healthy body tips

St Petersburg Florida Spa offers Natural Cold and Flu Therapies to Remedy Sinus Infections with Herbs, Homeopathy and Lymph Drainage Massage Therapy

Cold and Flu season is upon us as is the dreaded fall allergy season that yields sinus congestion, sinus infections and nasal drainage and stuffy heads.

Each year our clients and customers complain of this season with pangs of nasal congestion, post nasal drip, sore throats and cloudy heads.  And each year, I recommend two simple treatments to naturally treat and cure sinus infections....

1. Daily use of a Neti Pot

2. Lymph System Sinus Drainage Massage

What is a Neti Pot?

So many clients ask, what in the heck is a neti pot?  

A neti pot is an ancient healing art of sinus drainage via nasal irrigation.  A neti pot is something that looks like a little tea pot for your nose.  It's a way of cleaning the sinuses to prevent sinus infections and allergies and helps improve breathing and sleep.

How do I use a Neti Pot?

Using a neti pot is often a hard concept for my clients.  The idea of putting water up ones nose doesn't sound too appealing.  It conjours up memories of swimming and getting water up the nose that was often painful. Some of my clients who balk at using the neti pot give it one try and once they feel comfortable and experience the immediate results, they get very comfortable with performing the neti pot routine daily.



Typically, to use the Neti pot or other nasal irrigation device you would mix about 16 ounces (1 pint) of lukewarm water with 1 teaspoon of sea salt.  Avoid using table salt, especially iodized table salt - it is harmful to the sinuses.

Some people add addition items to the pot - a few drops of betadine, colloidal silver and zinc. Use distilled, sterile, or previously boiled water to make up the irrigation solution.

Once you've filled the Neti pot, tilt your head over the sink at about a 45-degree angle. Place the spout into your top nostril, and gently pour the saline solution into that nostril.

The fluid will flow through your nasal cavity and out the other nostril.  Please wait to blow your nose for at least 10 minutes  You might get a little dripping and even some solution that may drain down your throat.  Blowing your nose will cause congestion and might cause damage to the ear canal and the tubes between the sinuses and the ears. 

**Sometimes, for severely inflamed sinuses or deviated sinuses, some of the solution may stay in the nasal passages for a few hours.  If you bend down to tie your shoes or reach for something, it can be common for a few drops to flow out of your nose. 

How does a neti pot work to cure a sinus infection? 

The basic explanation of how the Neti pot works is that it thins mucus and helps flush it out of the nasal passages. Within the mucus are allergens from the environment and any beginnings of viral, bacterial and fungal invasions.

A more biological explanation for how the Neti pot works has to do with tiny, hair-like structures called cilia that line the inside of the nasal and sinus cavities.
These cilia wave back and forth to push mucus either to the back of the throat where it can be swallowed, or to the nose to be blown out. Saline solution can help increase the speed and improve coordination of the cilia so that they may more effectively remove the allergens and other irritants that cause sinus problems.

Saline solution and any natural herbals/homeopathic blends you add to the pot help clean and support healthy sinuses.  I've recommended daily Neti Pot to clients who have had frequent sinus infections, allergies and sinusitis and over a span of a few days- they've noticed major differences.  Some have not had any sinus troubles since using the neti pot.

Drain Sinus Naturally with Lymphatic Drainage Facial Massage

 With lymph massage of the head and neck the sinuses can drain and decongest the lymphatic system.  Lymphatic drainage therapy concentrates on specific lymph nodes under the jaw line. The main lymph nodes for facelift massage are pea size and under the mandible. During a face massage, the lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes are stimulated to open and enhance circulatory and lymphatic flow.

Lymphatic drainage massage can be helpful in addressing a very wide range of conditions.  It can reduce fatigue, toxicity, menstrual cramps, cellulite, water retention and sinusitis and hay fever symptoms from allergies.  When an individual suffers from allergies, the immune system kicks in and it begins to react to the pollen, mold spores, fungal and viral exposure bombarding the body as foreign invaders.  The result in irritation and inflammation.  Lymphatic drainage massage allows the practitioner to, in a non-invasive manner, tap into the sinuses to relieve hayfever, stuffiness, congestion and irritation.


Sinus Drainage Massage is really the only option that helps to drain the sinuses but also helps enhance the immune system to prevent colds, flu and sinus infections.  It also helps the body do what it does best, heal and recover and will ease the symptoms of colds, flu and sinus infections.

Healthy Being Wellness Center and Lymphatic Drainage Therapist, Melissa Gallagher, offer Lymphatic Facial Drainage Massage to our clients in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Largo, Seminole and all three counties in our are: Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco. 

A session is 60min in length and is $70.  Call our office to book your appointment today:  727-502-3464