How to do nasal wash
Nasal washing can be done using jala neti, a technique used by Yoga that promotes airway cleaning
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Nasal washing can be done in several ways. Some techniques consist of applying saline with a syringe or using a small pot. It is also possible to use a mixture of water and salt and do a nasal wash using Jala Neti, a traditional Yoga technique.
Jala Neti is a nasal wash technique used by Yoga to purify the airways. jala means water and neti, in this context, cleanliness. The process is done through a fish market, a kind of mug with a spout that facilitates the application of water to the nose. This nasal wash promotes the hygiene of the nostrils and also the nasal mucosa.
Nasal washing helps to reduce mucus and promotes the elimination of impurities such as pathogenic microorganisms. Jala neti is very useful for people who suffer from rhinitis, sinusitis and other respiratory ailments, but it is not recommended for those who suffer from frequent nosebleeds.
Cleaning is done only with water and salt and preferably at the beginning of the day. It is not recommended to take Jala Neti at night, before going to bed, as any water left in the nasal cavity can reach the ear canal and cause inflammation. If you wash during the day, on the other hand, the water will have time to drain without causing any problems.
Jala Neti nasal wash
To make the Jala Neti nasal wash, place a teaspoon of salt in half a liter of pre-boiled or filtered warm water. It is also possible to use saline solution. Place this mixture in the neti pot and then place the mug at the entrance to your most unobstructed nostril, breathing through your mouth.
Tilt your head as if pointing your nose towards the floor or sink drain - do not look up as this can cause water to go into your throat or ear. Keep tilting the pot until the water starts to flow from one nostril to the other, just because of the action of gravity.
Let the water run out of the opposite nostril and tilt your head more and more, until the water runs out. When finished, let the water drain and blow gently, without blocking your nostrils, to prevent the water from going to your ear.
Fill the neti pot with the mixture of water and salt and repeat the procedure for the other side. At first, as a shock treatment, this nasal wash can be done every day, then you can reduce it to once or twice a week.
The benefits range from the physical cleaning of impurities, which occurs due to the passage of water, and humidification of the airways, to the reduction or reversal of allergic processes such as rhinitis and sinusitis. However, it is not recommended to do Jala Neti in times of crisis.
