Your nose needs a neti

Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip-drip-drip-drip.

I try to be patient as I wait, my head tilted slightly to the  left, my chin tucked into my chest. I have the spout of what looks like a gray plastic genie lamp wedged into my right nostril. The genie’s lamp is halfway full of salt water that I’m pouring into and through my nose. As I wait, the slow drips from my left nostril increase in speed, until they are a trickle and then a thin steady stream of liquid. When there’s no water left in the genie lamp, I set it down and blow my nose.

I’m not going to describe what comes out, but I am going to encourage you to use a neti pot on a regular basis. It’s a simple and effective way to keep your nasal passageways clear, and they’re a huge part of breathing. Since breathing is the primary way we receive energy for life, it’s important to do it well. Breathing through the nose is the best way to get oxygen into the lungs, because the nose does an exceptional job of filtering and regulating the flow of air. As long as it’s not clogged, of course.

Nasal congestion is never comfortable and can even be painful (sinus infection = shudder), but using a neti pot/genie lamp at least once a day can go a long way to relieve symptoms and prevent problems. This is partly because the salt water reduces the swelling of nasal tissues, which allows more air to pass between them, and partly because the gravitational force of the water flushes out whatever gunk has been blocking your nasal passages.

Using a neti pot is simple, and it can easily become part of your routine–just do a rinse every time you brush your teeth. It only takes a couple of minutes and in addition to improving your quality of breath, you’ll learn patience and discipline. Because unlike brushing your teeth, you can’t control how fast you go: Either the water flows through freely, or you wait till it does.

What you can control is how pleasant your experience is–you won’t enjoy using water that is too hot or too cold, and it’s important that you add the right kind of salt as well as the right amount. The right kind is non-iodized, so no table salt. Stick with natural sea salt, which is easily (and cheaply!) found in most grocery stores. And the right amount is whatever doesn’t sting–usually less than a teaspoon. (Most neti pots come with packets of dressed-up sea salt; they’re good guides for how much salt to add and are useful for when you travel.) If you ever feel any stinging, stop, pour out the brine, and try again with less salt.

The refreshing feeling that follows a good sinus cleanse is invigorating, and there’s no easier, more natural and affordable way to promote respiratory health. After lapsing my neti habits for a few months and finally picking up the pot again, I am more convinced than ever that all of us should be rinsing every day.

Just make sure you’re alone before it’s time to finish off with a hearty nose-blowing….