Hi,

I have been using a neti pot daily for the last few years and am quite
comfortable with technique and the amount of water I use.

Just recently I got a friend of mine who has severe sinus problems on the neti
pot and she stated that it really cleared her up but she is not quite
comfortable with the saltwater. Today she sent me an email asking if she could
use baking soda instead of salt, by the time I received her email she had
already used the baking soda solution.

I have never heard of using baking soda in a neti pot and frankly the thought
of it scared me a little bit. I was wondering if anybody could give me some
input as to what the baking sdoda might do used in a neti pot and if so, what
kind of damage it may cause.

I strongly advised my friend to stick with the saline solution.

Thank you in advance,
Claudia.
www.InnerWellness.NaturesWellnessSecret.com
InnerWellness@...

Dear Claudia

Nasya and Neti are very powerful techniques from ayurveda, but used
very less, we are happy to note that you are quite comfortable with
Neti and are using it for years. Slowly, commercialization is pushing
these simple but very effective techniques in back seat.

There is very little practical literature available on these two
techniques, except basic techniques and medications which can be
used. Some day, author would like to post extensively on Nasya.

Returning to Neti, other than salt water, there are a variety of
liquid solutions which can be used to treat. The contents reach brain
by absorption through nasal mucosa. When salt water is not suitable,
one can very well use baking soda or sodium-bi-carbonate. Some
stalwarts of self urine therapy advise Neti using diluted self urine
too. this latter neti is reserved for yogic world.

Baking soda can be used starting 2-3 pinches per glass of 200 ml warm
neti water and gradually increased to obtain stronger solution.
Baking soda is alkaliser and takes care of acidic environment in
sinuses if present. When liver becomes sluggish, headaches, migraine,
eye-strain after readig etc will be noticed. If cold water bath or
even wetting of head gives sneezes, baking soda is useful in Neti.
Baking soda should/can be used if sticky/oily discharge through the
nose and migrain or even fainting/epilepsy attacks/sudden blankouts
etc

Ofcourse when some serious problem (e.g. epilepsy, blank out) exists,
better to go to Nasya after Neti (half an hour gap to allow drying of
sinuses), using medicated ghees (Ghrutams) of ayurveda. Though Neti
can be done by self experience, Nasya should be learnt from a Vaidya.
After learning, patient can try it at home.

dr bhate


--- In ayurvedaonline (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com, Claudia <dragonette775@...>
wrote:

> Just recently I got a friend of mine who has severe sinus
problems on the neti pot and she stated that it really cleared her up
but she is not quite comfortable with the saltwater. Today she sent
me an email asking if she could use baking soda instead of salt, by
the time I received her email she had already used the baking soda
solution.
>
> I have never heard of using baking soda in a neti pot and frankly
the thought of it scared me a little bit. I was wondering if anybody
could give me some input as to what the baking sdoda might do used in
a neti pot and if so, what kind of damage it may cause.

Dear Dr. Bhate,

thank you very much for your reply to my querie. Nasya and Neti are mentioned
in some text books here in the west, yet I haven't found one that goes into
enough detail or explains it well enough to be able to use it. I would love to
see a post from you on Nasya therapies.

I will pass your information on baking soda on to my friend so she can use her
neti pot and doesn't have to worry.

We are all very lucky to be able to benefit from the richness of your
experience.

Thank you,
Claudia.
www.InnerWellness.NaturesWellnessSecret.com
InnerWellness@...
Dear Claudia

Nasya and Neti are very powerful techniques from ayurveda, but used
very less, we are happy to note that you are quite comfortable with
Neti and are using it for years. Slowly, commercialization is pushing
these simple but very effective techniques in back seat.