In our acupuncture practice at Tulsi Holistic Living, we receive a lot of requests for help with sinus problems such as congestion, post-nasal drip or sinus headaches. In Washington, DC, where we practice acupuncture, healthy breathing can be especially challenging due to the high pollen and pollution levels, as well as the winter months with the increased exposure to colds and viruses. One possible remedy to consider is nasal irrigation with a neti pot. Nasal irrigation or Jala Neti is an ancient Aryuvedic yoga technique, which literally means, "water cleansing". The overall principle is to rinse out your nasal cavity with warm salt water using a small neti pot. This pot looks like a miniature watering pot with a straight beak that tapers to fit into your nostril. You can find a neti pot in most health food stores as well as at Tulsi Holistic Living.

Practitioners of the neti pot have reported:

· Overall vitality due to breathing improvement · Alleviation of allergy related problems · Improvement of sinusitis or chronic sinus infections · Drying up of post-nasal drip · Easing of common cold symptoms by either avoiding them all together or shortened duration of symptoms. · Improvement in sinus health.

Nasal irrigation, though it may seem exotic to western culture, is a common practice in parts of South East Asia where it is performed as regularly as brushing your teeth. During the colder months of the year when you experience congestion or cold symptoms this technique can be performed up to 4 times a day. This technique has been shown to speed up the healing process of the common cold.

Here's how it works:

Fill your neti pot with warm water and then add a ¼ to ½ teaspoon of non-iodize salt to the water (water that is too hot or with iodized salt can irritate your sinus). Next, stand over a sink and turn your head 90 degrees to the side (almost as though you are looking over your shoulders) and slightly down toward the sink. Place the spout of the neti pot in the upper nostril and allow the salt solution to flow into the top nostril, through the nasal passages, and out the lower nostril.

Breathe through your mouth. When the pot is empty, refill it and repeat the technique on the other side. When you are beginning you may prefer to use only half a pot on each side. If your nasal passage seems to be blocked, switch back and forth several times as needed.

Cautions and considerations:

If you experience ear discomfort while performing Jala Neti, blow your nose more gently after the wash. If you experience pain due to sinus pressure consult a health care professional.

For questions give us a call at (202) 332-3501, or drop us a line at: Michelle@Acupuncture-DC.com Sadie@Acupuncture-DC.com