Media: Oprah Creates Big Buzz For Neti Pots

Millions of Americans with chronic sinus problems are turning to an ancient therapy with spiritual and medicinal connections thanks to the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Consumers are going crazy for "Neti Pots" thanks to a recent episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show. The practice of Neti is firmly rooted in natural medicine and spirituality, but until now this proven remedy has been left in the shadow of alternative medicine. A traditional neti pot looks very much like a Genie Lamp, but instead grants wishes of the sinus nature. Neti pots hail from India where they have been used to unclog infected sinuses for centuries. Known in Yoga circles as "Jala Neti", the term refers to an ancient cleansing technique that literally means, "water cleansing."

Earlier this year, the Oprah Winfrey Show featured "Dr. Oz", a regular guest who tackles important medical questions. With help from an audience volunteer, Dr. Oz gave 20 million Americans their first look at neti pot therapy. In the weeks that followed, neti pots became all the rage, and drugstores were barely able to keep them in stock.

"Neti pot sales went through the roof after that Oprah episode. It was perfect timing for our sales team since we're about to release a line of natural nasal rinses designed for neti pots. Sinus Buster sales are also way up thanks to Oprah's neti pot segment," says Scott Latella, National Sales Director for SiCap Industries, a nutraceutical firm that burst onto the scene in 2003.

Ironically, SiCap Industries has another "sinus related" connection to Oprah Winfrey. In 1995, the company's founder formulated the world's first (Capsaicin) pepper nasal spray after appearing as a guest on Oprah's Show. Wayne Perry was a self defense instructor who advocated the use of defensive pepper spray for women, and touted the fact that he was willing to be sprayed with the real thing for live audiences. Perry taught Oprah Winfrey how to use defensive pepper spray during her show, and thanks to his new found notoriety, accidentally discovered hot peppers could miraculously stop headaches and sinus congestion.

Perry suffered from chronic sinus headaches for most of his life until he was sprayed with the "real deal" one fateful day for a local television news crew. It was then that Sinus Buster was born. Perry spent the next several years developing a commercially viable formula for the world's first capsaicin nasal spray. In 2003, he went on to found SiCap Industries with three hundred dollars and a dream. Today SiCap manufactures an entire line of Sinus Buster brand nasal sprays as well as a dozen other capsaicin based products. Perry credits Oprah Winfrey with making it all happen.

"It's about taking a leap of faith. You never know how things are going to work out, but you just have to go for it when you feel it's your only chance. My self defense career fizzled, but I took a chance and created Sinus Buster. I followed my dream even though it seemed crazy, and that's what Oprah's all about. If I didn't go on her show I might not have discovered Sinus Buster," says Perry.

As an alternative medicine advocate and researcher, Perry is happy to see Oprah promoting natural sinus remedies on her top rated show. In addition, he is also a faithful neti pot user whose daily regimen includes salt water rinsing, and his own Sinus Buster nasal spray.

"Capsaicin irritates the nerve fibers inside your nose that hold onto allergens such as dust and pollen, and even bacteria. When you spray capsaicin up your nose, it forces the release of trapped particles. I take a squirt of Buster in each nostril, and then I use the neti pot rinse to wash it all away. These natural sinus remedies work hand in hand," says Perry.

Wayne also has a few other tips for neti pot users:

1. Use steam distilled water in your neti pot whenever possible. You may have to warm it carefully on the stove, or in the microwave, but it's far healthier for a variety of reasons. The molecules in steam distilled water more closely match those found in the body's own supply.
2. Save money by using natural bulk salt which can be purchased on the web and at health food stores. Natural Sea Salt can also be purchased at supermarkets everywhere. Natural salts are cheaper than the little refillable packets, and they contain important minerals not found in the pharmaceutical versions.

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