Please read this information bulletin entirely to avoid the neti pot danger lurking inside your neti pot.
As you may know, the neti pot techniques are considered to be one of the best ways to improve energy and health, and is specifically designed for cleaning your nose cavities and passageways. Sometime, however, some side effects can occur, but by understanding how the neti pot works, you can avoid any risk of these problems.
If you are thinking of starting a daily nasal irrigation routine, you’ll want to make sure you have all the facts and equipment ready, so you don’t have an unpleasant experience.
Neti Pot Danger
While using the neti pot can be extremely beneficial, the most dangerous and highest risk chance of infection with a neti pot is the dreaded ear infection. If you allow the neti pot solution to drain into the ear cavity, it is possible to carry bacteria and fungii from the sinus passage into the ear cavity, and this can lead to some painful ear infections.
Avoiding ear infections is quite simple, and all you need to do is get into the right position for your jala neti irrigation sessions. Basically, you should be facing a sink or other large basin that can receive the saline solution that will drain out of your nasal passage. Bend over almost 90 degrees (70-80 degrees is adequate), and turn your head to one side so your nose is almost parallel with the sink (but not quite). When you are using the sideways technique, it is impossible for saline solution to drain into the ear cavity.
Getting into the right irrigation position is critical so you avoid having any mucus run down into the ears (I bet you never realized you had so many tunnels in your head!).
(If you would like to see a neti pot demonstration of this position, visit the neti pot instructions and watch the first neti pot video.).
The other important thing is to get the saline solution mixed properly, because there are a lot of mis-informed people online who are recommending either too little or too much salt. The actual amount of salt you must use is 5mg (one level teaspoon) for every 16 ounces (500ml) of water. The water itself should be body temperature, not too hot or cold, and you can get this perfect warm water at body temperature by running the tap and adjusting the water temperature so it feels perfect when it runs onto the sensitive inner skin of your wrist. When it feels nice on your wrist, fill up your mixing container with 2 cups of water and one level teaspoon of salt, and mix it completely so there are no salt granules remaining. If your nose begins to burn during your neti practice, it is either the salt mixture or water temperature that is causing this discomfort.
If you find yourself blowing your nose hard, and water goes into your ears, just remember that the water is taking the path of least resistance, and it means your nasal passages are blocked. The best thing to do is to lean over the sink after your neti session, let the water drain out naturally, and then close one nostril and gently breathe out the other nostril, repeating for the other nostril a total of 2-3 times, before you even think of really blowing your nose. If you have a history of sinusitis infections, you could have passages that are difficult to drain, and in this case, you’ll need to be more patient in letting all the water out before you finish the process.
Remember, you must insert the neti pot spout into the nostril that is highest, meaning if you turn your head to the right, then you will insert the neti spout into the right nostril and let the liquid flow out the left nostril. Once you let 8-16 ounces flow in that direction, turn your head to the other side, and change the spout over to the other nostril, and repeat. Once the salty water has finished to flow out the right nostril, be sure to blow your nose gently to clear any remaining saline solution left in the nasal cavities. You should breathe through your mouth during the entire session (breathing is highly recommended during this process!)
Make sure you use non-iodized salt, as the iodine can cause problems. Sea salt is good, or any pharmaceutical grade salt can also do the job.
Cleansing your nasal cavities in this way will ensure you get maximum benefits without the danger of an ear infection. If you find the water flow is blocked in any way, be sure to check your body position, and your ability to pass air through both nostrils. If you have sinusitis or other nasal disease, please consult with your physician or health practitioner before beginning a jala neti routine.
Neti pots are best when made out of ceramic, or stainless steel, as these will prevent any bacterial buildup while left in storage. Other neti pots made of plastic must be reviewed to make sure they are bacterial resistant and non-toxic. The worst thing is to pull out a pot that has some bacterial growth, and use it without fully disinfecting it first. If you stick with the ceramic or stainless steel neti pots, you won’t have to worry about this danger when trying out this hatha yoga technique.
