Neti

[Guest guest]

Help!<br><br>I bought a neti pot and I have been

looking at it for a month....I am enamored with the IDEA

of it (as enamored as one can be with such ideas)

but I don't know how exactly to get started with

it....any suggestions (Preferably detailed step by step

directions) would be greatly appreciated...<br><br>Namaste

<br>M

[Guest guest]

They sell it at the Himalayan Institute and perhaps you can e-mail them and have

them e-mail the instructions to you. They are on the web.<br><br>Enjoy!

[Guest guest]

Does anyone know if it is better to do neti with

slightly salty water or with plain water? My sinuses get

very swollen in warm weather and in polluted air in

general. Neti seems to help but I'm not sure if I'm

supposed to be using salty water or not. I've done both,

but not consistently enough to notice the long term

effects of either. <br><br>By the way, cutting out dairy

has helped reduce the sinus swelling/pain enormously.

<br><br>FBL

[Guest guest]

Hi FBL<br><br>Salted water is definately the way

to go (1/2 teaspoon per 8 oz water). I've been doing

Neti daily for about 2 years and I actually like it a

little saltier. Really makes a difference in coming down

with flu and colds as well as helping with allergies.

Best thing you could do for your health in 4 minutes

per day.<br><br>Namaste,<br><br>Jim

[Guest guest]

Sorry, I should have explained why I like it a

little saltier! It seems to have a more drying effect.

Blood and tissues are about 6-7% salt and if the water

is a little bit saltier, a little water might move

from the tissues into the neti solution. Kind of a

decongestant effect.<br><br>Jim

[Guest guest]

Hi Funkybadlady, I had lots of trouble with

sinuses too. Learning to do neti with a string has all

but eliminated the problem. If you go with the water

method slightly salty is preferable. Try the other

though it really has great results, well worth the

trouble to learn.

[Guest guest]

What do you use for string? I've read that waxed string is preferred.

[Guest guest]

I use a small gauge surgical catheter. They are

available at sugical supply stores in India and probably

somewhere in the US although I have not seen them here in

small enough sizes. Sometimes a string can be attached

to the end of the catheter to make it more

effective.

[Guest guest]

Sutra neti<br><br>Catheters are available at

medical supply stores everywhere in North America. Just

cut off the small cup at the end and you can pull it

right through when finished. You can always work up to

larger sizes.<br><br>The most difficult part is getting

past the gag reflex as you reach in the mouth for the

other end of the catheter. But a little practice

eliminates that issue. Then it becomes like flossing your

nasal passages. Just remember to wet the catheter first

so it slides in easier.<br><br>Jala neti<br><br>Sea

salt is often recommended. But the good old iodized

variety works too if sea salt is unavailable.

[Guest guest]

Sorry Screwgee I always buy them in India and

don't remember how they are numbered. They are familiar

with neti there and understand what you are refering

to which is definitely not the case here. I agree

with you, I don't know about Canada but I have not

seen small enough ones in the states. There is a blunt

end and a hollow one and you use the blunt (much more

comfortable). There are probably some yoga centers though which

may stock them and possibly ayurvedic clinics.

Failing that some Mysore bound friends could bring you

some back.

[Guest guest]

The catheter that I use doesn't have the guage

printed on it but when measured it is 4 millimeters in

diameter, that's about 5/32 of an inch, just over 1/8 of an

inch.<br><br>Are you sure that those catheters in the surgical

supply store are too large? Or, do they just look too

large? <br><br>Perhaps, any difficulty that you have had

is just finding the right passage that opens into

the throat.

[Guest guest]

Thanks, this gives me an idea of the proper size of the cathether. Now all I

need to do is call around to other supply stores.<br><br>Yeah, the one catheter

I did see was way too large.

[Guest guest]

I may have missed the beginning of this topic, but I too suffer from pollen

allergies... What exactly is Neti?<br><br>thanks<br>namaste<br>Jo

[Guest guest]

Some info on Neti

here:<br><br><a href=http://www.hinet.net.au/~swami/

target=new>http://www.hinet.net.au/~swami/</a><br><br>Without getting into neti

pots and so forth, one can

start with drawing water into either nostril while

showering. I still use this crude method during the time my

conditioner is doing its thing.