Kevin Tillman was first drawn to a neti pot in the health food store he worked at in 2004. The physical education and parkour teacher in San Jose, Costa Rica, struggled with seasonal allergies for years and found relief in nasal rinsing with the mini teapot-shaped vessel.
“When I lived in California, there were consecutive years of wildfires. I found it essential to use a neti pot to manage allergies and deal with air pollution,” he says. “These days, I use it almost daily, depending on the air quality and my level of activity outside.”
Tillman is one of a growing number of people drawn to jal neti, an Ayurvedic nasal cleansing technique practised in India for centuries.
It provides relief from allergies, asthma, migraines, colds and sinus issues, but is also practised for overall well-being.
On Instagram, there are more than 18,000 #netipots posts, with videos and photos of people bent over sinks, a spout wedged into one nostril while water streams out of the other.
It looks daunting, but more people are keeping their noses clean with jal neti, influenced by respiratory issues, an interest in natural remedies and the global popularity of Ayurveda and yoga.
Jal (water) neti (to guide) is mentioned as one of the six purification practices in the Hatha Yoga Pradeepika, a 15th-century Sanskrit manual.
“The benefits include purification of the nasal channels and clarity of vision. It is also good for facial skin tone, mental health, handling snoring and hair health,” says Sharad Kulkarni, an Ayurveda consultant and author at Jeevottama Health Ayurveda Centre in Bangalore, India.
“In a standing or squatting position use clean warm saline water (a pinch of salt to 200ml, or 6.8 ounces, water) in a neti pot and direct it into one nostril, gently tilting the head to the other side till the water flows out of the other nostril,” instructs Kulkarni. It is recommended to blow the nose or firmly exhale through the nostrils afterwards to release any remaining water.
Read More at https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3170961/neti-pot-basics-how-ayurvedic-nasal-rinse-relieves