A device with a curious name, a neti pot is vessel designed to promote nasal irrigation. Rather than the sort of clearing provided by a nasal aspirator, the neti pot does not draw out the mucus clogging the nose but flushes it out, instead. Made of a variety of solid, non-reactive materials such as glass or ceramic, it has a long history, particularly in the Ayurvedic tradition. In this context, it is valued not only as a health treatment, but also as a spiritually cleansing procedure. If you want to conquer a stuffy nose with a proven treatment that is non-pharmaceutical, non-invasive, and economical, you must consider the neti pot.
The History of the Neti Pot
A ceramic neti pot, by Kurt Yoder
The practice of Jala neti is a practice in the wider world of yoga, used as a method of cleansing. The pot was initially produced from clay and formed by hand. The neti pot itself was a technological step forward from Sutra neti, which achieved the same effect by inserting a short piece of string through the nostrils. The pot as it is known today, though, still has a long history of use, and targets a wide number of ailments that afflict the nose.
How to Use the Neti Pot
While the neti pot is the vessel, the real ingredient in the equation is water. Warm water is mixed with salt to create a saline solution. The rinsing operation is best performed over the sink or a bucket to catch the dripping water and whatever fluid it removes. The person undergoing the procedure tilts his or her head and the tip of the pot is carefully placed into the upper nostril. The pot is then lifted to encourage the flow of the water which will enter through the first nostril, then by moving through the nasal cavity, it will drip out the lower nostril. (Breathe through your mouth during the process.) In a way, this is similar to blowing your nose. By using the neti pot, you simply assist the nose when it is unable to perform its duties on its own. After using the neti pot, the nose must be allowed to dry; the best method is to lean forward and to breathe out in spurts to drive away the excess water.
When forming the salt solution, both the proportion and quality of the salt and water are at issue. The salt should be non-iodized and the water ideally filtered. The inside of the nose is a delicate area should be aggravated no more than is necessary. The best ration of salt to water is about one to one hundred, or a 1% solution, as this mimics the body’s natural salinity. A very small amount of baking soda can be added to the solution as it reportedly reduces any possible irritation within the nose, though the evidence for this is anecdotal.
How Does the Neti Pot Work?
The neti pot is cited as working in two ways. By using warm water, any mucus caught in the nasal corridor is thinned, helping it to pass. The other, more complicated explanation, involves the tiny
Salt, an important part of using the neti pot, courtesy of W. J. Pilsak
hairs in the nose, called cilia. According to this theory, the salt in the water assists these structures in movement and coordination, thus speeding the removal of both mucus and the bacteria or foreign matter which may be the cause of the congestion.
How to Care For a Neti Pot
The pots can be made from many different materials and so specific cleaning instructions will vary, but a few guidelines are universal.
- The pot must be kept clean. Not only will a small part be placed into the nose, but the warm water can easily transfer any bacteria or dirt from the pot into the entire nose as it runs its course. This will defeat the purpose of the pot by introducing new irritants. Wash the pot after every use; even if your model is dishwasher safe, try to clean it by hand. This will allow you to use a mild, non-toxic soap and to rinse it until you are satisfied the residue is entirely flushed out.
- The pot must be kept in good shape. Unintended cracks and crevices are havens for biological matter and can also be the source of tiny shards of ceramic or plastic. Neither are ideal to run through the nose.
In the age of drugs and therapies dispensed primarily through doctors, the neti pot is a method by which you can regain control of your own health. Doing so draws on a long history of home ways to cleanse the nose and takes the user a step closer to the more ancient methods of treating ailments at home. Inexpensive, easy to use, and proven effective, there is no reason to avoid this unfamiliar solution. Trying it just once can forever change the way you treat congestion.
No related posts.
Comments on this entry are closed.