While many people relate yoga to flexibility and stretching, it also includes other health practices such as meditation, breathing exercises, and cleansing practices called Shatkriyas. For many yogis, kriyas such as nasal cleansing are practiced on a regular basis to ward off colds and allergies. They were taught by the ancient gurus, and are now even being used in many medical practices.
Alternative methodologies are presented as referential, and are not intended to replace medical treatment for any condition.
History
Humans have been using ritual cleansing practices since ancient times. In yoga, kriyas, or internal cleansing exercises, were also used for therapeutic purposes, and presented as a modality based in spirituality. Nasal cleansing, a technique known as neti, is used to cleanse the breathing path and ward off disease. The basic nasal cleansing techniques taught in traditional hatha yoga, include Jala neti, Dughda neti and Sutra neti.
Jala Neti
The most common method of nasal cleansing is using a neti pot filled with a saline solution. The tip of the pot is inserted into one nostril, and with the head tilted to one side over a sink, water is poured into the nostril and out the other. The process is then repeated on the opposite side. Yoga Journal explains that this can be practiced on a daily basis to treat respiratory congestion, frequent colds, and sinus headaches.
Dughda Neti
Dughda Neti is similar to Jala neti, but utilizes warm milk instead of salt water. It is ideal for those who find the saline solution irritating or drying. With this method the milk does not need to be poured from one nostril to the other. It can simply be poured into one side and immediately expelled. Yogis use Dughda neti to treat chronic nosebleeds or for over-dry sinuses. It is not recommended for regular cleansing, and should only be used with specific instructions from your practitioner.
Sutra Neti
For deeper cleansing, yogis may also try Sutra neti, which uses a damp cord threaded into the nasal passages. It generally follows a thorough flushing with Jala neti, and is used to eliminate built-up mucous in the sinuses and open the airways for deeper breathing. Advanced nasal cleansing techniques can be harmful if not executed properly, and should only be employed under the direction of a trained professional.
Benefits
Although time honored and practiced in ancient cultures for both spiritual and health purposes, nasal cleansing has only found recent support in modern medicine. In 2009 the American Family Physician published a study of nasal irrigation for upper respiratory infections which found that it was effective in treating symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis with minimal adverse effects. The University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine also reported several studies which showed nasal cleansing to be effective in treating allergies, upper respiratory infections and chronic sinusitis, with the added benefit of a decrease in medications.
Considerations
While common in some Eastern cultures, nasal cleansing is a relatively new practice in the West. Before trying to irrigate on your own, consult a trained professional who can assist you. According to yoga therapist Swami Omananda Saraswati, improper nasal cleansing techniques are not only uncomfortable, but can cause health problems such as the spread of infection. Find a yoga therapist who is trained in the practice of Shatkriyas, or a health care professional who uses nasal irrigation in their practice. Alternative therapies such as Jala neti should be used in conjunction with, and not in place of conventional medical care.
References
- Yoga Journal: Everyday Yoga
- YogaPoint.com: Cleansing Processes
- American Family Physician; "Saline Nasal Irrigation for Upper Respiratory Conditions"; November 2009
- Wisconsin School of Medicine: Department of Family Medicine: Nasal Irrigation
- HealthAndYoga.com: Jala Neti
- Yoga-Age.com: Jala and Sutra neti
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