Understanding the Jala neti method

For those who may not have much idea of the internal workings of the nasal cavities, it may seem stupid to pour warm salty water through one's nose. To help clear fears and misunderstandings, we have tried to explain the procedure with diagrams.

The first line of nasal defense is the tiny hair called �cilia� which should trap larger particles entering the nose. These cilia are usually cleansed by normal breathing and by blowing the nose, but sometimes, due to a gradual build up of dirt, they can become clogged and may require washing out. The entire nasal passage - from the nose tip to throat (and beyond) - is covered with a layer of mucus. This mucus is secreted from within the mucous lining, and its function is to trap smaller foreign particles and bacteria. The dirty mucus is normally blown out, snorted and coughed out or swallowed.

The sinus passages are an even finer mechanism of filtering which, if infected, secrete a runny mucus to evict the germs. This is generally called sinusitis and can be a short term symptom or a chronic condition.

In Stage 1, the water simply flows up one nostril to just above the bridge of the nose where the usual air flows meet, backwards into the middle cavity and then the water flows down and out the other side of the nose. In this route, it passes by the frontal and mid nasal sinuses. In Stage 1 there should be no flow of water back towards the throat or into the mouth. When done correctly, there is very little sensation as the water will be the same temperature as the blood, and the salinity will be the same salinity as the blood. As a result, the nose hardly notices the flow through.

In the more advanced of Stages 2 and 3, only attempted after mastery of Stage 1, the water flows fully through the whole nasal cavity, down the back of the naso-pharynx and comes out through the mouth. In this route, it passes by the post-nasal sinuses, cleansing all the nasal passages more strongly. In neither version is there any discomfort or damage to the nasal functions.

Ideally, at no stage, should any water actually go up into the sinus passages or the Eustachian tubes. However, this may happen if the practitioner breathes incorrectly or blows too strongly when drying. This causes only momentary discomfort and is not dangerous. In such an event, a few minutes of air-drying will usually clear out any stray water droplets.

The way in which Jala Neti rinses out the dirt and bacteria filled mucous lining would be obvious to most people as the warm water loosens and dissolves any internal build ups, and takes them outwards. But what may not be so obvious is that, due to gravity and a venturi-effect, the sinus passages are also drained by the vacuum pressure flow of the water. Whereas it would normally be impossible to drain a �dead end� cavity like the sinuses, Jala Neti achieves this ingeniously and simply.

For those with thick mucus conditions as well as those with running sinuses, the relief of sinus pressure can be felt within seconds. In a more detailed examination, it would also be seen, that through the effect of osmosis and capillary action, the blood vessels of the nose are stimulated to cleanse as well.

The nose is the �air conditioner� of the body. One of the many functions of the nose is to regulate the temperature and humidity of the incoming air. Some people have �dry noses� and suffer dry, crusty, nose bleed type problems. Others are �wets�, with the constantly running sinuses and the tissues always up their sleeve! Others have perpetual stuffy and blocked nostrils. Regular practice of Jala Neti helps to establish the correct working environment of temperature and humidity in the nose.