Jala Neti and Its Benefits

What Is Jala Neti?

Jala neti is an ancient method of nasal cleansing by pouring and flushing out water through the nostrils, which helps to clean the nasal passages. It is one of the cleansing techniques yogis used in ancient times and described in Hatha yoga as ‘Shat karma.’ Hatha yoga works by balancing the body’s organs and functions by removing toxins from the body through its cleansing mechanism; in cases of imbalance, it can result in restlessness. The word “Shat karma” refers to six activities that are involved in hatha yoga, including Neti (nose cleansing), Kunjal Kriya (stomach cleansing), Agnisar and Nauli (stomach exercises to stimulate digestion), Kapalabhati (lung cleansing), Tratak (eyes cleansing), and finally, Shankhaprakshalana (intestinal cleansing).

The jala neti technique is used by yogis mainly before practicing asanas to clear the nasal passages. “Jala neti” derives from the Sanskrit jala, which means water, and neti, which means to guide. It is a way of driving water to the nasal passages and sinuses to cleanse and remove irritants that may induce infections, inflammation, and other upper respiratory tract problems. This technique is done by using special equipment called a jala neti pot. It is usually made of copper, steel, ceramic, or plastic and has both small and long tube-like structures on each side of the pot, which are the same size as the nostrils, to gently insert into one of the nostrils while performing jala neti.

How to Perform Jala Neti?

• To prepare the salt water, add one teaspoon of sea salt to half a liter of lukewarm water and mix thoroughly till the salt dissolves.

• Start by sitting in a crow pose with legs at a one-foot distance, and then lean forward.

• Fill the lukewarm water in a neti pot and pour the water into the nostril.

• Keep the neti pot cone in one nostril and cover the nostril completely by adjusting the neti pot cone.

• Align the neti pot parallel with the nasal passages.

• Breathe through the mouth by gently opening the mouth.

• Do not shake, sniff, laugh, or move while pouring the water into the nostril.

• After pouring, blow the air gently through the nostril to clear the nostril of water and mucus.

• Repeat it on the other nostril. Then blow both nostrils to dry them. If there are any remains in the nostrils, the same process must be repeated until the nostrils clear.

• Better to use half a pot for each nostril than a single pot of water in one nostril. Thereby, it can quickly clear the nostrils.

What Are the Benefits of Jala Neti?

• Maintain Good Nasal Hygiene: Regular practice of jala neti helps to maintain good nasal hygiene by clearing mucus from the nostrils with lukewarm salt water.

• Treat Allergic Conditions: This practice helps reduce allergies and drain the sinus cavity by calming the sensitive tissues of the nose, removing allergens and mucus, and moistening the nasal mucous membrane.

• Treat Upper Respiratory Tract Infections: This practice helps to reduce the symptoms of upper respiratory infections like sinusitis, asthma, sore throats, tonsillitis, and dry cough by making the yogi breathe easily. It also reduces mouth-breathing habits through regular practice. It also helps in reducing complaints of middle ear infections and tinnitus. This practice cures upper respiratory infections and other respiratory diseases like pneumonia, bronchitis, tuberculosis, and so on by enhancing respiratory functions through breathing exercises.

• Improve the Senses: Jala neti helps to improve sight by clearing the tear ducts, especially myopia, and is also useful in reducing eye symptoms like pain, watery eyes, and strain in the eyes. This practice also improves other senses, like taste and smell. It also aids in improving digestion.

• Reduce Stress: This practice helps to calm the nervous system, thereby reducing anxiety, depression, and mental tensions.

• Improve the Quality of Sleep: It helps to improve the quality of sleep and also reduces snores by clearing the stuffed or blocked nose.

• Improve Meditation State: It helps to improve meditation by stimulating the psychic center (Ajna chakra), thereby enhancing the quality of meditation.

• Improve Mental Health: This practice helps to improve mental health by clearing congested sinuses, thereby reducing anger, headaches, migraines, and stress.

• Remove Excess Heat From the Body: This practice helps to remove excess heat from the body.

• Diagnose and Relieve COVID Symptoms: It also helps to relieve COVID symptoms like sore throats, rhinitis, and fever, and this technique is also used to collect nasal samples for diagnosing COVID.

• Quit Smoking: It helps to quit smoking by practicing regularly.

• Help in Thyroid Function: Regular practice helps to improve thyroid function by increasing blood flow to the thyroid gland. It mainly helps in treating hypothyroidism (thyroid hormone deficiency).

• Manage Rheumatoid Arthritis: Symptoms like early morning sickness, inflammation in the joints, increased uric acid levels, and so on can be reduced by doing this practice regularly with other yoga techniques. Under proper guidance, it can help in faster recovery for rheumatoid arthritis patients.

What Are the Tips for Jala Neti?

• After every step, the nose has to be dried properly. It should be done carefully, as it may cause dizziness in high blood pressure patients while drying the nose; in that case, it should be done by standing upright. It may cause infection if the nose is not dried properly.

• This technique should be avoided in patients with chronic nasal bleeding and infections of the nose and ears.

• The water used in this technique should neither be too hot nor too cold.

• This technique has to be done under proper guidance in cases of nasal septum deviation or other nasal disorders.

• This technique should not be performed on infants or patients with non-healed facial wounds or neural or other muscular problems, as it may cause accidental breathing while practicing.

• Promote hair health: This technique helps to promote hair growth and prevent graying of hair.

Conclusion:

Jala neti is a technique to cleanse nasal passages by pouring and flushing water through the nostrils. This technique is effective in both children and adults. This technique can make it a regular habit, like brushing, and help maintain good nasal hygiene. Maintaining good nasal hygiene can help reduce several problems, including nasal and other upper respiratory problems like sinusitis, migraines, allergies, and asthma.