Some people think I have strange ideas and they may be right. But, I'm in the business where "not so mainstream" viewpoints are common. As Americans, we're raised on a certain cultural model of what's "true" and what's woo-hoo. Open the curtains a bit wider and peek out and there's an entire world with an entire other set of "truths". Are they wrong? Is there a right/wrong?
Rewind eight years ago when I first heard about a neti pot and, heavens, if I didn't get the look, like "you what?" when I mentioned it to anyone. [After "the look", I avoided mentioning the tongue scraping.] Today, your local Rite-Aide and omnipresent, CVS, have it. It's now called an Advanced Nasal Irrigation System or nasal lavage or nasal douche (please!). What was once on the bottom shelf in the wellness section of your Whole Foods or your crunchy nutrition store is now on Aisle 2B at your local big-box, loaded with candy and toxic cleaning supplies drug store.
So, no problem, call it nasal irrigation, although they could think of a more appealing name. Big pharma would have called it something sexy, like Neticia. Irrigation just sounds like something you do to a field. Douche, puhleese.
Neti is an important part of the yogic system of body cleansing techniques. It is intended to clean the air passageways in the head, nowadays referred to as the sinuses. But, ancient yogi texts (Hatha Yoga Pradipika) and other sources attribute lots of other beneficial effects that range from profound physiological ones on the body, mind and personality to even clairvoyance.(1) Hummm? Don't even ask about sutra neti where a string is used instead of water.
Neti has many applications, but the most common is clearing the nasal passages of dirt, bacteria and, mucus. This can help many guard against nasal infections, hayfever, allergies sinutitis and more. There are other suggested benefits(2), although some sound a bit "out there".
It's really very easy. Simply fill your pot with some salt and warm water. Put the spout in one nostril, tip your head and let the water run into the upper nostril and out the lower one. Best to be in the shower or over a sink. Voila! You've irrigated. Here are some comments:
1. The ratio of water-to-salt is critical for your comfort. If you feel any stinging, you probably have either too much or too little salt. Good luck deciding which.
2. Warm water. Goldilocks warm--not too hot, not too cold.
3. Most use tap water, however, there is a recent warning due to a Louisiana man who picked up a parasite in the water and it transfer to his brain. The story didn't end well. You can use distilled, boiled (and cooled) or sterile water.
4. It's recommended that you don't share your pot and clean and dry it after each use.
5. You can buy some fancy, expensive salt. I have some called Baraka Infused Salt Rinse, which set me back a whopping $14, but I'm a bit of a sucker. It's got some good smelling essential oils which are supposed to "discourage the growth of pathogens". There's more info at sinussupport.com.
Don't take it from me. There is lots of information on the internet. The Fall and Winter is a good time to start, as nasal passages are bombarded with congestion, colds, sinus infections and dry nasal passages from indoor heating.
