Coming into the colder months of the year, there can be lots of cold and flu germs being spread around. In an attempt to stay healthy all year round, cleansing your nasal passages can be a very helpful practice.
An effective and natural way to do this is to use a neti pot. Neti pots were developed thousands of years ago by ayurvedic practitioners in India to purify the nasal passages. Neti pots come in all different sizes and can be ceramic, plastic or glass. It looks a little like a teapot as there is a spout on the end.
The neti pot is filled with a saline solution. You can purchase specially prepared saline packages online or you can make your own using sea salt. Add ½ teaspoon of sea salt to two cups of warm water. It’s important that the water you use is purified. Do not use tap water. If you don’t have purified water, you can use tap water that is boiled which will kill any contaminants in the water. Just make sure you cool the boiling water to a suitable level, as you don’t want to burn your nose!
Once you have prepared your saline solution and poured it into the neti pot, you then insert the spout gently into one nostril while you tilt your head to the side to allow the water to flow out of the other nostril. You then repeat on the other nostril. Try to allow the water to flow through the nostril for 15-30 seconds. It may take you a few tries to get it right. Don’t be nervous, it’s really very simple and you’ll get the hang of it quickly. The other tip which might seem obvious but is very important is to continue breathing through your mouth while using the neti pot. Do this while you are standing over the bathroom sink and be sure not to swallow any of the water.
I’ll be honest, it does seem a little strange at first, but stick with it and you will see some real benefits. If you suffer from allergies, using a neti pot can offer great relief. I have a few friends who rely on the neti pot to help them get through the spring when there are loads of pollens irritating the nasal passages.
Breathing in allergens and other toxins can increase the production of mucus which can leave your nose feeling stuffy and irritated. Cleansing the nasal passages with a neti pot can relieve any symptoms you might be experiencing. It is an effective way to clear out those toxins helping to keep your nasal passages healthy.
While there are many nasal sprays available to help with the symptoms of cold & flu, they are often costly and contain ingredients that you probably don’t want to put up your nose. Using a neti pot is very affordable and natural. It not only helps if you find yourself suffering with symptoms but you can use it as a way to help prevent illnesses.
There’s also the added benefit that clearing the nasal passages helps with your yoga practice. When you can breathe clearer through your nose it helps with asana and pranayama practice as well as helping to balance prana which promotes overall health. The use of the neti pot is a common daily practice for many traditional yogis in India. Hygiene practices such as this are used to detoxify the body to keep if functioning well.
Anyone can benefit from using a neti pot however if you are prone to nose bleeds or have a more serious condition involving the sinuses you will want to speak with your health care professional as to whether this is a suitable practice for you.
