'Nose Bidet' Gives Sinuses Alt Relief

Sufferers of stuffy sinuses are turning to an ancient remedy to clear their nasal passages: the neti pot. Also called the "nose bidet," the neti pot is filled with non-iodized salt water, the spout is placed in one nostril, and water is poured in and streamed out the other. “There’s a growing clamor for natural alternatives to cold and allergy medicines,” said the CEO of a spiritual goods company.

The neti pot dates back a thousand years to an Indian yoga tradition, and made its way to the US in the 1970s as a yoga meditation device. Recently its popularity as a nasal irrigation tool has surged with the help of an Oprah endorsement—stocking shelves in drugstores, health food stores, and even Wal-Mart. (More neti pot stories.)