A neti pot is a small, almost aerodynamic, pot used for personal hygiene, and specifically clearing out the nasal passages. Neti pots aid in nasal irrigation; they are commonly referred to as nose douches. Neti pots are tiny and simple enough to use in the comfort of one's home, and they allow the individual to clear out their sinuses through a simple action. Sinus infections are extremely common in the United States; it is estimated that 35 million people annually contract the virus. Such a common infection is quite debilitating to the individuals who contract the virus; a sinus infection will yield bad headaches, impair a person's breathing, and exert painful pressure on a person's facial bones. Other than the symptoms, the main problem with the infection is its persistence--even the acute versions of the illness reemerge in the infected person's sinuses at least 8 times a year.

To fully cure the infection a person must seek medical help to either obtain antibiotics, or in some cases sinus surgery. For many individuals however, whether due to money, time issues, or a lack of health insurance, seeking such aid is not realistic. As a result of this, many at home remedies have been created to temporarily alleviate the pestering symptoms of a sinus infection. Whether it be sinus massages, vaporization, or the sinus rinse, each method has been proven to temporarily clear out the nasal passages and offer an individual abatement from sinus pressure and the ability to freely breathe. Although there a number of home remedies to temporairly alleviate the symptoms of a sinus infection, perhaps no method is as popular as the sinus rinse.

A sinus rinse is predominantly accomplished through the use of a neti pot. Neti pots are small pots, typically structured with a spout attached to the bottom, and a handle on the opposite side. A typical neti pot is very tiny, small enough for traveling purposes. Neti pots are typically made from glass, clay, or various metals, plastics, and ceramics. Neti pots are available throughout the United States and can be purchased at any drug store or pharmacy. The more modern variants available are made of more flexible materials that can be compressed to exert increased pressure on the nasal passage.

Neti pots were originally used during yoga sessions (primarily in India) to free the nasal passages from potential impediments or clogging. Since controlled breathing plays a fundamental role in yoga exercises the neti pot was seen as a valuable resource to boost one's performance. The neti pot, which dominated the yoga scene, was not introduced to western culture until about the early 1970s. Upon entering the West, the resource was not immediately used for sinus rinse, however, following a few years of practice and realizing what the neti pot was capable of, many people in the United States modified the instrument to incorporate new techniques. The neti pot became more than just a tool used for yoga, as the effectiveness of the resource became quite clear. A structure that could quickly loosen up nasal passages and rinse out all the mucus and fluids in one's nose had great value beyond the yoga mat. In modern times, saline nasal irrigation, or a sinus rinse has become an accepted home remedy technique to relieve the symptoms caused by a sinus infection.