Some neti enthusiasts claim that regular use can also relieve asthma, headaches, depression, sleep problems and can help smokers to give up as they directly sense the polluting effects of the smoke.
Neti pots have been used in India and South East Asia for centuries to clear the nasal passages and sinuses, and are still widely used today as routinely as tooth brushing.
A neti pot is used to pour warm, slightly salty water into one nostril with the head tipped forward and to one side. The water drains out of the other nostril along with mucus and dust that block the nasal passages. This is known as “nasal irrigation”, or jala neti. Does it sound revolting to you? Please try to overcome your revulsion for a moment and read on; with practice, using a neti pot can become a relaxing and pleasant experience.
Nasal irrigation techniques are not confined to the East; for example they are used at the thermal baths of Mont Dore in the mountainous Auvergne region of France. Nasal irrigation with the warm volcanic mineral water is reputed to treat respiratory problems, asthma and allergies. Patients spend a few days at the treatment centre undergoing a “cure”; that such treatments are paid for by the French state health service is a testament to their effectiveness!
Scientific studies have shown nasal irrigation to be a safe an effective treatment for people with a history of sinusitis. Neti pot enthusiasts often report dramatic improvements in chronic mucus and catarrh problems, eye complaints, reduced anxiety and an improvement in sleep problems, alongside many other ailments.
Your neti pot should be delivered with detailed instructions for use, it is important to follow these directions and heed any warnings concerning the use of neti pots.
A couple of important points to remember when beginning to use a neti pot are:
- Lean forward to avoid swallowing salty water
- Continue to breathe through your mouth to avoid that water-up-your-nose-while-swimming feeling.
After cleaning both nostrils blow gently through both nostrils – this can yield a surprising amount of gook!
After using the neti pot you may like to do the following simple exercise before blowing your nose: lean forward from the hips and waist, head hanging down, and turn your head from side to side.
Some practitioners recommend ‘drying’ the sinuses at this stage by breathing in and out rapidly through both nostrils.
The degree of saltiness is key, around 1 heaped teaspoon per litre of water. Take care to ensure that the salt is well dissolved; a grain of salt can be very painful in a nostril!
For many, the benefits of using a neti pot are almost immediate, including feeling lighter headed, and a nose that no longer feels blocked or runny. It can certainly be worth overcoming your initial reaction. Millions of neti pots users cannot imagine life without them!