Neti Pot Uses in Nasal Problems and Headaches

Neti pots are typically made of metal, glass, ceramic or plastic. They rely on gravity, along with head positioning and repeated practice in order to rinse the outer sinus cavities. A neti pot is a small container designed to clear nasal passages by rinsing out the nasal cavity. Neti pots, like toothbrushes, should not be shared. If you are experiencing fever, severe headaches, bright green nasal discharge or a productive cough, consult a physician or qualified health practitioner before using the neti pot.

Neti pot soothes the brain and hence, it is beneficial for the conditions like migraine, headache, hysteria and general mental tension. Neti pot is also healthy for other organs, including the eyes, olfactory nerves, pituitary glands and pineal glands. Neti pots are often hard to find, but those cute pitchers are always turning up at yard sales! Though instructions may vary from pot to pot, generally they are filled with a pint of lukewarm water and a teaspoon of salt.

Nasal saline irrigation may also help with the cilia inside the nasal cavities, while it thins mucus and allows the body's natural cleansing mechanisms to clear the sinuses of offensive pollens, dust, allergens, and bacteria. Nasal irrigation helps to restore mucociliary function by assisting the cilia to remove the sticky glue-like mucus that is produced by the inflamed membranes. The saline solution used in nasal irrigation helps to increase the speed and co-ordination of the cilia for more effective mucociliary action. Nasal irrigation is super-easy. All you need are good instructions, pure ingredients, and the right attitude.

Nasal Cleansing is best practiced first thing in the morning to clear out the night's grogginess and prepare the body for the day's breathing activities. However, if you live or work in a dusty or polluted environment where the nostrils have an increased load of filtering, a good second occasion is upon returning from such work.

Saline nasal irrigation providing moisturization & natural relief from allergies & sinus symptoms. Saline solution can help increase the speed and improve coordination of the cilia so that they may more effectively remove the allergens and other irritants that cause sinus problems. Saline rinses involve a small, teapot-shaped container bottle, or tube to gently flush either a saline solution or a mixture of salt and water through the one nostril and out the other. In one study from the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, overusing saline nasal irrigation was linked to an increase in sinus infections.

Neti Pot Salt | How To Choose

Using Neti pot for cleansing nasal passages is one of the methods used in yoga for hundreds of years. This method is being used in India as an everyday routine along with brushing the teeth. Nasal cleansing using netipot has become popular in the modern world along with yoga. The acceptance of usage of neti pot as one of the methods to keep personal hygiene of nasal passages by the medical fraternity is rapidly increasing the popularity of the neti pot to the Western world. Nasal irrigation with neti pot is being recommended by the physicians as either a primary treatment or in addition to some medications to sinonasal symptoms like allergic rhinitis.

For irrigation warm water is used in neti pot mixed with salt. Importance should be given in selection of the type of salt used in netipot. Traditionally, pure salt is used for nasal irrigation. Warm water is used because it is very stimulating than cold water. Hot water should not be used as it is very dangerous and could burn the nasal passages. For the preparation of salt solution for irrigation of nasal passages with netipot, one spoon of salt is used for one pot full of water or 5 g of salt in half a liter of water. You do not have to measure the salt used in the neti pot using an electronic scale as it is not a dangerous medication, but some ready to use neti pot salt available in the market is measured and easy to use.

Though traditionally pure salt is being used for jalneti kriya (nasal irrigation), different types of salts are recommended by experts according to their personal experience which sometimes is disputed by the conservative practitioners of neti pot irrigation. Many teachers of yoga including my own teacher always recommend pure salt without any chemical additives, anti caking agents, and not even iodized salts.

In spite of strong recommendation of pure common salt available in nature, most the the teachers are not strictly against the other type of salts used netipot nasal cleansing. The other types of salts used in neti pot include macrobiotic salt, vegetable salt, rock salt, kosher salt, and table salt. Macrobiotic salt is dull white to grayish white in color. This salt is imported mainly from Asian countries and Australia and is unrefined pure sea salt. Vegetable salt is a salt where herbs and spices are mixed in it. This salt may be good for cooking but certainly not for net pot cleansing. Rock salt is not recommended as the purity and mineral content depends on the place of origin and may not be good for the mucus in the nose. Cooking salt can be used as this is just a pure salt. Table salt contains lot of additives, so may not be useful just something called neti cleansing which mostly depend on natural cleansing. Kosher salt is just common pure salt and can be used.