The last blog, Balance your Body and Brain, introduced you to the powerful, but simple, technique of alternate nostril breathing. This week, I’m excited to tell you how to maximize the benefits of that practice as well as breathing in general! That’s right, you can increase your breathing efficiency as easy as you brush your teeth each morning through the practice of nasal irrigation or neti. More breath means more ENERGY!
The most common form of neti involves using a small pot, like a little tea pot, to pour a warm saltwater solution through the nasal passages. The water, literally, goes in one nostril and out the other. Think of a hose. If the hose had dirt caked along the inside, less water could travel through it. It is the same with your nose. Dirt, dust, mucous, bacteria and other pollutants become affixed to the walls of the nasal passages reducing the volume of the navel cavity. You get gypped with every breath you take. Every breath you are getting less fuel for life. It might not seem like you’re missing out on much. After all, how much debris can really build up inside of your nose? But you breathe approximately 17,000 - 30,000 times per day. The issue is one of magnitude. That small breathing inefficiency is multiplied exponentially throughout your day, every day. Each breath robs you of energy.
The thievery doesn’t just happen on the inhale either. It is also the exhale. The lungs work as a vacuum. The diaphragm draws downward on inhalation creating a negative space. Air moves into the area of least concentration. The space created in the lungs sucks in the air. On exhalation, the diaphragm relaxes back to its original position, pushing the air out of the lungs. If less air is released due to blockages in nasal passages, less air will be pulled in on the next inhalation. Again, not a big deal when you’re considering one breath, but that slight reduction translates into a substantial loss of energy-creating oxygen throughout the day.
Now, let’s talk about alertness — the compatriot of energy. If you haven’t seen it directly, you’re probably familiar with the old practice of reviving dazed boxers with smelling salts after a big hit. Although the non-iodized salt that you use in the neti doesn’t have the ammonia believed to be the active ingredient in the smelling salts, the neural stimulation of the nasal passages can contribute to feeling more awake. As well, the neti practice itself stimulates the larger breath volume mentioned above which naturally contributes to greater feelings of alertness. Just think of when you’re sleepy or bored. The body triggers the yawning response to bolster oxygen levels and wake you up.
But the list goes on. If you’re not feeling your best, your energy is going to be on the down low. Neti reduces pollen and allergens in the nasal passages as well as eliminating conditions that can lead to flus, colds and respiratory tract infections. This goes hand in hand with the reduction of nasal congestion which contributes to sinus headaches. Overall, the health of the nasal passages has a large affect on your overall feeling of well-being. Feeling well is feeling energetic and alert.
Finally, if the senses are "sensitive", they naturally will be more stimulated by triggers in the environment. Neti improves the senses of both smell and taste. More stimulation through the sensory system fires up alertness and the associated energy.
So, how do you get started? Easy. First, pick yourself up a neti pot. Yoga studios and natural health food stores usually have them in stock or, if you like the convenience of online, Amazon will do nicely. There are many different styles available. I recommend the porcelain variety but follow your fancy. In your search, you’ll probably come across a number of “modern” nasal sprays and rinses. I’m a traditionalist. What I like about the neti pot is that it is completely natural. Gravity does the work so there is no potentially damaging force or pressure.
You’ll also need salt for your neti pot. Again, you’ll find a number of different offerings from sachets to specific neti salts. The former is hard on the environment, the latter can be fairly expensive. I’m an advocate for purchasing a bulk bag of NON-IODIZED salt at your local grocery store or natural food retailer. Iodine can damage the nasal passages so definitely don’t use general table salt. Make sure you have a non-iodized product.
Once you have your neti pot and salt, then, all you need is water…and maybe a little courage to run water up your nose! Sterile, distilled or boiled (3-5 minutes and cooled before using) water is recommended for safe sinus and nasal rinsing. Tap water isn’t safe for this use as it is not adequately filtered or treated. Having said that, I’ve been using warm tap water for 18 years without incident but I can’t advise you to do the same.
Instructions for use will come with your neti pot so you’ll be I’ll set. For me, I add 1/4 tsp of salt to luke warm tap water. Stir it briskly with my finger to dissolve the salt. Bend over the sink, look down into the sink basin and turn my head on about a 45˚ angle. I gently place the spout of my neti pot in the nostril facing the ceiling, making sure I have a good seal between my nostril and the neti pot. Then, I tip the neti pot so the salt solution makes its way to my nostril and leaves through the other side. Magic!
The solution drains into the sink. I keep pouring until the pot runs out of solution. Blow through both nostrils into the sink to clear the nasal passages. Use a tissue to absorb any remaining saline or mucus that drips from my nose. Reload and do the other side.
Always clean and dry your neti pot after each use to keep it free of any contaminants. Refer to the cleaning, care and maintenance instructions that come with your neti pot for continued safe use.
You may find the first time or two is a bit like getting water up your nose while swimming but, by the third time, if not sooner, you’ll find its no problem at all.
That’s it! The neti pot is a simple way to add more energy to your day.