Neti-pots
The traditional delivery method of jala-neti is the neti-pot. Neti-pots often look similar to tea pots but with a nozzle designed to plug one's nostril. The saline is mixed in the pot and then poured into the nostril. (Meaning that the positive pressure comes from gravity.)
Pros:- Simple
- Easy to clean
- Can be cheap
- Less control
Jala-neti pots come in different shapes and sizes and can be made from different materials including:
Copper
Copper neti-pots are light, hold a good amount of saline, are difficult to break, and are quite attractive. Unfortunately saline will corrode copper quite quickly leading to an unpleasant green oxide forming on the inside of the neti-pot.
Stainless steel
Stainless steel neti-pots, like copper neti-pots are light, hold a good volume of saline, are difficult to break but don't look quite as pretty. On the other hand they shouldn't corrode and are often recommended as the best neti-pot material.
Ceramic
Ceramic neti-pots are often preferred for their appearance (they can look quite ornamental) but they are heavy and usually only hold a little saline. (If they held more they would be too heavy to use.) They are also likely to break when dropped.
Glass
Glass neti-pots have the same pros and cons of ceramic neti-pots but are quite rare.
Plastic
Plastic neti-pots are light, unbreakable and cheap. Their appearance is also cheap though and different pots hold different amounts of saline.
Comparison table
| Copper | Stainless steel | Ceramic | Glass | Plastic | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheap | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Light | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Volume of saline held | Good | Good | Bad | Bad | Varies |
| Hard to break | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Appearance | Good | Okay | Good | Good | Bad |
| Corrodes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Get another take on the different neti-pots available from the excellent Neti pot comparison at jalanetipot.com