Saline solutions like those used in neti pots help the cilia move faster and thus, clear the mucus at a more rapid pace. These cavities are lined with lots of little hair-like structures called cilia that move around and help clear mucus buildup. Neti pots work with the design of the human nasal and sinus cavities. This process is then repeated in the second nostril by tilting your head to the other side. Some of the solution may trickle into your throat, but just spit it out. The water will travel through the nasal and sinus cavities, and empty out through the other nostril and into the sink.
Insert the spout of the neti pot into the top nostril, and slowly pour the saline solution (water + salt) into the nasal passage. To use the neti pot, lean over a sink, with your head tilted at 45 degrees to the right or left. Using tap water alone may put you at risk of contracting a deadly parasite. However, if you are using a water solution, it's imperative that you only use sterile water - that is, water that has been boiled (and cooled), filtered water, or distilled water. Though instructions may vary from pot to pot, generally they are filled with a pint of lukewarm water and a teaspoon of salt. Neti pots look like they are part tea kettle, part magic lamp. Neti pots come from the Ayurvedic medical tradition, an ancient system of healing that originated in India. This allows the mucus to clear more quickly. They do this by thinning the mucus in the nasal and sinus passages that cause the typical sniffling and discomfort that comes with a stuffy nose. Though they may seem a little unorthodox and a little messier than just popping a nasal decongestant pill, "nasal irrigation" devices like neti pots have been shown to relieve sinus pain and congestion, when used alongside standard treatments.