Neti is an ancient technique of body cleansing that focuses on cleaning the nasal passages. A regular part of Ayurvedic medicine in India, neti typically involves rinsing your sinuses with saline solution to flush them and help you breathe more easily so that you can practice yoga. Yogis and non-yogis alike can benefit from this practice. It's a common practice among opera singers. Benefits of neti include better nasal health, the inexpensive cost and the fact that there are virtually no side effects.
Nasal Health
Healthy nasal passages are important for your overall nasal health: They allow you to breathe better and keep your head feeling clear. Many diseases and environmental factors can contribute to poor nasal health, such as upper respiratory infections, sinusitis, allergies, colds, pollution, dust and chemicals. Neti helps to keep the thin layer of mucous inside your nasal passages healthy, according to U.S. Pharmacist, and reduces uncomfortable symptoms such as stuffy nose and sinus headache. It's also recommended for hayfever sufferers, who may see reduced symptoms with daily use.
Cost
Compared to medications to relieve or prevent symptoms of unhealthy nasal passages, practicing neti is extremely inexpensive. The only supplies you need are water, salt and a pot. Pure, non-iodized salt from the supermarket is cheap and using water from the tap works fine. You only need to invest in a neti pot, once because it can be reused indefinitely as long as you keep it clean. Neti pots cost approximately $10 and can be purchased online and at many pharmacies.
No Side Effects
Neti has no side effects, once you know how to use it properly. A 2008 study performed by Dr. David Rabago at Department of Family Medicine at the University of Wisconsin found some first-time users reported anxiety as a side effect, but everyone in the study continued to use the neti pot and did not experience anxiety once they had adjusted. In contrast, all medications that prevent or alleviate uncomfortable nasal symptoms have unwanted side effects including headaches, nosebleeds or bad aftertaste.
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