My Secret Weapon for Allergies & Congestion
The neti pot. Have you tried it? It is a small teapot looking vessel that allows you to rinse out your sinuses with a saline solution by pouring it into one nostril to fill your sinus and let it pour out the other side. I know…it sounds kind of crazy. I HATE the sensation of water in my nose and I could never use those nasal sprays but I have found the neti pot so easy and effective for stuffiness and congestion brought on by colds and allergies. It also happens to be one of the ancient sat kryia, or cleansing techniques outlined in ancient yogic texts said to bring clarity to the mind and prepare the body for meditation.
But, for most people the idea of pouring water in one nostril and have it come out the other sounds down right scary! It took a moment of desperation to take the plunge, or in this case, the pour. Every few years seasonal allergies seem to hit me harder. I was in the middle of one of these seasons. Allergy meds put me in a fog so I asked my yoga teacher if there was a pose that could help, he instead recommended a neti pot. I picked one up but it took me two weeks to build up enough courage to try the thing. It turns out my mom bought one at the same time and had also avoided putting to use. So, we put each other on speaker phone and filled up the pots. It was a little awkward at first but I was shocked at how it didn’t burn at all, what came out of my sinuses and how refreshed I felt afterwards. My mom, a sufferer of sinus infections most of her adult life hasn’t had one since that day. It is amazing.
Neti pots range in style and material. You can now find them online or in most drug stores. My favorite is a ceramic one I found at my yoga studio many years ago. Here are a few tips I’ve picked up along the way.
How to Become a Neti Pot Pro:
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- Use a trusted water source. Distilled or boiled. (I boil water for 5 minutes then keep it in a designated container in the fridge to heat up as I need it)
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- Make sure the water temp feels neutral or slightly warm to the touch.
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- Be sure of your salt ratios. Too much or too little is what give you that uncomfortable water-up-the-nose sensation. And remember, NON IODIZED SALT ONLY!
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- Drop your chin down and tilt your head at a 45 degree angle
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- Don’t block the nostrils when you blow your nose after the pour.
- To get out all of the water in the sinuses be sure to fold forward, flipping your head upside down. Then, gently blow and turn your head from one side to the other. I sometimes throw in a down dog too, that always seems to get the last bit out.
