Neti: the key to healthy sinuses

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The neti kriya is one of the shat karmas, or six cleansing actions of the hatha yoga tradition, used to cleanse the nasal passages and sinuses …

There are two primary types: jala, which means water; and sutra, which means thread (or string). The jala neti will be detailed here.

Technique

Use warm salted water with the concentration of one-quarter teaspoon per cup (250ml) of water.
The traditional method is to take some salted water in the hollow of one hand.
Close the opposite nostril with the index finger of the other hand and inhale through the open nostril, drawing the water in until it reaches the mouth.
Do not swallow anything; rather, vigorously expel the water back through the nostril while continuing to hold the other side closed.
Repeat this process on the opposite side.
When finished, blow your nose into a tissue to clear the sinuses of any residual liquid.

The Neti Pot

This technique may more easily be performed with the help of a special pot called a neti pot, which has a long spout (even a small teapot will suffice).

Leaning over a basin or sink, slightly turn your head to one side and insert the spout of the pot into the upturned nostril.
Continue to turn your head further and allow the liquid to pour into the nose. With the head turned, the liquid will flow from one sinus into the other and then run freely out of the other side, so there is no need to block the opposite nostril.
If heavily blocked sinuses inhibit the flow of liquid through to the other side, then block off the lower nostril and inhale as described above until the fluid begins to pass into the throat.
Finish by expelling the excess fluid as described above.

The Benefits

The benefits of this nasal cleansing technique are many-fold. The enormous enhancement of olfactory senses afterwards should be enough to convince anyone of its therapeutic efficacy.

This kriya loosens and flushes away incrustations of dried mucous in the nasal cavities, dissolves and expels dust and other impacted pollutants and thoroughly washes the sensitive olfactory endings, making head colds are a thing of the past for those who regularly practice it.

This yogic nasal irrigation also enhancing the capacity to extract and assimilate prana from the air.