Since mouth breathers are a bit discriminated against in yoga class, the benefit of nasal cleansing for stuffy yogis is clear. With allergy season just around the corner, if you haven’t ever felt the relief that comes from sticking a neti pot in your nose and feeling the salty water drain out the other nostril, you should seriously consider it to the alternative of popping more pills.
So, if you’re interested, you may be wondering what you need to do to get started. There’s really not much. It’s pretty simple actually. You may want to buy a neti pot, but that’s not even necessary. Many ear, nose and throat doctors suggest using a baby bulb syringe for getting the water into the nose. You can’t get much cheaper. If you decide to go the bulb syringe route, the only other thing you will need is a glass jar to put a homemade saline solution in. While you can buy individual pre-measured packets of saline, here’s a homemade recipe that my sister got from her doctor.
The saline recipe:
- Carefully clean and rinse a 1-quart jar. Fill the clean jar with tap water or bottled water. You do not need to boil the water.
- Add one level teaspoon of non-iodized (“pickling”) salt. DO NOT use table salt. Table salt has unwanted additives. You can ask for pickling salt at the grocery store.
- Add one level teaspoon of baking soda (pure bicarbonate).
- Stir or shake before each use. Store at room temperature. After one week pour out any mixture that is left over and make a new recipe.
Once you have your mixture ready, all you have to do is squirt one to two syringes of solution per nostril and let it drain into the sink or tub. Check out this clip for a demonstration on how to properly perform a nasal cleanse using a neti pot. The same technique can be applied if you use a bulb syringe.
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The Benefits of using this solution:
- Rinsing your nose with the salt water and baking soda solution washes crusts (gross) and other debris from your nose.
- Salty water pulls fluid out of swollen membranes. Washing the inside of the nose decongests it and improves airflow. Not only does it make breathing easier, but it helps open the sinus passages.
- Studies show that this mixture of concentrated salt water and baking soda helps the nose membrane to work better and move mucus out of the nose faster.
While the above recommendations have worked for me, there are a lot of websites with even more information on nasal cleansing that you may find useful. I particularly recommend the Himalayan Institute.
Neti Pot Goes Mainstream (New York Times)
Buy a neti pot at Amazon.com!!
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I’m thinking about using a neti pot for my 11 year old’s allergies. She currently takes 24 hour claritin which works for her but I really would like to remove as many drugs out of our lives as possible. Does anyone know how long the results of a Neti Pot nose cleanse lasts? For instance could we do it before school and expect the results to last for the entire school day? Many Thanks!
Don’t know if post is too late to get back to you but you may also try eliminating common allergens like wheat and dairy to help with your daughters allergies. I had done allergy shots, claritin etc for years and was having accelerated heart beat on claritin. Finally inadvertantly elimated wheat from my diet when I had gestational diabetes. When finally had a piece of toast one morning and nose started to run I began to realize food was contributing to my allergies. Your decision to minimize drugs especially with kids is to be applauded!! Good luck!
Yes. Each morning before school- prob. after breakfast.
I just saw a couple of yoga exercises like the downward dog and triangle to help drain the water afterwards.
I would say never blow water out unless you KNOW what you are doing. It has been known to cause other problems. I only do that very lightly.
Hi
I have seen people use snuff tobacco for the purpose of cleaning the nose , does it work the same . it has been used for a long time . could it have the same purpose
What if you are diagnosed with a large polyp. Will the liquid be hindered so it won’t go through, or will go down the thoat instead? Will it help shrink the polyp?
Thank you.
Has anyone tried the Navage Nasal Hygiene System? I love it because it is like a modern version of the neti pot! It has really worked for me.
I always wondered about Neti Pots, thanks to your post, most of my qeustions have been answered!
Thanks to all for suggestion I would like to use this for lose weight
skin glowing
I’ve never heard of using jala neti for weight loss purposes. Better throw in some vigorous yoga asana if you’re looking for weight loss:).