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What Are the Benefits of a Neti Pot?

Neti pots originated in India and have practical benefits. Ayurveda healing science and Hatha yoga practitioners have used neti pots for sinus-related ailments for thousands of years. The Hatha yoga cleansing method is called neti or Jalaneti. Neti pots irrigate and cleanse the sinuses.

  1. Background

    • Neti is a Pranayama technique. "Prana" means breath. For Hatha yoga, neti, basti, dhauti, kapalbhati, trataka and nauli, constitute complete yoga systems. (See link in Resources) Neti is one of Hatha yoga's ways to purify the body in preparation for the ultimate purification of Kundalini. Over time, the neti became a way in itself to cleanse sinuses and prevent and treat sinus-related ailments. Neti pots have come into their own in the West and are readily available.

    Significance

    • Pollution and chemicals problems include pollen, dust and other irritants. As you breathe, irritants accumulate. Sinus passages are prone to sinus and nasal congestion and other upper respiratory ailments. What you breathe through the nostrils can pass in one way or another throughout the body. A neti pot promotes sinus health in a way that over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications cannot. Always consult a health care professional before using a neti pot.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Nasal passages are lined with tiny hairs, called cilia. Cilia traps fine particles that, unrestrained, can enter the respiratory system and cause illnesses. Blowing your nose and the natural course of breathing expel irritants and protect the body. The body's natural cleansing method can be difficult in environments with multiple pollutants. A neti pot helps keep the body's innate filtering system in working order.

    Instructions

    • Neti pots are designed to introduce a flow of saline water to flush sinuses. Similar to tears, neti solutions flush pollens, mucus, viruses and bacteria. Prepare a neti solution with 1/8 tsp. table salt and 8 oz. distilled water (see link in Resources). Fill your neti pot with lukewarm, slightly salted distilled water. Insert the neti pot spout into one nostril (see link in Resources). Adjust your head so that the solution flows in one nostril and out the other. The pot will seal the nostril into which it flows. Breathe through your mouth. Repeat from the other side.

    Considerations

    • Purchase a neti pot that fits your nostrils. Judge visually. Be sure to use distilled water to avoid introducing impurities into your sinus passages. Never use hot nor cold water. Hot water is damaging and cold water will not flush your sinuses. Nasal washes are available, but making your own is simple and inexpensive. You may need to repeat the process if mucus blockage is severe. A neti pot may not cure a sinus infection.

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