Jal Neti

The process for the cleaning of the nasal path is known as neti. The aim of the process is to purify the breathing path right from the nostrils to the throat. If the aim is achieved using water, the process is known as Jalneti.
Well, to put it simply, jalaneti is a cleansing practice of the sinus passages with warm saline water. Yogis have practiced it for centuries for its innumerable and powerful benefits. It is also called Neti or Saline Nasal Irrigation.

Benefits:

Jalneti helps solve the sinus infection and allergy problems without the use of drugs with immediate, immense and sustained results AND without side effects.

1.At the immediate level, neti is a great tool for any kind of respiratory disorder – sinusitis, allergy, asthma, hay fever to name a few. People invariably notice an immediate relief, which drugs fail to achieve. Neti helps to re-program the body’s natural mechanisms against respiratory complaints including sore throats, coughs, postnasal drips etc.

2. It can be of great benefit to problems associated with the eyes ears such as certain types of deafness and myopia. But the great mental and spiritual effects overshadow these tremendous physical benefit.

3.Neti has a cooling and soothing effect on the brain and is therefore beneficial for headaches migrain.,depression, mental tensions and even epilepsy, hysteria and temper tantrums.

4.It stimulates better powers of visualization and concentration and gives a feeling of lightness and clarity to the mind.

5.But the best part is that it is excellent for those trying to give up smoking.


How to do it?

1. Put warm water into the utensil and add a little salt in it. Tilt the neck and touch the tip of spout to one of the nostrils. Open the mouth and continue breathing through it.

2. Gradually pour water into the nostril. Since the breathing is continued through the mouth, the water straightway goes through the food pipe into the throat to the stomach. Just as we drink water through the mouth, in the same way it can be drunk through the nose. When some water is drunk though one nostril, perform the process with the other one. This is process is not neti, but when one is accustomed to drinking water through nose, then practicing neti is easier. During Jalneti, the position of the head and pot are adjusted to allow the water to flow out of the other nostril.

3. To help flow water out of the other nostril, tilt the neck further. It is essential to find the pose of the neck here. When the pose is found, the rest of the process is easier. The water poured through one nostril can easily come out of the other. The breathing is naturally through the mouth at this time. Pour water into the left nostril and take it out of the right, then drink it by the right one and take it out of the left. If you have a 1/2 liter vessel, then you can fill the vessel again for the second nostril.

4. The stream of water from both the nostrils will not be same depending on the blockade or nervous spasms. Do the whole exercise gently and in relaxed posture. One can wipe the nostrils with clean linen/towel in between while changing the nostrils.

5. Having finished with the water part just keep both arms at back and start blowing nose vigorously from alternate nostril(15-20 times) in order to remove every drop of water. Now look up for 15 seconds and while looking up again blow 10-15 time to blow off any residual water left.

6. Having finished with the blowing part now go to your exercise room or in open space, lie down in Shawasan (corpse position) for 10 minutes.

You can practice Jal Neti in the morning or in the evening and continue for about a month and review your health. If you start feeling better then you can do this exercise as and when required.

Note: Use Jal Neti vessel only, as other vessel may cause some problem in the movement of water. A beginner should seek the help of an expert in learning this technique.

(My sister had a problem of constant headaches, she use to have headaches for 25 day out of 30 days we tried many allopathy medicines but they provided only temporary relief.She learnt jal neti from a naturopath and had amazing results .)