Neilmed Hydropulse by Dr Grossan - Multi-Speed Electric Pulsating Nasal Sinus Irrigation System, 1 count

**Update: After a few more years of experience I wanted to add a bit more. Just replaced the last unit which gets daily use. It lasted quite a bit longer. Again, the sort of pump used has a limited life, to provide the gentle pulse action. Maybe there will be a better pump developed someday, but the life of the machine is more than adequate for the price and the BENEFITS. It's still the most gentle thing we have found and the most effective. And well over 2 years of use, the cost per day comes out to be minuscule. The effect? Add a few more years of not having to get treated for a chronic sinus infection. The machine's cost is a fraction of the co-pays for antibiotics. And how do you measure the health benefits of not having to expose your body to constant use of antibiotics? The price of the new unit was the same price as we paid 2.5 years ago. No increase. Nothing else has worn out in the prior units we have worn, only the pump, as the manufacturer readily explains as the necessary unit for the machine. I think being very careful to flush out the machine with fresh water after each use is very important. My wife increased her attention to detail and increased the amount of flush water in the last unit and we got double the life. The cost her use has averaged 9 cents per day! What a bargain. My wife has been using this machine for 11 months, purchased on the advice of her ENT doctor to help manage her chronic sinus infection versus taking antibiotics off and on all of her life (dangerous =and stupid). We live in one of the most polluted cities in the US and it adds to the problem. The Hydro Pulse System helps her keep her infection down to a simmer and lets her get a good night's sleep. She uses it at least 2 times a day and would never go without it. When we travel, the Hydro Pulse goes with us. After 11 months the motor stopped working. I contacted the manufacturer and they sent a brand new replacement unit. Having investigated all the machines available, I have found that these machines are not unlike the Water Pik product--great results but prone to break after a year. The problem is engineering and cost. To produce a machine that is inexpensive enough to sell well, motor and pump options are limited. As you will find, every similar product on the market has similar trouble. If there was a $300 unit that would last 5 years, I would buy it, but I doubt that will appear, as most doctors would rather keep treating you then helping you. Thus, the market is limited. $80 for a machine that lasts a year comes to less than $7 a month, a bargain in terms of the health it offers. Just like the water pik for my teeth, the money we save in doctors visits alone, and medication costs, save us 4 or 5 times the cost of the machine each year. That is a bargain and if takes buying one every year, I'm happy to do so. I hope that Dr. Grossan will continue with his product. $6 to $7 a month is less than $.25 a day. And if it lasts longer, all the better. Folks that are upset with the tendency of such machines to break need to understand that pumps are notoriously problematic; just a short moment of dry pumping can harm them, and the more you use it, the more problematic they are. Unlike large pumps, these are not serviceable and must use operate without changing seals and grease, etc. Compared to our attempt to use a pot, and a suction bulb, using the Hydro Pulse is so easy and effective. I started using it for my allergies and I have been able to reduce my use of antihistamines. After I cleanse, I just a breath rite strip to keep my nose open and sleep like a baby. I can't recommend this product enough.

I have always had allergies and have been on every allergy medication with minimal results. I was on combinations of these meds and still had to take an over the counter medication every now and then when things got real bad. My biggest problem is post nasal drip, it would be so thick and always a constant flow. I would wake up choking on it and my stomach would feel nauseous in the morning for having so much drain down my throat. I then was diagnosed with high blood pressure and had to start meds for that, which meant no more OTC allergy meds and I was taken off all but two perscription meds. I got so desperate, I got an infant nose syringe thinking I could maybe suction some of the congestion out for a temporary relief measure. That was not very successful. I searched the net to find non-medication forms of relief when I found nasal irrigation. I bought the machine and the Breathe-Ease XL powder to try since I didn't think it could get worse. I am so happy I did! It takes a bit of getting used to, a little discomfort while your sinuses fill with water, (like turing upside down in the pool and getting water up your nose) but once the water begins to flow out the other nostril, it all goes away and it is actually a pleasant feeling of relief. I started using it twice a day, in the morning and night and immediately noticed a difference. I haven't been able to breathe this clearly in years. I can take a deep breathe and feel it go unobstructed all the way through my sinuses. It is, for me, an amazing difference. I still have allergies, they don't go away, but with regular use, you wash out a lot of the allergens out of your sinuses. The post nasal drip is also still present, but it is SO MUCH BETTER. I do not have as much as I used to and what I do have is a lot thinner and easier to handle, it doesn't sit all thick in the back of my throat anymore. I have been using this machine for a couple of months now and have gone down to using it every other day or so and it seems to keep things in check. If I have been out working in the yard or during the days when we had brush fires burning in the area, I used it every evening and that kept the major sinus attack away that I would of normally suffered. Did it take my allergies away completely, no. But, it has been a magnificent tool in managing them and making them so much easier to live with, without additional medication. I let my doctor know I was using this method and she did keep me on one allergy medication, but took me off the steroid nose spray as I am having much more success with this method. If you are like me and have tried everything the doctors have given you without much success, I highly recommend nasal irrigation. I can't say enough good things about it.

I'm giving one star for the machine, not for the idea of nasal irrigation. I have been using this system since 2006 and, as I can't live without nasal irrigation, over the years I have bought a total of 4 of this brand of machine, 3 of them within the last 4 - 5 years. The first one I bought lasted 5 years and I couldn't understand the reviews that said they don't last long. Yes it leaked after the first 6 months to a year, but it worked fine. I religiously rinse/flush it out with a ful tank of hot water after every use and with vinegar every 2-3 months. When it finally gave out, I bought another one that lasted for 1.5 years and then it suddenly stopped working, the motor was running but no water was coming out. And yes I did "prime the pump" repeatedly. I bought another one, but unfortunately it fell and the removable nozzle broke off right where it is inserted, so there was absolutely no way I could remove the remaining piece of plastic to insert another nozzle. I bought my 4th one less than 6 months ago, again I clean it religiously after every use and have rinsed it out twice with vinegar. Again, with no warning, it suddenly stopped pumping water! I had used it a couple of hours previously (I had a very bad cold) and it worked fine. Two hours later the motor was working with no pumping of water. I tried to open up the machine to see if it was a minor problem (bottom line, it was just a little water pump and I did have 4 of them so I had no shortage of spare parts) that I could easily rectify, but it is virtually impossible to open this up to reach the working parts. Not unless you have specialist equipment that is. Small star shaped screws that it was difficult to find a screwdriver for, then overcoming that obstacle, the mechanical pump screws are held in with glue that I couldn't get past to see the water flow. And the annoying nozzle holder on the one working machine I had seems to have been molded shut as there is no way to open it that I can see so that I can get the broken off piece of plastic off from the broken nozzle. I think it's time to switch brands.

I wavered whether to give 2 stars or 5. I decided on four to encourage ANYone to use sinus irrigation using this method vs anything else out there I know about (and I have used them, all, neti pot, sinus surgeries, squeeze bottles, etc) I would give THIS product 2 stars because there is some serious price gouging going on here. Save yourself about $65 and get a water pik, which is what this thing is. Seriously. Nothing more, and in fact I noticed that the water pik company has started adding sinus adaptors with some of their kits. BUT, considering what this unit has saved me from, I am compelled to give a high score here. I know for a fact that using this thing multiple times a day EVEN IN THE START/MIDDLE of a sinus infection, can get rid of it. You have to be dilligent though and do it EVERY day, several times a day (at least twice probably), for several days though. And that is a pain, but it's either that or the inevitable antibiotics which I try to avoid. And with this bad boy, I can avoid that more than half the time I feel an infection coming on. Also, here's a tip to save further money. Don't pay for the little pre mixed packets...mix your own and save a lot of money. The ingredients are literally salt and baking soda. The "higher end" packets come with Xylitol (which I swear by for sinuses, and highly recommend you use it when you rinse), which is so easy to just buy these days. You can buy a big packet of Xlitol sweetener for about $6 I think and add it to your rinse. Anyway, back to topic: Beyond 5 stars for this type of sinus irrigation (there really is NOTHING else that compares), but no need to pay the premium for this unit when a regular water pic does the same thing (with the proper tip on it) Notes: 1. This thing is loud, messy and pretty cheaply made. 2. The water container leaks when you shake/swirl it (recommended to mix the solution with the warm water) 3. The tongue "tool" is a gimmick imo. 4. The switch on the unit's wand is very uncomfortable to use, and when it's wet, I find it's hard to turn on and off. My unit is still running after...1.5 years of pretty heavy use and I have yet to do the vinegar cleaning they recommend you do every once in a while. BUT I faithfully rinse the thing well after every use, so there is no salt residue in the system when I'm done. I think the people complaining about these not lasting might not be doing the proper cleanup after using. Having said all that I HIGHLY recommend this or any similar unit for anyone with sinus trouble OR anyone that appreciates the feeling of a clean sinus. It really feels great to me for several hours after I do this. Hope that helps some people. EDIT: As of 11/30/11 still going strong! I have yet to clean it per the instructions, (not the tip, the whole vinegar thing), but after every time I use it I fill the tank with about a cup of water and run it through with the machine running. Seems to clear out the salt solution fine. Not at all saying you shouldn't clean the thing, just that I am very slack, yet the unit continues to operate normally even if it's not cleaned with something other than water. Also, some additional tips I have learned over the years...if you are reading this review, you will likely find the following "special" ingredients helpful. In addition to one pre-mixed saline packet (I buy the local pharmacy brand of 100 for convenience), I put the following in my rinse: A little bit of Alkalol (look it up here on Amazon) A liquid budesonide postule (need a Rx for it, but it's dirt cheap and generic, and is much more effective than using nasal steroid sprays as this gets IN your sinuses) or 2 if I am really congested If I think I am getting or have a sinus infection, I will also add: 2-3 drops at MOST of GSE (Grapefruit seed extract, also see here on Amazon) POTENT stuff...be careful here...no more than a few of drops! 1/4, maybe a little less of a packet of Xylitol These things combined together provide a POWERFUL anti-inlflammation/anti sinus infection solution that seems safe to use even on a regular basis (not sure I would use the GSE more than once a day though). Hope that helps someone...it's taken me years of reading and experimentation to find something that is up to battling my constant sinus issues.

I've been using this device three years. I have nothing but positive things to say. I mix 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon hydrogen peroxide into a quart of filtered water which is then warmed in the microwave. ( I'm going to add xylitol to the mix soon.) Works like a charm. Whenever I'm plugged up or sneezing, this relieves the congestion. You must endure a runny nose for half an hour but it is well worth it. I'm not a medicine taker or a health nut, but I do endorse this unit. I don't use it on a regular basis. Sometimes I use it every day for awhile, then I won't use it for weeks. I don't recommend using it more than once a day: it will dry out the sinuses. The machine is not hard to use and it is durable. It works just as it should. When finished I always fill the tank with saltless tap-water and run it through enough that the salt water is replaced. I dry everything. That's it. When you get use to the routine, it is quick and easy. The machine doesn't leak and it is not noisy. Come on folks! I look forward to trying xylitol. It's a number of years later and the machine still works. The key to keeping it humming is to rinse it out with clean water with ever use . One other point: my mixture is salt and water only, one teaspoon salt to one quart water. It's 2012 and the machine still works. Primarily use it for flossing. But also use it to clean nasal passages. Plan to buy another before this one breaks. Here's a 12/2013 update. After many years of daily use by both me and my wife, it died. After an appropriate period of mourning, we will purchase another. It is June 2014. New machine working fine. We use the good doctor's premix. It is the best of all mixtures tried. Still use the machine as a Waterpik as well as a nasal irrigator.

I've been on a quest to find a cure for my daughter's chronic sinus infections. It's been an endless cycle over the last few years. She'll catch a "bug" from school, wake up with a sore throat, then sniffles/ cough which rapidly morphs into a sinus infection, ear infection, bronchitis, etc. She has had multiple surgeries (adenoids, tonsils, ear tubes) and none of it has seemed to make a difference. Her ENT has suggested a 2 part FESS surgery with debridement. She's had multiple tests (including every allergy and immunology test known to man...she has no allergies), modified her diet, and been to a homeopath. One night a couple of months ago I stumbled upon a blog that discussed the benefits of this nasal irrigation system. It had a link to a YouTube video showing an 8-9 year old girl demonstrating the irrigation system. I showed the video to my daughter and she surprised me by asking me to buy it for her (she hates to use saline spray and using a netipot was out of the question). Fast forward two months. Last Sunday she woke up and said she had a sore throat. She was already sniffling and coughing. I thought.....here we go again. Over the last 4-5 years, she would be on antibiotics, and sometimes steroids, in a matter of days no matter what I tried. Flonase, saline spray, decongestants, antihistamines, etc...made no difference. This time around....we started her on this machine right away. It pulses (distilled) water w/ saline through the sinuses and out the opposite nostril. It has boggled my mind to see what has come out of her sinuses. I won't go into detail but I can't imagine her sinuses could even hold that much "stuff." Clearly, blowing her nose was never going to get this volume of mucus OUT. 7-8 days of using the machine once a day and she is almost completely better and she has had NO antibiotics and NO steroids. This is the first time in many, many years that my daughter has caught a cold and NOT gotten a sinus infection. I am extremely grateful to have found this machine. I have seen the reviews saying that the machine is not reliable and it fails within a year. We have only had the machine for two months so I cannot speak to that. However, If this piece of equipment keeps my daughter from having to have another painful/ risky (and ineffective) surgery, I will happily buy a new one every year or two!

I have the same experience as the other reviewers. From a quality perspective this equipment is a dangerous piece of junk and clearly has little or no quality control during its manufacture or design. Having said that however, my unit lasted about 4 years. It eventually died after me not using it for the summer and it looked as if the seal round the motor had dried out and started to leak. As an electrical engineer, I would advise people not use this device if it starts to leak from below. I opened mine up when it started to leak and was horrified to see how exposed the contact ends of the incoming 120V mains wires were to any water in the cavity. There were enough holes to stop the water building up but if someone picked the unit up and sloshed the leaked water around, they could get a very unpleasant surprise, at least on the older units. However, despite the low quality, my sinuses appear to have fallen in love with this thing and it has given me consistently the best results compared to any other equipment I have tried. From the sinus perspective it definitely seems to work very well. If you need something to give you effective relief from congested or irritable sinuses, you'll probably be prepared to put up with its idiosyncracies and it did appear to work very well. One word of warning however, I find that when you use nasal irrigation regularly, while it does seem to clear the nasal passages and give instant relief, I find that you need to keep using it and if you stop, your sinuses may go through a period where they seem to get worse before they settle down again. Almost as if the rinse is clearing out all the friendly and hostile bacteria and when you stop, your nose has to build back up to its natural equilibrium again, hopefully with the friendly stuff. However, if you need the sinus relief, I would say this monster does seem to work better than anything else.

I just recommended the Grossan system to my cousin today, and I felt compelled to write a review addressing others' low ratings because of the mechanism occasionally breaking after a year. For the record, our Grossan has never had a single problem or leak for over two years, but there's more to it than that. This product changed my husband's life. Sinus headaches turn nice people into grumpy cavemen who are impossible to live with. If you follow the instructions CAREFULLY, the Grossan can totally transform a sinus sufferer back into a nice person. I am not kidding. Just read some of the reviews. This system, if you use it right, will gradually lift that horrible, heavy, foggy weight off your head that's been there for as long as you can remember. And your friends and family will see a different side of you. It takes some adjusting to, but it's that good. Nothing will make your sinus problems totally disappear, but the Grossan slowly elevates you to a higher level of functionality, with less pain and congestion, fewer infections, and less misery all around. As to the longevity issues that have caused others to give it a low rating... How much money did you spend last year on drugs? How much sick leave did you use up staying home from work with a sinus infection? Now that I've seen what a difference it makes, this puppy could break every six months, and I'd trot right out to the store for another one with no complaints. We'd still be saving money. It's just a little plastic machine, so maybe it won't last forever in a busy bathroom. But if you use it properly (read the instructions!!!!) it WILL help. You might not even notice how much it helps, until your spouse (like me!) buys you an amazing birthday present or cooks you dinner, just because you've been so sweet to him/her lately. You're not that sweet... you just don't have an anvil on your face anymore, thanks to that nifty little plastic machine in the bathroom.