Manage Your Headache

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If you've spent some time in recent years socializing, watching television or surfing the net, chances are you've come across jala neti and the neti pot. You may have actually seen that "freaky" technique demonstrated. You know, the one where the pot's long spout is inserted into one nostril and a salt water solution is poured in to have it come out through the other.If you are human, your reaction probably ranged from mild nausea to sheer terror. Hopefully, however, your curiosity and desire for better health were also piqued. As for the gross factor, picking your nose is arguably worse, plus you don't have to watch your nose as the liquid travels through it (although you might catch a few glimpses in the mirror). And as for the fear factor, rest assured that with a little bit of practice, you can easily and painlessly achieve the same feat yourself.But Why Would You Want To?First off, there are quite a few benefits associated with nasal irrigation. Apart from being a natural way to ensure nose and sinus health, regular practice will help you ward off the common cold and provide relief for various sino-nasal conditions and allergies, to mention some of its major benefits. It's a safer, more effective alternative to drugs.Secondly, jala neti has withstood the test of time. Practised in the East for millennia as part of yoga and Ayurvedic medicine, its benefits are increasingly being validated by scientific research.Thirdly, neti involves only a minor investment of time and money. Neti pots are inexpensive, and the basic method is easy to learn. In fact, after just a few attempts you should be able to complete the whole routine within minutes over a sink clad in your work clothes (if you wanted to).Easy to Set UpAll you need to get going is clean water (boiled will suffice), additive-free salt, and a nasal (neti) pot. While some similar device available to you at home (like a teapot) might do the trick, the technique is so much easier and more effective to apply with the right kind of specially-designed neti pot. Its elongated spout fits tightly and securely into the nostril, sealing the entrance shut to ensure a stronger flow.Beginners should prepare the salt water solution (saline) to match body temperature and salinity level. This usually means using half a teaspoon of salt to every cup (8 fluid ounces, a quarter of a liter) of slightly warm water. Use at least one cup per session. The salt should be completely dissolved. At more advanced levels, and for deeper benefits, salinity may be increased.Basic TechniqueIt is very important that you breathe through your mouth throughout. Staying relaxed will make things easier (easier said than done the first times). For the purpose of these instructions, let's assume you are plugging into your right nostril first:Insert the tip of the spout tightly into the right nostril from the side.Assume the position: Bending forward slightly over a sink (or preferably a bathtub initially), tuck the chin in towards the neck and tilt your head sideways to the left. This should position your throat above your open nostril, so that the saline naturally gravitates towards the latter. It will take some trial and error to get the angles right. At this point, the water should start to flow towards the open nostril.Halfway through the pot, stop and bring your head back to center. Let excess saline run out of your nose. Then, close each nostril in turn and very gently blow air out through the open nostril. Never force it out.Repeat steps 1-2 on the other side until the pot is empty. Then, with the head back to center, let excess saline run out of your nose as in step 3.Dry your nose completely. This is a crucial step. To do this, bend forward deeply with the crown of your head hanging down. Turn the head sideways, press the lower nostril shut and blow gently through the open nostril. Turn you head back to the middle, facing down, and do the same. Repeat several times, then repeat the whole procedure on the other side. Next, bending slightly at the waist, blow air forcefully out of the nose with both nostrils open. Do this a few times.Rinse the neti pot.If you swallow some saline at first, or some of it comes pouring out of your mouth, don't worry about it. It's perfectly natural. If you overcome these initial obstacles, you will actually find that neti can be quite fun.