During my yoga-teacher-training, we learned about the supernatural benefits of the “A person who regularly drinks water through the nose in the early morning at the end of the night becomes intelligent, develops eyesight as acute as an eagle, is spared the graying of hair and the wrinkling of skin, and is freed from all diseases.”
—from theYoga-Ratnakara, a treatise on Ayurvedic medicine.
Well, that was all I needed to hear. If the neti pot could magically help improve my eyesight, get rid of graying hair and wrinkles, I’m in. I went to my local pharmacy and proceeded to purchase my very own blue plastic neti pot. I was a bit dismayed to find out that the neti pot was not just for yogis, as the version I bought was found in the cold-remedy section of my local drugstore and apparently is great to use if you are experiencing severe sinus issues.
I went home, anxious to start my miracle youth-defying transformation, and fired up my own batch of salt water and got ready to take the pot for a test-drive. Like many things in life, the first time was not a pleasant experience. The warm water going through my nasal passages felt creepy, and I’m sure I was not in the proper position, because the water started to go down my throat, I gagged, jerked upright, and had that disgusting feeling of salt water down my nose. Not one to quit, I waited a few minutes and tried again on the other side, sure that if I got my body positioned properly, I would be successful. Unfortunately, the left side results were equally disastrous, and I spent the remainder of the day trying to get my ears to stop popping from what must have been the residual effects of the water that did not flow properly through my nasal passages.
Despite continuing to hear the benefits of the neti pot and the endorsements from my fellow students, I still, to this day, have never had another tryst with my neti pot. So, that is my neti pot confession. I guess I’m doomed to have unclean nasal passages and none of the spiritual and antiaging benefits the
Oh my gosh, it was so wonderful to read this post. I finished my Level 1 350hr teacher training last year and we had to do the neti pot exercise. Mine sounded exactly like your experience, and to this day I havent had a successful outcome. It sits in my vanity cabinet, collecting dust & guilt. Am I a real yogi if I cant neti? Hmm, me thinks yes.
Love your blog and your lovely writing style.
Sara (Sydney, Aust).
Wonderful post, and great reminder, loved that quote from Ratnakara!, I think I will do the neti pot this morning…. how about right now? yeah!, thank you!!! will Twitt
Oh, and about your question, well, I sometimes love it and sometimes hate it…
I hear it has a lot to do with how warm the water is and the amount of salt. If the proportions are not right it can hurt. I get hurt sometimes.
Today I will take my time… But just like you, I sometimes do it, sometimes not. i.e.: while in India it is great for everyday because the air is so polluted there, but in the US maybe it is not needed all the time…
Those are my experiences…
Love my neti pot! I first tried it in YTT and discovered that it’s just the thing to beat seasonal allergies. As a full-time yoga teacher, I’m exposed to all kinds of nasty bugs – I’ve warded off many a cold by doing twice daily neti. My advice is to keep trying. Once you adjust to it, it’s easy and effective!
just can’t go there.. so no. still gives me the heebs
The neti pot reallly is amazing. My sinus/allergy issues have drastically decreased since using it.
To be successful with the neti pot:
1 – Your ears must be elevated – not parallel to the floor. That’s why you had the popping in your ears, they were too low and water went into the ear canal. So just tilt your head slightly.
2 – When you begin to pour the water, quietly say the letter K. When you say the letter K your throat closes and it’s not possible for water to go down your throat.
3 – Water temp is key! Too hot and it will burn, too cold and instant headache. I prefer just a tad warmer than room temp.
4 – If you have a sinus infection, you may be blocked and there is nowhere for the water to flow. Just put the water up one nostril as best you can, blow your nose. And then do the other nostril. Blow and breathe freely!
Good luck and definitely try it again!
“Say the letter K” is the perfect explanation. I try to describe it as breathing out through your mouth while the water starts to move through your nose. I think the contraction at the back of your throat is the trick. My neti pot saved me.
How do you get the water from the canal? I have that right now.
I have to admit the only reason I caught on to it so quickly is I have been plagued with sinus issues my whole life and find it better than needing an inhaler.
Now they make a more versatile spray bottle at Walmart to put the nettie salt into so there is no worry about spilled nettie water all over your face! So whoever invented that idea is worth their weight in gold!
Oh the neti pot… I’d been afraid of it for ages, before it popped its head in YTT too. So I figured it was time to give it another try.
And now I love it. Honest.
I don’t use it every day, I think it is too much. But once a week it is.
See my sinuses are one of my weak areas, whenever I get a cold this is where it will strike. I’ve been able to scare the colds away with the neti pot, it has been working wonders with me.
Ok I got sick not so long ago but for once my sinuses had nothing to do with it 🙂
I’ve finally found the right temperature and right amount of saltine solution. And I ban my boyfriend from the bathroom when I use the neti pot, no one would want to see that, it’s a couple no-go 😀
Loving all the feeback – thanks for the tips….but what I really want to know about is the anti-aging effects…is it really true?
oh this made me laugh out loud! I know a lot of neti haters but I love it! I don’t do it every day, but I really notice the difference when I do it regularly. My advice is this….be gentle with yourself. Use cooler water and less salt than you think you need and try to just relax into it. At times you will get the water down your throat, but just stop, readjust your position and try it again. I find laying my head on it’s side just above the sink works best for me, but with a bit of experimenting, you’ll find your best position.
You’ll notice daily changes in your sinuses, just like you notice daily changes in your body during your practice. Sometimes our nasal passages are so congested that the water just hangs out in one nostril and doesn’t come out the other side. That’s usually when we end up getting it down our throat, because we’re trying so hard to do it “right.” But just let it be what it is.
If you try it for a good couple of weeks and you find that it’s not for you…then let it go. But trying just once and giving up? That’s not the Maria I know!
Ah, then neti! Have to admit, I love it too. It is a life savor especially when I get a cold. If the pot is troublesome, try the squeeze bottle that you can find in your local drugstore. It will give you the same effect, is much easier to use than the pot, and then maybe you can try the pot again when you feel hot the water is supposed to flow…
You crack me up girlfriend =) I have not tried a neti pot nor do I have any desire to (especially now after reading this post!). We can be non-neti yoginis together!
Loooved this! It seems like everyone who \does\ yoga \does\ neti. I have a love-hate relationship with it. It took me a while to use it successfully, but still, I can only get the flow going for less than a minute before I can’t take it any more. Too intense. Sometimes it feels like being held underwater. I suppose it’s worth working on – I like it because I believe it’s hydrating my nasal cavities and cleansing them of germs, pollution, etc. Nothing to do with age-reversing, though if it did, I’d neti twice a day without fail!
Oh the neti pot. In my TT we talked about it and almost everyone had used them but me. One guy learned that day that he’d been doing it wrong – and that’s why he felt he was just drowning himself and hated it. lol
Years later I got a serious allergy problem and my Dr. told me to use one. I finally sucked it up and made it happen. It was ok. I agree with all the other stuff… amount of salt and water temperature are key. If your water or salt is off – it can give you an evil headache of doom – which is exactly why I don’t use mine anymore. With the water flowing down your throat, that’s in regards to the angle of your head. I’ve never heard the anti-aging claims… and I’d bet money on that being untrue. Just my opinion, but I have my doubts.
Gotta weigh in here! Never ever have I heard anti aging benefits associated with the neti pot, that’s a new one one me and if it were true, I’d be using it every darn day morning noon and night! In all seriousness, our ad agency did a bunch of work several years ago for SinuCleanse, a popular neti pot found in drugstores. So I gave it a try then and was pleasantly surprised by the results, I am constantly stuffy and it does work. We all did it in YTT as well and I had gotten away from using it. Now I am using it about once a week again, it makes me feel clear. I use it in the shower to avoid the mess all over the sink! Oprah featured it on her show several times, people loved it. It really does work and helps many many people who have tried everything and it’s natural , yay. You should adjust the salt/saline level though, I use half what they say to. Now then, on to other important topics, can I hear it for tongue scraping??? !!! 🙂
Happy netti-ing !
C.
I have a confession too, I am non-nettying yogi myself. I tried it a couple of years back and did it quite regularly for awhile until some miscalculated attempt left me with water trapped in my ears for a month. I felt like I was living in a tunnel and tried everything to get the water out…even getting my boyfriend to hold me by my ankles and shake me upside down. Definitely not one of the most glamorous moments in our relationship. Whilst nettying made me feel good and clean I just don’t want to risk living like I’ve got my head in a goldfish bowl. Thanks for the post, nice to know I’ve got a fellow non netti yogi on my side! xx
Love my neti! I got the blue plastic one in a YJ Conference goody bag. I used it for a while then replaced it with a white ceramic model. The ceramic one has a more tapered tip so it’s easier on the nose.
I gaze down slightly to keep the water out of my throat. However if my throat is sore I do let the salt water run into throat to help it heal.
Oh Maria, what a fun post! I was just talking with my friend about getting the courage to try my neti pot again. I had a really bad first experience before Christmas because I can’t read directions. My neti pot came with rock salt that you soak in water. Instead of using 1 tsp. of the salt water in 1 c. of plain water I used ALL the water from the salt solution. I thought I had burned my nasal passage. So I’m a tad traumatized. I know it was only because I used too much salt solution but I still dread that feeling.
I know the only way to face my fears is to move through them but I’m not quite ready. I can still still feel the pain.
I’ve heard about all the benefits that everyone has mentioned already. My mom and friend swear by the neti to keep their allergies at bay. I’m sure that when we combine all the things we do to take care of our bodies and minds, we feel and look younger.
Good luck, Maria. Let us know if you try again. I’ll do the same. 🙂
I’ve been swimming since I was about 5 and I’m STILL uncomfortable with water going into my nasal cavity. However, I have chronically clogged sinuses and I’m itchin’ to see if a neti pot can help me out.
Ha! I just wrote about the Neti, too! It took me a couple tries and I still get icked out by it, but so many people swear by it. I want no more colds this winter so I’m giving it a serious chance.
How funny! Just now, having enough of being all stuffed up – I thought, let me try that old neti pot I bought last year – but have been too scared to try!
I was looking on line to make sure I was doing it right and came across this site!!
Lucky me!!
So far … it seems to be working – I haven’t felt this clear in a long LONG time.
Just to let you know how bad it was for me … I had to wait, and wait … for a while for the water to come through … I would say that if I do it again before bed tonight, and then again in the morning … I should be almost back to normal.
I think I’m hooked!!!
i’m a non-neti yogini too. makes me think of all my attempts at putting my head under water when swimming & how awful that felt. i would love to take advantage of its incredible benefits. maybe one day i’ll work up the courage 🙂
Actually, I have never used a neti pot, but I have one of those baby “snoo snoo getters,” which is what I call them, and I fill it up w/ warm salt water and shoot it through. The force actually works well, and I love it, esp. during cold season. I haven’t heard about the anti-aging thing either. I just use mine when I’m starting to get sick. It really works well.
Anti-aging seems like a sales gimmick! Love my neti pot practice now that I finally use one, after about 15 years of having one used more as an occasional watering pitcher. Amazing how helpful and cleansing it can feel! Just tilting your head in a slightly different way, looking there instead of here, checking water temp & salt amount make all the difference. It’s not at all like water up your nose at the beach once you get the hang of it.
The neti is indeed a life saver … not sure about the anti-aging etc. but I am willing to be more consistent with it to give it a try as the eyes and gray hair are doing double time!
I don’t use the whole packet of salt all the time and warm water a must. But DO bend at the waist ALMOST to a right angle and make sure the head is looking directly to the side and tilted somewhat upward. Blow your nose after each nostril and I go back and forth 3 times each side! Makes ALL the difference in the world. Good Luck!
I have been using a neti pot for 2 years. Currently my doctor wants me to use it “incorrectly” so I can get a topical steroid on my lingual tonsils – so I effectively have to make my self almost drown every day. But if it stops the growth, or shrinks it, it will be worth not to have surgery again….yes I said AGAIN…they grew back, as did my palatine tonsils (had them removed twice) and my adenoids (had them removed three times).
I have always been subject to sinusitis, I’d get at least two full blown infections every year, but since using the neti pot my sinus infections have literally vanished! I used to use neti every other day as my ears would wind up popping for the remainder of the day, so I’d give it a break. But now I’m using it daily and although I’m using it incorrectly on purpose, I am still getting the “wash” benefits through my nostrils. And my ears seem like they don’t pop as much.
As far as answering how to do it correctly without making yourself drown or have the panic of drowning…
1. do it in the shower, you’re less concerned about the amount of stuff that comes out and you have more space to do it, and it all goes right down the drain
2. Use warm water (body temp, luke warm) and if you find it stings too much, cut down the packet of sodium they give you to 1/2 of the packet or 3/4 and gradually work your way up to a full packet
3. The water doesn’t have to be distilled, but it does hurt less than tap water unless you get the tap water temp JUST RIGHT
4. Lean forward at your hips so that the top half of your body is at an angle as if brushing your teeth at the sink
5. tilt your head to the side (while still leaning) at about a 45 degree angle, when you put the pot in the “upper” nostril, since you’re leaning to the side one nostril will be higher than the other, and you really want to use gravity as your friend here, pour the water SLOWLY. keep your mouth open and BREATHE from your mouth slowly (you’re a yogi, you know how to breathe) at the same time, the water will naturally find it’s way out of our other nostril and since you’re breathing, it’ll stop the body’s panic response! Of course if you feel it going down the back of your throat STOP BREATHING through your mouth to avoid water in your lungs and start over, once you realize how easy it is and you keep breathing through your mouth while doing it, you will then be able to truly get the benefits.
Best of luck!
Wow – Julie thanks for this thorough response! Wishing you healthy tonsils!
hee hee, thanks, it’s been a rough time. I really hope you try the neti pot again. I really think you’ll enjoy it, it’s like soduku, once you get it, it’s easy!
I use it any time i feel a stuffy nose or sore throat comming on and its great! Any illness is washed away and never progresses. Its not just for sinus issues as all germs get in through your nose / sinus.
For those that had water in the ear or it went down your throat, where you breathing through your mouth? Breathing throught the mouth blocks off the passage ways to your throat and prevents it from getting in your ears. Thats very important! Also, fight the urge to swallow, use body temperature water and use the saline packets, not salt because that can really burn. My pot says to use the entire packet of saline but i only use 1/4 th of it so i dont get any burning. All i feel is the water temp as it passes near my throat. Once you do it a few times it will be cake!
I purchased a neti pot about a year ago, but I use it sparingly . How do you use a neti pot when one or both nasal passages are blocked? I have heard that it is harmful to use the neti pot on blocked nasal passages while others have said it is okay.
Please advise.
Thank you and looking forward to your prompt reply.
Ricky – Thanks for stopping by The Daily Downward Dog. I don’t have any experience in using the neti pot with a blocked nasal passage. I’m hoping some of my readers will see your comment and add their advice. If I receive any, I will definitely let you know.
I think I am in love. With the neti pot. I can totally appreciate your experience and I have found that the neti pot clears my mind, invigorates me, and I just LOVE it 🙂 I say, try and try again… life just isn’t the same without it (although I have had occasionally embarrassing moments while teaching, coming out of down dog my nose pours forth onto the mat. oy.) Still so worth it!!!! OM! Britt
So easy, really.
1. If you have a water cooler with hot and cold, it’s better than tap. Otherwise you have to heat your drinking water in a pan. Put about 1/2 to 2/3 hot if using the cooler. Always test with your clean pinky to make sure it’s good and warm but not so hot you have to take your finger out . If too hot, just put a tableware knife in upside down to conduct away some heat wait a minute or two or three and test again. Or just pour some off and add more cold. You water should be pleasantly warm, and just a tad over “lukewarm”.
2. Add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon. If you use too much salt it will tend to burn. Up to 1/2 teaspoon could be tolerable if you’re tough enough, otherwise stick to 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon. I use sea salt and would not recommend table (iodized) salt. You can buy neti-pot salt that is ground more finely if you like. I would think various gourmet salts (Celtic, Himalayan, etc.) would be nice too.
3. Bend over sink and tilt head 45 degrees and pour 1/2 into one nostril slowly, it should flow right out. Repeating on other side.
4. There is no harm in the solution entering the mouth. I frequently consciously send some through to the mouth by applying suction when I went the whole channel cleansed. Just spit it out, you won’t gag.
5. Using neti pot whenever you feel congestion coming on, or in addition to a warm saltwater gargle (1/2 to 1 tsp.) especially when a throat gets scratchy. The combination can nip in the bud what otherwise becomes cold or flu. You can be completely over something in hours or overnite in what would otherwise unchecked run it’s course in a week. Important to repeat in 12 to 24 hours in this situation to make sure you are back to normal.
6. You’ll probably want to pack along a couple kleenex for the next 5 minutes or so, after that you are good to go.
7. Weekly use especially during cold/flu season will definitely cut down on number of sick days per year.
Wow – Carl thanks for this thorough explanation!
You do not sound very bright and maybe about 17 years old I would guess. This is sooooo easy to do and as refreshing and cleansing as advertised. Go here and watch the video. Maybe using pictures will work better than you trying to understand written instructions. If you still cannot do it I suggest you find work in a career that does not require complex things like touching your nose with a fingertip:
You gotta share the good and the bad. Thanks for the yoga love today Thomas!
Your reply made me smile Maria 🙂
They also offer Neti Pot medicinal powder to mix with water, instead of salt. Works wonders, love it!
When I first used the neti, I felt wonderful. For years it was hard to breathe. I was remodeling my home and I was breathing in all kinds of dust over the years. The first time I used it, I followed directions exactly. When I sat down to watch tv I could breathe. It seemed like it open fully up my nasal passage. Now I use it when I feek stopped up. I use it in the shower. Just make sure the water is a not to cold or hot. Luke warm. Bend over with your head slightly down and to the side. It works great. In the shower, you don’t feel so bad about the drainage. Not only does it open up your nose it washes out pollutants and clears your sinuses.
I don’t neti regularly but it’s definitely a life-saver during allergy season.
One thing I did notice is that which nostril I start with makes a huge difference. I don’t know why but when I asked fellow yogis about it, a lot of them have the same experience. So maybe you should try that as well!
Good luck!
I love the neti pot. It took some practice to get my head in the right position. It’s kind of a turn and little bend forward, but you gotta keep your head up at the same time. I know that doesn’t make any sense! I have wretched sinuses, so for me, it’s a couple of times per week kind of thing.
I don’t know about any anti-aging effects, but having your sinuses less inflamed makes the bags under your eyes smaller, and your eyes less puffy.
I have been meaning to get back to my neti AND also blog about it! So, 2 things you have inspired me to do today! Thanks. You asked about special poses to do? After using the neti, I usually stand with wide legs and bend forward working my body into a twist. Opposite hand on opposite leg and look up, free arm reaching up, up, up! Residual fluid with drain and you will feel it do so. Wash those nasal passages! Thanks for the blog!
Kara –
Thank you for the pose suggestions after doing neti pot – I’m going to try this for sure!!
Perfect timing for this post it seems! I coincidentally bought my first neti pot last night and used it, semi-successfully. I say semi-successful because the water flowed out of the first nostril without problem, though it was definitely a strange experience! I think breathing steadily and relaxing your facial muscles makes for a more pleasant experience. I used filtered water, a tad warmer than room temperature, and it felt nice.
When I switched to the other side (the more congested side!), it took a long time to get the solution to flow out. I found that I was pressing the spout to firmly against my nose and needed to relax a bit and breathe. My directions indicated that leaning your head backwards causes the solution to go down your throat so maybe that will help you?
Overall it was one of the least glamorous moments of my life lol but I’m excited to try again tonight!
Two questions: does anyone use ghee or oil afterwards to keep the sinuses from drying out? Also, can you be TOO congested to use the neti pot?
I have a sneaky feeling we’ll be discussing neti pots in YTT this weekend….stay healthy everyone!!
Meaghan:
I have not heard of using ghee or oil afterwards – so I’m hoping other readers will chime in and answer your question.
Thanks for stopping by the DDD and good luck with your YTT! It is a very special time – so enjoy it!!
I do believe that you can be too congested. I tried tonight and could not get the water to run through for ANYTHING!
Your post was quite a while ago but in case this question is still on your mind, I bought a product called ALKALOL from Amazon… don’t really know if it’s in my store or not. It says it contains purified water with some oils and herbs. I use it at much lower concentration then they suggest as I am still getting accustomed to the whole process but I do prefer adding some to the Neti pot solution and am slowly increasing it to see what I prefer. Its quite refreshing and even though they would think I am not using enough yet I like the results.
I LOVE my neti! I am not a yogi just your average Jane who suffers from awful sinusitis all the time! I have even learned to use the neti with cold water because it is easier.
The key is making sure to breathe through your mouth at all times and never try to swallow. You have to drool it out! 🙂 I fear my husband walking in while I am using my neti pot because I look like an absolute idiot!
Before you pour, open your mouth wide and get habituated for a few breaths to breathing through your mouth. Be very dramatic as you breathe, concentrating on keeping your mouth open and on your breath and distracting yourself from what’s going on with your nose.
i’m having a rough time with constant sinus infections, ear problems, etc. i’ve been using the netti pot for a few days and i can already tell that it helps tremendously. at first i was too blocked up for the water to go through, but when it does it’s like instant relief. if you don’t use salt, or use too little or too much it burns! but nothing that should scare you into not using it. i use room temp distilled water and sea salt. i try to remember to do it twice a day. i’m also taking tons of vitamins and herbs to try and stop this sickness! anti biotics just aren’t helping. 🙁
This December 2013 was the first time I decided to purchase a Neti Pot. I went on Amazon and bought both the Neti Pot and the squeeze bottle by waterpik along with another product (ALKALOL) you can add with herbs and purified water to help the experience. Waterpik includes instructions and small packages of the salt mix all pre-measured – you can’t really get it wrong. With the squeeze bottle, you don’t have to tilt your head to the side at all and everything just works – just lean forward over the sink. Just squeeze softly and allow the water to gently make it’s way to the other nostril exit. I started adding the ALKOLOL to the salt solution in small amounts and it really seems to improve my results. (If you take antibiotics often – investigate some probiotics and see if they might be for you)
I am new to your site and must say i enjoyed reading your fun way of describing your experience. As a yoga teacher from India let me put forth my views. To start with Yoga Ratnakara says: Drinking water from nose gives anti-aging etc., benefits not doing neti. Drinking water is all together a different cup of tea. The terminology is called USHAPAAN. It consists of taking a thoroughly cleansed from inside a copper pot and filling it with boiled and cooled water. This should be done in the evening and next day morning just half an hour before sunrise you should drink this water through your nose without brushing your teeth. (That is why it is it important to brush your teeth at night as well as thoroughly cleanse your tongue as well). I stumbled upon this secret just a few days back and i want to learn to drink water from copper pot via nose. It is while exploring the internet i stumbled upon your web site. Hence this reply. By the way the quantity of water should be just 250gms. only. Hope this helps you and your readers. Good Luck and God Bless. Cheers! :o)
Thank you for this post, it made me giggle having been through exactly the same!! I was also introduced to my neti pot during my YTTC, with disastrous results and I hated every moment of it. Since then my neti pot has been getting dusty in a draw out of sight, however a few days ago I decided it was time to give it another go (plus my sinuses felt blocked and I thought it may help!) but alas, it was another terrible experience and pot has gone straight back into the draw. I wish I liked it, I really do!!
Lisa – someone told me recently that spraying the nasal passages with a saline solution is virtually the same thing. I’ve been doing that instead of neti when I feel a sinus cold coming on.
It was a great experience.
I use a neti pot more and more. netra basti is wonderful. I’ve tried dashamula, salt and soda, alkali salts, epsom salts, herbal decoctions. Don’t do it right before bed as it won’t drain properly. It can burn or sting at first, but in time is better than come or molly, not that I’ve done alot. Also nasaya, aka oil or ghee in the nose, is blissful. Not to be done back to back with a rinse though. Try all basti! Purify your ojas. I haven’t done a coffee enema and so cannot recommend it, but honey, ghee, seascape oil is pretty, pretty, pretty good. Recently I’ve started eye rinsing with an cup. Try gazing through warm ghee, but don’t skip to coconut or hemp oil as it’s not as gentle as ghee, at least on the eyes. Good luck and darshan is free.