irrigating instrument.

Dr Keen reported that he gave a fresh bottle to his patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, and instructions about contamination. . After two weeks 97% showed contamination, 50% with staph aureus. Four out of six showed biofilm.

In a report by Dr Nsouli, 60% of his chronic nasal infection patients were cured when they stopped daily irrigation. He concluded that daily removal of the nasal immunity factors such as lysozyme was a factor. Then the concentrated bacteria from flowback was put back into the nose on the next irrigation.

It is clear that using sterile water won’t change the fact that a person’s own bacteria can flow back into these irrigation devices, multiply, and re-infect the user.

Since the contamination rate can be so high, patients should consider carefully benefit vs risk.

Most cases of chronic rhinosinusitis are caused by the nasal cilia slowing down. Methods to increase nasal cilia speed include humming, pulse wave irrigation and drinking hot tea, lemon and honey.
Normal nasal cilia move bacteria out of the nose and sinuses. Once they are normal, there is no need to be more normal. The advantage of the humming, tea, pulsatile irrigation is that they can restore cilia to normal. Once the cilia are normal there is no need to be more normal.

Irrigation to remove infected material from the sinuses may be needed. Here it is best to use a method that delivers a steady flow, a pulse wave for cilia, and a safe pressure with the head mid-line, not to the side. See www.hydromedonline.com

If you use a method that has variable pressure, interrupted flow, then essentially you are simply removing the good enzymes from the nose; you are reducing the natural disease fighting factors

To avoid Neti Pot and squeeze bottle infection:
Avoid irrigation unless indicated
Before pot and bottle irrigation consider tea and humming
Use distilled water
Maximize cleansing and sterilizing instructions.
If you do require irrigation, use a device that has steady flow, pulses at the right frequency to maximize cilia movement, so that minimum irrigation is needed. Must have a constant low pressure to remove sinus contents.

Once cilia are normal, you don’t need to be more normal.
from “Free Yourself from Sinus and Allergy Problems – Permanently” and www.hydromedonline.com