It must be spring. The red eyes, runny nose and itching throat are dead giveaways. Every year it used to be the same, I’d suffer with the symptoms of hayfever until I couldn’t stand it any longer and dosed myself with anti-histamines. Then I discovered Jala Neti.
Neti is one of six yoga cleansing techniques (shatkarma) that are designed to purify the body and balance the flow of prana, or energy. It’s basically a nasal wash, but the technique is infinitely superior to the commercial ‘nose squirty’ products that I’d tried before.
All you need is a neti pot (you can buy one for $9 from Adore), some non-iodized salt and warm water. The neti pot is like a tiny teapot. You fill it with body-temperature water, add a teaspoon of salt and mix the two together. Then place the end of the neti pot's spout gently inside your right nostril, creating a seal. Tilting the head so your left ear is parallel with the sink, tip the neti pot up so that the water travels along the right nostril, across the septum and down the left nostril, from where it flows in to the sink.
When the pot is empty, repeat the technique on the second side. Then gently blow your nose a few times to remove any excess water. That’s all there is to it.
It doesn’t hurt and you won’t drown (you breathe through your mouth) and if the water does go down your throat the first time you try it, spit it out and try again, just tilt your head over a bit more so your ear is closer to the sink.
If you’re still not sure, take a look at this instructional video.
In parts of India, Jala Neti is practiced daily. Rather than just using it as a cure when you’re experiencing allergies or congestion (it works for colds too), neti is a powerful preventative medicine and a daily cleanse will help keep you sniffle free.
You can buy a neti pot from Adore, or speak to an expert Adore Yoga teacher about learning how to do this safe and effective cleansing practise.
Have you tried Jala Neti? How has it helped you combat allergy or cold symptoms?
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