How to use a Neti Pot

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In the U.S., sinus problems is the #1 reason people see a doctor. With

increasing pollution and chemicals in our environment, there is an enormous rise

in the number of people who suffer various forms of nasal congestion and

respiratory illnesses. Alternative health practitioners throughout the world

recommend the regular practice of nasal cleansing using a saline solution as

part of a regular regimen of health and wellness, a basic health-maintenance

activity equal to flossing your teeth. Neti is a gentle, safe, efficient way to

deliver a good cleansing dose of saline to the nose.

 

Although the practice of nasal irrigation originated in India, today there are

numerous people in Europe and the United States who use this simple technique as

part of their daily routine.

 

People practice Neti on a daily basis to help keep their sinuses clean and to

make their breathing easier and more free. Once they try it, most people find

Neti to be a soothing and pleasant experience.

 

If, like a lot of people, you find that your nasal passages are blocked because

of pollution, pollen, dust and other irritants, you may find this simple nasal

irrigation technique to be of invaluable benefit to you.

 

The practice of nasal cleansing - known as Neti - has been used by practitioners

of Ayurveda and Yoga in India for thousands of years. Neti is one of the 6

purification techniques performed prior to practicing yoga as a way of preparing

the body for the yoga practice.

 

While there exist advanced techniques using various herbal oils and herbs, the

simplest Neti technique uses water for the irrigation process. Lukewarm water is

used to gently cleanse the nasal passages. A soothing, gentle stream of salt

water, the same concentration as tears, flows through your nose, washing away

pollens, mucus, viruses and bacteria. Use of a neti pot is recommended to ease

this process.

 

Many health practitioners consider the nasal passages to be the doorway for most

diseases. The nasal passage, with its finely-tuned mechanism of hairs and mucus

membranes, which are intended to catch and restrain foreign entities from

entering our bodies, actually is one of the ways nature protects us from

diseases. Unfortunately, this filtering mechanism can become overloaded through

high exposure to pollution, chemicals, fragrances, pollen and dust. Cleansing

this filter regularly allows it to operate more efficiently.

 

A simple yet very powerful technique, neti works wonders for chronic sinusitis,

and allergies. It has a remarkable effect on upper respiratory tract infections,

especially hay fever. In fact, neti is so beneficial that responses usually

change from " YUK, there is no way I am ever going to try that " to " WOW. That is

fantastic. I am hooked for life " after just one trial.

 

Your neti pot should be right for YOUR nostrils: Choose a neti pot with a

smoothly tapered conical tip at the spout end. This facilitates

support on the nostril walls of varying sizes. More importantly, this

minimizes spillage as it 'plugs' the inlet nostril.

 

 

 

 

How neti is done

A neti pot is filled with warm, slightly salted water and the spout of the pot

is inserted into one nostril. The position of the head and pot are adjusted to

allow the water to flow out of the other nostril.

 

The technique is not as uncomfortable or difficult as you may think at

first. You will be pleasantly surprised at this simple and effective practice

for maintaining your health.

 

Once learnt, neti can be done in about 3 minutes and is easily integrated into a

daily routine of body cleansing such as showering or brushing your teeth.

 

Neti pot instructions:

1. Prepare the saline solution (*) with lukewarm water and fill the neti pot.

Hot water is irritating and dangerous. Cool water is not soothing.

2. Tilt your head to the side as shown in the picture at the beginning of this

article..

3. Insert spout of neti pot gently into the raised nostril creating a seal

between the neti pot and the nostril. If it drains out of your mouth, lower your

forehead in relation to your chin. Relax. If you are calm, the water flows right

through. But if you aren't, it just won't flow. If you keep breathing through

your mouth, relaxed, the water should gently flow through the nose on its own.

There's no forcing it.

4. Raise the neti pot slowly to develop a steady flow of saline solution through

the upper nostril and out the lower nostril.

5. During the process breathe through your mouth.

6. When you're done, exhale firmly several times to clear the nasal passages.

7. Reverse the tilt of your head and repeat the process on the other side.

 

You can find a high quality neti pot here. I hope you make neti a part of your

daily health routine. If you like this web site, one way that you can help

support the development of this web site is by clicking on the links found

throughout this site which lead to health products you are interested in. When

someone purchases a product through one of the links on the site, I make a tiny

commission. So I am grateful when people do that.

 

 

* Mix a heaping ¼ tsp of finely ground non-iodized salt or a slightly rounded ½

tsp of coarsly ground salt in the neti pot with 8oz of warm water until the salt

is completely dissolved.