Patrick Zeis Budding trees and blossoming flowers can only mean one thing. Spring is officially here. For the hundreds of millions who suffer from allergies and sinus issues the beautiful springtime colors serve as a reminder to stock up on Kleenex and take the Allegra out of the drawer. Running noses, sinus headaches, and itchy eyes, which are all typically caused by the changing weather, are symptoms that many of us are all too familiar with. According to WedMd, at least 55% of United States citizens test positive for at least one allergy. This equates to roughly 175 million people, in America alone, who deal with allergies.
As the calendar turns to April, now is the time to prepare our sinuses for the pollen that comes with the blossom, and it can be extremely beneficial to find safe alternative solutions to assist our allergy defense. Common allergy medicines, in the West, surely help us get through the sinus headaches and sneezing that come with spring, but would you not be enticed by a natural supportive method that would assuredly allow you to have more outdoor fun?
The Neti Pot:
There is an ancient Ayurvedic tool that can help turn this spring from a snooty occurrence into an energizing adventure. The neti pot, which is referred to as ‘Jala Neti’ throughout India, is an instrument that has been used by practitioners of Ayurveda medicine to conduct nasal irrigation therapy for centuries. Today, these helpful tools that resemble teapots in their appearance come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and materials.
For an individual wanting to use a neti pot, one of the many natural treatment alternatives that come from Ayurvedic medicine, they would first fill it with warm water and mix in a saline solution primarily composed of salt. After the solution dissolves, they would then securely enclose the spot of the pot into one of their nostrils.
With the filled neti pot in their nostril, they would proceed to turn their head over a sink and raise the pot, which causes the solution to run through one nasal passage and out of the other. As the water flows, excess mucus, which is especially thick in allergy season, is flushed out of the sinus cavity. The individual would then repeat these simple steps with the opposite nostril.
By regularly using a neti pot, to prohibit sinus congestion and excess mucus buildup, one should expect to feel additional relief this allergy season. It is possible to use the neti pot on a daily basis as long as you do not have reactive side effects, typically limited to sensitive nostrils, but it is just as effective to use the neti pot whenever you start to feel sinus mucus build up in your nasal cavity.
To give you a better idea of how the Neti Pot works, here is a short segment from a 2010 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show where Dr. Oz and Oprah discuss the benefits of nasal irrigation and the nets pot:
Health Benefits of The Neti Poti:
The Neti Pot has been scientifically proven to provide individuals with numerous health benefits. For example, in a 2002 study conducted at the University of Wisconsin, researchers measured the correlation between nasal irrigation, administered with Neti Pots, and a reduction of negative sinus symptoms. The study found that 93% of participants, who had a previous history of sinus issues, saw a decrease in negative sinus symptoms with neti pot usage, as well as a minimized need for sinus medications.
Beyond a reduction in negative sinus symptoms, there are numerous other health benefits that individuals can obtain by regularly using a neti pot, such as:
- An improved flow of breathing.
- Relieve from common allergy symptoms.
- Reduction in the need for allergy medication.
- Prevention of respiratory infections.
Use Ayurveda to Fight Allergies:
If you are interested to use Ayurveda to fight allergies this spring season, there are a number of ways to get started with a treatment program. Since the mid-2000s, Neti Pots have grown tremendously in popularity and it may now be possible to find a Neti Pot at your local pharmacy or alternative healthcare shop. If this is not possible, there are numerous Neti Pot manufacturers who sell their products online.
One company who’s products we recommend is the Himalayan Institute, which is a nonprofit organization that aims to offer knowledge, training, and the environment to reach one’s full potential and bring a qualitative transformation in ourselves and in the larger world of which we are an integral part.
The organization has numerous Neti Pot products that can assist in your nasal irrigation treatment. Not only can you find Neti Pots and saline solutions on the website, but also additional products, such as essential oil solution enhancers, that can assist in your fight against allergies this spring. One product that you may want to consider purchasing is the Neti Pot Starter Kit which features a Neti Pot, a 12 oz. jar of Neti Salt, and a solution enhancer that is used to help soothe dry nasal passages.
