We all need a little help from time to time. And when it comes to getting airborne allergens or pathogens out of your nasal passages, the neti pot can be your best friend. Ever since the neti pot was profiled on Oprah and Dr. Oz, these adorable little “teapots” have been quite trendy. And yet, they have their roots in ancient Ayurvedic teachings.
The neti pot is the apparatus used for a saline nasal wash. This technique, also known as nasal irrigation, is easy, inexpensive and very effective at helping to offset the likelihood of colds, sinus infections and seasonal allergies. The neti pot has a drying effect on your body, so in Ayurveda, this procedure is complemented and enhanced with a daily oil snoring routine.
Using the Neti Pot
The logic behind using a neti pot is simple. Inside your nasal cavity, you have tiny hair-like structures called cilia. Cilia move mucus around. Mucus can be directed to the back of your cavity to be swallowed. It can also be moved to the front of your nose to be blown out. Challenges arise when pollen and other particles from the air obstruct the movement of your cilia. They become bogged down and less effective at moving mucus. A saline wash benefits your cilia in two ways. First, it simply rinses out pathogens and irritants. Second, the saline solution actually aids the cilia in doing their jobs by increasing their speed and improving their coordination.
Depending on your birth constitution, it might be advisable to add a neti pot wash to your daily health routine. However, for most of us, a daily saline wash might be best saved for strategic times of the year. For example, springtime (Kapha season) is known to be the allergy season. Plants and trees scatter copious amounts of pollen into the air. Or think about the last time you traveled on an airplane. Hundreds of people, many with colds, cough and sneeze into the circulated air. For these times, the neti pot and the saline solution provide significant preventative benefits.
Some Instructions:
The technique associated with using the neti pot is quite simple, but there are a few “tips” to aid your success.
To start, place ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized salt into the pot. Add one cup of warm water. Mix until the salt dissolves. Once you have filled the pot, tilt your head over the sink. A 45-degree angle is generally best. Place the pot’s spout inside your top nostril and gently pour the saline solution. Like a bad magic trick, the liquid will flow through your nasal cavity and out your bottom nostril into the sink. Repeat the process with your opposite nasal cavity on top. Before leaving the sink area, blow out both nostrils to remove any extra liquid. Pat your nose dry with a towel.
If you travel with your neti pot, water properties do vary. You may need to adjust your water/salt ratio.
Important Tips:
- Saline mixture: Getting the saline mixture right is pretty important, but it is not hard to do. Think about diving into a swimming pool as a kid and getting water up your nose. (Ouch, that burns!) The appropriate water/salt ratio for you will go through your nose without any burning or irritation. A little more salt or little less can make a huge difference.
- Blowing your nose: It is recommended that you blow your nose over the sink to clear any final liquid from your system. Blow freely. It is important to NEVER blow into a tissue or into anything that might stop the liquid from leaving your system. If you blow into a tissue, you are more likely to send the liquid back into your ear canals. This is not advisable.
- Water: Some recommend using distilled water or boiling your water prior to usage. In rare cases, infections have been reported from using tap water with the neti pot. This is generally due to poor tap water purification. Use your best judgment.
- Neti pot storage: After finishing your nasal irrigation, you might be best served by rinsing your pot and enabling it to dry in the open air. This will help to keep it free of unwanted “growth.”
- Complement your nasal wash with oil snorting: Yes, you read that correctly. We recommend when you are using the neti pot regularly that you complement the irrigation with oil snorting (see below).
If you are a visual learner, Banyan Botanicals has a wonderful short video on how to use the neti pot.
Again, contrary to what is often published, the neti pot is not for everyone, every day. It is an ideal short-term therapy for colds, congestion and allergies. If you are doing a lot of yard work or traveling, it will help clear out the extra allergens and pathogens to which you are exposed. But if you tend to experience more of a sharp nasal pain with dryness or tightness, the neti pot can exacerbate symptoms by drying you out too much. In these instances, snorting oil—alone—might be the best way to go.
Snorting Oil
Don’t be put off by the concept! Snorting oil is one way to ward off colds and the flu, particularly during dry weather conditions (Vata Season). The theory is that when your nasal passages become dry, your body begins to produce mucus to lubricate them. Mucus build-up can create a breeding ground for pathogens. Oil snorting is a quick (and inexpensive) method of lubricating the nasal passages. This works wonders to help you keep your body in alignment and prevent it from overproducing mucus.
Please DO NOT snort oil immediately after you’ve used the neti pot. It’s an either/or thing. If you are using both therapies, we recommend using one in the morning and the other in the evening.
Here’s how to do it:
- Start with a cold-pressed organic oil. (Sunflower oil is a good choice, although other oils will also work.)
- Moisten the end of a Q-tip with oil and gently swab the inside of your nostrils. Sharply inhale through your nose a few times to pull the lubrication up through your passages.
- You can also use an eyedropper. Tip your head back slightly. Place a drop or two of oil in each nostril and then snort.
Many people find that the combination of neti pot/oil snorting helps to maintain balance, especially in the springtime. Once pollen-related symptoms subside, a daily oil snorting regimen might be all you need to help keep you in alignment. This will be particularly true if you are an individual who has chronically dry skin, cracking joints and/or dry constipation.
As with everything in Ayurveda, you have to experiment a bit to find what works best for you. Nothing in this science is “one size fits all.” That’s the beauty of it. That’s why Ayurveda works.
