Don't Panic Over Neti Pot Deaths, It's Not That Bad

on December 17, 2011 at 12:10 PM

neti pot

In today's edition of "Never Would Have Predicted This in a Million Years," neti pots are killing people. And this news couldn't come at a worse time -- right in the middle of cold and flu season! People swear by their neti pots. The are one of the most popular methods of naturally treating and preventing a cold going, and many folks use them religiously. So the news that two people in Louisiana died this year from neti pots is probably terribly upsetting to them, and have them wondering if they should just toss the little teapot in the trash or just give it to their toddler to play genie. But as with any major health scare knee-jerk, that is exactly what you should not do. There's a lot more to this story than just a very alarming headline.

Irrigating your sinuses is still a very good idea because it helps to flush mucous and harmful bacteria and germs from your nose and you should not stop doing it. Plus it's a lot cheaper than prescription nasal steroids. The two people who died -- a 20-year-old man and a 51-year-old woman -- used regular tap water in their neti pots, and this water just so happened to contain an evil amoeba that grabbed onto their nasal passages and climbed up to their brains. The amoeba is usually not a problem if you drink it in tap water, only when it manages to get up into your nostrils, as is what also happened to several people who died this summer after swimming in lakes.

This is where they went wrong -- they used unsterilized tap water in their pots. This is a very rare thing. Two people in the whole state of Louisiana. Very sad and worth letting others know about because it kills about 95 percent of the people it infects. But at the same time, it's not worth inducing a nationwide neti pot prohibition.

Here's how you should use your neti pot safely, according to Louisiana State Epidemiologist, Dr. Raoult Ratard:

-- Use distilled or sterile to make up the irrigation solution

-- Use tap water that has been previously boiled.

-- Rinse the irrigation device after each use and leave open to air dry

And that's it. Follow these simple steps and you'll be safe from your neti pot.

Have you been following these safety precautions when using your neti pot?

Image via dennis/Flickr

About the author Cynthia Dermody

is The Stir's Managing Editor who has trophies in her home for her skills at the Irish Jig. She makes cupcakes with as many fattening ingredients as possible, doesn't comb her hair for months at a time, and was probably a faerie in a former life.

Filed Under: alternative medicine, cold & flu

Comments (32)

Nonmember comment from Murray Grossan

on Dec 17, 2011 at 1:12 PM

The higher pressure in irrigation may have been a factor in these deaths. When you irrigate with the neti pot or squeeze bottles, you loosen your own bacteria, so the solution is contaminated. If the irrigation pressure is low, then the infected material won't spread to uninfected areas. When you have uncontrolled pressure, as in the Louisiana tragedies, the high pressure can force the solution into the body. Similarly when you blow your nose, blow gently, not with force. The other problem in Louisiana may have been flow back. People who swim in infected water may not get sick; but if they dive in, the higher water pressure may force bacteria into the body. Good advice to use boiled or distilled water, and keep a constant low pressure for irrigation.

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Nonmember comment from Bianca

on Dec 17, 2011 at 3:09 PM

The media is so sensationalist it's ridiculous. The directions CLEARLY state to use distilled or boiled water, if you follow the directions there shouldn't be a problem. I don't know who in their right mind would stick water up their nose that isn't sterile.

SaphiraJFire

on Dec 17, 2011 at 4:33 PM

I have never heard of these before. I looked it up and gross btw lol

it makes sence that you need to folow the directions lol.

I would never use this but what the heck if it works for you folow the directios first! lol

Pishyah

on Dec 17, 2011 at 5:20 PM

Not all of them say to use boiled or distilled water. As well, where is the outrage over the danger this water is presenting?

LoganTroyMom

on Dec 17, 2011 at 6:17 PM

i didnt know to boil it! Great to know thanks

piesmama09

on Dec 17, 2011 at 6:19 PM

I've never even seen one of these....

madfoot

on Dec 17, 2011 at 6:30 PM

Oh I'm so glad you did this story. Yep, I've been using tap water in mine. I'll start using distilled water toot sweet!

Nonmember comment from Michael

on Dec 17, 2011 at 7:50 PM

The more important question should be, why is there amoeba in our drinking water. There shouldn't be anything living in our drinking water. If amoeba can survive then other dangerous microbes and bacteria will be in there. That should be the matter that is investigated, not the neti pots, which are mainly containers to hold water.

Nonmember comment from Kathie

on Dec 17, 2011 at 8:28 PM

I am 57 years old and have had four sons and have never heard or a neti pot in my life

TC00

on Dec 17, 2011 at 9:06 PM

Not gross at all, if you've had many sinus infections this is a godsend. I had sinus surgery and my doctor told me to do this to help with the blood clots and to speed healing. I use it now when I've got a sinus infection, I bought an electrical one (grossan) simply because I use it so often and it's nice to have. I get sinus infections about once a month so a nasal irrigator comes in handy.