The practice of nasal cleansing has been used by practitioners of Yoga and Ayurveda for thousands of years. This practice is called “Neti”. One of the six purification techniques undertake as a way of preparing the body for the practice of yoga. This simple technique uses warm water irrigation as a process to gently cleanse the nasal passages. As the flow mild salt water (similar to the concentration of tears) flows through your nostrils which help eliminate bacteria and viruses.

You may have heard of the neti pot recent articles in the Minneapolis Star and Tribune, or possibly on Oprah. Many people around the country are discussing their benefits and why it has become so popular. Unfortunately with increasing pollution and chemicals in our environment, what follows is an increase in sinus infections and respiratory diseases.


A natural way to avoid these problems is to adapt the practice of Neti as you would brush your teeth in your daily routine. Find a neti pot that best suits your nostrils. They come in many shapes and sizes, plastic and ceramics. Most Neti pots come with instructions on how to use and a mixture of salt so that you can make your own saline solution at home.

This practice will be very useful if you are irritated by allergies to irritants pollen, dust or chemicals.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and these materials are products and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Stacy Seebart, massage, medical Pranassage, Interdisciplinary yoga teacher

Stacy Seebart integral body approaches based on various forms, always with the intention to help connect the body, mind and spirit. She is a graduate of New England Academy of Therapeutic Sciences in Dublin, New Hampshire, and worked as a massage therapist since 2001.