Jal Neti - The Yogic Cleansing of your Nasal Passage & Sinuses

History of Jalneti

The ‘nasal cleansing’ has its origin in ancient India and has been in practice from time immemorial by ancient yogis and people. Yogis have practiced it for centuries for its innumerable and powerful benefits. Jal Neti in Yoga is one of the six-purification kriyas also know as ‘Shatkarmas’ as mentioned in Hatha Yoga Pradipika, an ancient yoga text.

“The practice of nasal cleansing purifies the air sinuses, invigorates the brain, tones up the optic nerves and thus improves sight.”

-Hathayogapradipika, II, 30.

The main objective of Shatkriya is to balance the three humours (tridosha) in the body, mucus (kapha), bile (pitta) and wind (vata). There are six cleansing kriyas which prepares the body and mind for higher practices of yoga. The Shatkriya techniques include

• Dhauti (internal cleansing),  
• Bhasti (yogic enema),
• Neti (nasal cleansing),
• Trataka (concentrated gazing),  
• Nauli (abdominal massaging) and
• Kapalbhati (frontal sinus cleansing). 

It is of utmost importance to note that although the Shatkarmas are “preparatory techniques,” performing these techniques require experience, skill, and awareness. Therefore, it is advised that you should always learn from and practice under the supervision of an experienced teacher.

Why is Yogic Cleansing or Jal neti Yoga Important?

Our internal organs and system regularly come into contact with external matters, for example through your food intake, the air we breath, drinks, etc. Your lifestyle may be healthy still, you accumulate toxins and impurities — from your diet, your interactions with others, which forms your thoughts and emotions.

All these external factors becomes toxic and block the flow of prana through the energy channels which eventually leads to imbalance. As a result, your internal organs and systems require cleansing.

The three doshas of our body namely; Vata, Pitta and Kapha which works as the pillars of the body. If the level all these three doshas remain in the same state, then the body remains healthy and disease-free. And on the contrary, due to any changes whether there’s increase or decrease in the levels of the doshas in the body, various diseases arise in the body.

The yogic cleansing is exactly like the way you take a shower to wash your outer body or brush your teeth, the practice of Shatkarmas is to cleanse and purify your mind and body internally. By doing Shatkarma, the body becomes clean and pure from the inside, that is, the toxic elements of the body come out.

Must Know: Don’t do these 5 mistakes while you drink water 

What is Jal neti in Yoga?

The Sanskrit word, jal, means “water”. The original meaning of neti is “to guide”. It has also come to mean “nasal cleansing”. Therefore, Jal neti means guiding water through the nasal passages to cleanse them.

Neti is a method for purifying the nostrils and sinuses. The main aim of Jal Neti is to purify and cleanse the entire Upper Respiratory Tract right from the nostrils to the throat using lukewarm saline water. It involves pouring water in one nostril and flushing it out from the other nostril.

Thus, Jal Neti in Yoga is a way to cleanse your sinuses and consequently keep the respiratory tract clear of dirt and toxins. The sinus cavities get clogged with impurities which may cause inflammation, infections and other respiratory disorders. It is a technique used to clean the sinuses.

The sinuses are a connected system of hollow cavities is about an inch across. Our cheekbones hold maxillary sinuses. The sinus cavities get clogged with impurities which may cause infections and other problems. Nasal hygiene is very important as it is linked to many conditions like sinusitis, migraine, allergies and asthma. This has to be done in daily routine.

What are the functions of the Nasal passage?

• Allows the air we breathe to enter your body.
• Contributes to how you look and how you sound when you speak.
• Works like a filters and cleans air to remove particles and allergens.
• Provides a sense of smell.
• Warms and moistens air so it can move comfortably into your respiratory system.
• The nasal cavity is entirely lined by the nasal mucosa, one of the anatomical structures which form the physical barriers of the body’s immune system. These barriers provide mechanical protection from the invasion of infectious and allergenic pathogens.

How to clean your nasal passages?

• Put a quarter teaspoon of table salt into one glass of warm water. Stir until dissolved.
• Make a Cup with your palm. Pour this salted warm water in it and inhale the water pulling it through one nostril while blocking other nostril with index finger.
• Now release the closed nostril and allow water to escape through nostrils or mouth.
• Repeat the process in the same manner closing the other nostril.
• Repeat the process of jal neti from both the nostrils twice.
• Use each palm alternatively to pull the water for each nostril.
• Blow out all the water from the nose, discharging water through one nostril at a time.

Limitations– Nasal Obstructions, Cold 

Jal Neti Benefits-

• Nasal passage hygiene is maintained. Dirt and bacteria that gets accumulated and trapped with the mucus in the nostril is easily and safely cleared with help of warm saline water.
• When rinsed through your nasal passages, salt water can wash away allergens, mucus, and other debris, and help to moisten the mucous membranes. In Yoga, this kriya is best for sinus problems like acute or chronic sinusitis. It helps in drainage of sinus cavities.
• Bouts of allergies or rhinitis are reduced as it soothes the sensitive tissues inside the nose.
• Jal neti is very effective for people suffering from asthma. It works as an effective tool which helps immensely in pacifying asthmatic symptoms making breathing easier. It also reduces the tendency for mouth breathing by freeing the nostrils of mucus. This is very important benefit of Jal Neti. One can practice Jal Neti once in the morning as well as once in the evening (make sure it is before Sunset).
• Helps to prevent tinnitus and middle ear infections.
• Reduces sinusitis and migraine attack frequency. This is valuable benefit of this neti kriya which provide relief to the many suffering from the debilitating pain of migraines
• Another benefit of this neti kriya is that it thoroughly cleanses the upper respiratory tract. Common complaints such as sore throats, tonsils and dry coughs are reduced.
• It may help with better sleeping and less snoring due to stuffy nose.
• A lesser known benefit of this neti kriya is that it cleanses and helps in flushing the tear ducts and vision is improved.
• It is effective in reducing symptoms such as eye pain, eye strain, watery eyes, and Jal neti therapy gives a significant improvement in myopia (near-sightedness).
• Jal Neti improves sensitivity of the olfactory nerve with which sense of smell is improved and aids digestion.
• Cleanses the nervous system and clams the mind, helps relieve stress built-up.
• It has a cooling and soothing effect on the brain aids in dealing with depression, mental tensions and temper tantrums.
• The congested sinuses are the reason behind headaches, migraine, anxiety, and stress. Jal neti removes and clears sinus congestion is therefore beneficial for headaches, migraine,
• When done regularly irritation and anger reduction is experienced.
• Ancient yogis used this technique to improve upon their meditation.

Read More: 5 Yogic Drink Alternatives for Morning Tea/Coffee 

What are the precautions Needed for Nasal Cleaning?

• Learn from trained and experienced yoga teacher.
• Wash your hands before the Jal Neti.
• Don’t use tap water. Instead use distilled water, filtered water, or water that’s been previously boiled.
• Avoid using cold water.
• Avoid using very hot water.
• Use regular table salt.
• Do not use excessive amount of salt.
• Throw away the saline solution if it appears dirty.
• Don’t perform nasal irrigation on infants.
• Don’t do Jal Neti if you have a facial wound that hasn’t healed or neurologic or musculoskeletal problems that put you at a higher risk of accidentally breathing in the liquid.

“A HEALTHY OUTSIDE STARTS FROM A HEALTHY INSIDE.”

Detoxifying body from inside is very important because when you eliminate the foreign particles, it has a profound and wonderful benefits to our physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual well-being.

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