The Essential Nasal Irrigation Tips

July 7, 2010 · Filed Under Alternative Medicine 

Nasal irrigation has moved out of the realm of yoga and into the hands of the everyday people suffering from a variety of nasal conditions.

No longer is nasal irrigationa practice for religious groups, but now it is becoming a recommended therapy for the nearly 1 in 7 Americans who suffer from a sinonasal complaint.

Nasal irrigation takes 3 primary forms:

1. Use of a neti pot to run saline solution through the nasal cavity
2. Injectors that force saline liquid up into the nose, and
3. Negative pressure devices that draw liquid into the nose.

Of these, all are effective. Some studies are showing that some sinus conditions can benefit from the injectors or negative pressure devices, but these devices do cost significantly more, and do tend to break down once in a while. Still, these devices are highly recommended for anyone committed to nasal irrigation on a daily basis.

Nasal irrigation comes from the ancient tradition of jala neti, an Indian term meaning nasal cleaning. It was meant to open up the breathing passage and allow more life energy to pass through. While this may be true, many people are now using irrigation techniques to help manage such diverse conditions as chronic rhinosinusitis and postnasal drip. Even the difficult to treat ailments, like atrophic rhinitis can be improved with recurring irrigations.

Nasal irrigations simply take warm, body temperature water, add enough salt to make it the same salinity as mucous (usually 5 grams in 16 ounces (500ml) of water, dissolved completely. This saline solution is put into either a tradition neti pot, or one of the newer devices on the market. The saline solution is then passed from one nostril and out the other nostril. The process is repeated in the other direction.

It is very important to dry the nasal cavity completely once you have performed the jala neti nasal irrigation, in order to prevent any bacterial growth in the various chambers in the head.

Also important is the mastery of the correct position and technique, because incorrect technique can lead to ear pressure, popping, and possibly even ear infection.

People who have undergone nose surgery and suffer from nasal crusting also benefit immensely from the nasal irrigation process, as it can help remove the crusting that occurs.

Some benefits people report after initiating a daily regime of jala neti are an increased sense of smell, higher levels of energy, more positive emotions, reduced snoring, and a better night of sleep.

With virtually no downside, and such tremendous benefits, it is surprising that more people don’t practice this nasal irrigation routine. I guess it still is a bit of a shock to pour water into your nose, and even more shocking to see it run right out the other nostril.

Nevertheless, having your own neti pot can become somewhat of an addictive thing, with people actively seeking the best neti pot or nasal irrigator for their needs. The only recommendation I can make is, if you do decide to purchase one of the electronic nasal irrigators, be sure to read the feedback of current users, as some devices do not last as long as you might hope.

Continue reading to discover the best selling neti pot and the major flaw with the #1 nasal irrigator and then decide which is best for you.

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