An important part of Shatkarma (Shatkriya), the yogic system of body cleansing techniques, Jala Neti and the Neti pot used in this technique have become a popular solution to blocked sinuses and nasal clearing. So popular, that the queen of television Oprah Winfrey did a feature on her talk show (click here) with Dr. Oz who stated that the treatment may be more effective than medication.

Method of doing Jala Neti-

• What you need to begin with is a special pot called the neti pot which has a specially designed spout that is used to irrigate the nostrils.
• Fill the neti pot with lukewarm water (cold water may make you feel like you’re drowning in a pool) and add to it a quarter teaspoon of non-iodized salt.
• Standing over a sink, large bowl or outside, place the spout of the pot pot into the right nostril. The end of a neti pots spout is specially designed to seal the nostril gently.
• Bend forward, tilt your head to the left and with you mouth open (breathe through your mouth) allow gravity to do its work as the water flows through the one nasal passage and out the other nostril.
• Allow the water to flow in a small steady steam and don’t forcefully pour the water into your nostril.
• Do this for a few seconds (20-30 seconds is all it takes). Remove the pot and stand up.
• Before changing sides, gently blow out any remaining water and mucus from your nose. Slow, soft blows as you would clear a cold is all you need to do.
• Repeat the method with the other nostril.
• If you still feel there is a mucus blockage you can repeat the whole process over several times until it clears.

While Yogis have practiced this method of nasal irrigation to flush out the sinuses using the neti pot, scientific studies too have proved its efficacy – Read- The Claim: Nasal Irrigation Can Ease Allergy Symptoms (NYTimes article).

While it may look , the benefits of Jal Neeti should eliminate any reservations you may have in trying it out. Used to treat a wide range of chronic sinus symptoms, evidence suggests that nasal irrigation also causes relief for both hay-fever and the common cold. If not just for blocked a blocked nasal passage or sinus, people who perform Jala Neti on a regular basis without any particular symptoms have been stated claiming it improves the quality of life and reduces use of medication, including antibiotics.

The simple yoga technique is used by many across the world (including scuba divers, to put an end uncomfortable diving due to equalization problems)  that swear by its wondrous results. Primitive, yet proven supremely beneficial I picked up my first Neti pot a few years now and life  has smelled so sweet since!

Photo Credits:photos by cesarastudillo, Chiot’s Run on flickr

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