Why a Nasal Wash?

nasal washing with neti pot The nasal passages are lined with a thin layer of mucus that is one of our body's first lines of defense against disease. A nasal wash keeps this layer of mucus moist, clean and healthy. And compared to other nasal wash techniques, using the Neti Pot is much easier, simpler and quicker to do. A nasal wash can be as routine as brushing your teeth. Use it anytime to: Remove excess mucus due to congestion. Rid nostrils of pollen and other allergens. Cleanse the nasal membranes of dust, smoke, or other airborne contaminants. Relieve nasal dryness due to air travel. Improve flow of breath before doing relaxation or meditation techniques. Remember a nasal wash is not a substitute for medical treatment. Anyone with chronic inflammation of the nasal passages or other ear, nose, or throat disorders should seek medical attention. Rinsing with saline solution is a time-honored practice in the Orient. Here in the West, the nasal wash has been used for decades as a means of treating sinus problems, colds, allergies, and post-nasal drip and to counteract the effect of environmental pollution. Those practicing yoga and other meditative disciplines use the nasal wash to ensure free air flow through both nostrils.

Nasal irrigation is a personal hygiene practice which involves flooding the nasal cavity with warm saline solution. The goal of nasal irrigation is to clear out excess mucus and particulates and moisturize the nasal cavity. Either a fluid-filled syringe or a Neti Pot can be used. The practice has been subjected to clinical testing and has been found to be safe and beneficial, with no apparent side effects. nasal irrigation _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A Healthy Nose

Breathing through the nose filters and conditions the incoming air. The nasal passages are lined with a thin layer of mucus that traps dirt, dust, and pollen and moves steadily to the rear of the nasal cavity and settles in the throat, where it is swallowed. Saline nasal rinses carry some of these impurities out of the body before they reach your stomach. They also keep this protective layer of mucus functioning properly. If the mucus becomes too thick and dry or too thin and runny, it is easier for bacteria and viruses to penetrate the nasal lining and cause the swelling and excess discharge of mucus we call a “cold.” That’s why gargling or sniffing a little salt water at the first sign of a cold is a staple of folk medicine and why health-conscious people in India use a small pot of saline to rinse the nasal passages. The Neti Pot™ continues these time-tested traditions of hygiene.

Uses for the Nasal Wash

For some people, the nasal wash is as routine as brushing their teeth. Others use it for specific purposes. Suggestions:
  • Do the nasal wash to wake up, clear your nostrils, and start the day breathing freely.
  • Use it to remove excess mucus when you are experiencing nasal congestion.
  • Do it several times a day during the allergy season to rid the nostrils of pollen and other allergens.
  • Use the nasal wash when you’ve been exposed to soot, dust, smoke, or other airborne contaminants.
  • Use it to dissolve mucus build-up in dry climates or in air-conditioned or heated rooms, or after air travel.
  • Do the nasal wash before practicing systematic relaxation techniques or meditation to help you breathe freely and easily through your nose.

    For those who suffer from chronic sinusitis, nasal irrigation is a quick and inexpensive way to promote ciliary function and mucus turnover, decrease edema, and improve drainage through the sinus ostia. To summarize, nasal irrigation can purportedly:

  • Clear out sticky, persistent mucus and help reduce nasal congestion
  • Cleanse and rid the sinus cavities of allergens, irritants, and contaminants
  • Treat chronic sinusitis
  • Treat acute bacterial rhinosinusitis
  • Treat allergic rhinitis
  • Prevent common colds and flu
  • Relieve nasal dryness
  • Treat empty nose syndrome
  • Improve breathing
  • Reduce cough and other symptoms of post-nasal drip
  • Temporarily reduce symptoms of phantosmia
  • Generally improve sinus health

    Remember, the nasal wash is not a substitute for medical treatment. Anyone with chronic inflammation of the nasal passages or other ear, nose, or throat disorders should seek medical attention.

    Learn more about "After Nasal Wash"

    Learn more about "How to use a Neti Pot"

    Five reasons why the Neti Pot makes sense

    ceramic neti pot image 1. Soothes dry nasal passages
    2. Gently washes away dust, pollen, and environmental irritants
    3. Offsets the effects of breathing dry indoor air (especially in winter)
    4. Removes excess mucus…naturally
    5. Helps you breathe freer when practicing yoga or meditation

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