Nasal rinsing ( Jal Neti) has a long history amongst Yoga, meditation and breathing exercise enthusiasts. Many people consider routine nasal rinsing to be as much a part of their personal hygiene as teeth brushing and bathing. The constant exposure to air pollution, secondhand
smoke, breathing bacteria, and mucus-forming diets makes this form of personal hygiene particularly important today. I see a number of patients with asthma, chronic cough, frequent URT infections every day in Chennai. This simple procedure ( that costs nothing!) can provide huge relief & even eradicate mild conditions. Please share this with all your patients to breathe free to a healthy life.

Chronic low-grade infection in the nasal passages and sinuses is very widespread today. Japanese medical research has associated this with a wide range of health problems. Aside from the obvious respiratory system afflictions like sinusitis, chronic cough and asthma, nasopharyngitis affects the body through a number of mechanisms:

1. Chronic focal infection can eventually become systemic and cause inflammation and/or weakness of soft tissue (fascia, ligaments, tendons and muscles) throughout the body. Soft tissue dysfunctions as wide ranging as sciatica, neck pain, shoulder pain, TMJ, diaphragmatic
problems and fibromyalgia have been successfully treated in part or completely through long-term cleansing of the nasopharyngeal system.

2. Unresolved infection chronically stresses many of the coping mechanisms of the body, resulting in fatigue of and imbalances in the autonomic nervous system. For example, Physicians in Japan have successfully treated illnesses involving autonomic nervous system
imbalance such as essential hypertension and depression by resolving chronic nasal and sinus infection through the rinsing program described below.

3. Sinus congestion puts pressure on the sphenoid bone, which in turn can affect pituitary functioning and, with this, the entire hormonal system (the pituitary gland is one of the control towers of the body’s hormonal system).

At the very least, a routine nasopharyngeal rinsing program will provide you with improved sense of smell, improved sense of taste, a heightened clarity of thought, and increased sense of vitality.

Required Materials:
A Nasal Rinsing Device (dropper or netty pot), Bancha tea or echinacea and goldenseal combination, sea salt.
Preparation of Nasal Rinsing Solution:

Prepare a rinsing solution with a pinch of sea salt for every quarter of a cup of strong green tea (Bancha tea).

The point is to create

a hypertonic solution so that water does not cause swelling of the tissues. Salt content can be adjusted, as you become familiar with the procedure. Bring the solution to body temperature, by cooling it or mixing in some cold water.

The Rinsing Procedure:
- Fill the nasal rinsing device with the solution.
- Hang your head over a bathtub or sink.
- Place your thumb over the large hole on the rinsing device.
- Rotate your head 90 degrees to the right.
- Plug your left nostril.
- Insert the tapered hole of the device into your right nostril.
- Release your thumb from the large hole.
- Allow the solution to drain by gravity (do not inhale) into your nose.
- The solution will eventually work its way to the back of your throat (this may not occur the first time, but when it does, spit the
solution out)
- Perform this procedure with at least two rinsing device volumes through each nostril.
- After each volume, gently blow out through the rinsed nostril to expel loosened material (plugging the opposite nostril while you do this)
Frequently Encountered Problems / Concerns:
Depending on how congested your system is, you may find it takes several times before the procedure runs smoothly. It may take several times before encrusted material is moistened and dislodged. Do not force things. Be patient.

The rinsing procedure may produce uncomfortable burning sensations and headaches the first few times you try this. You may need to adjust the salt content. You may need to ensure you are not using chlorinated tap water. But be patient. After a few days, these problems will pass and you will be on to a brighter and clearer experience. Do not stop at the first signs of discomfort.
You can perform this with water and sea salt but the green tea is found to have an antibacterial effect. Some people also use 10-15 drops of Echinacea tincture (or equal proportions of Echinacea, Goldenseal and Dandelion) with the sea salt.

It is important to eventually run the solution through your nostril to the back of your throat.
It is important not to inhale when allowing the solution to drain into your nostril by gravity.
To obtain lasting and maximum benefit, it is very important to commit to this procedure 4-5 times a week for up to 2 months at a time

Some additional information for Doctors

Nasopharyngitis

Traditionally, the upper respiratory system is the first system in the body to be attacked by external pathogenic factors. These “attacks” will mostly present as ENT (ear, nose throat)
infections, acute common colds and/or the flu. If the pathogenic factor is not treated, it may proceed and invade the inner layers of the body, influencing and disturbing all systems1. In some cases, when the invading pathogenic factor is not sufficiently treated, the patient may appear healthy from a symptomatic point of view but some pathogenic bacteria, virus and/or
fungi may remain alive and they will reside in a hidden location which the initial (sometimes partial) treatment did not reach. This focal infection2 can reside in the body for years, weaken the immune system and erupt every time the body is stressed and/or weakened. In this case,
the upper respiratory system (usually the sinuses, oropharynx and the nasopharynx) may be the
origin of many systemic disturbances.

Upper respiratory system disorders may be caused by and, in turn, cause a multitude of systemic imbalances. For example, the liver may be disturbed by a chronic cough or visa versa;
a swollen liver pressing against the diaphragm might cause a chronic cough. Before treating
specific points for disorders such as asthma, cough or sinus infections, one must find and treat
the underlying causes for the upper respiratory system weakness. Often this weakness stems from the nasopharynx.

According to Shinsaku Horiguchi, M.D., Ph.D. the chronic disturbance of a latent (or hidden) infection at the nasopharynx may cause a multitude of local and systemic problems such as asthma, dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, autonomic nervous system disturbances as well as digestive system disorders, etc.
The chronic swelling of the nasopharyngeal lymph
nodes (pharyngeal tonsil) may press against the first
and second vertebrae (Illustration 67) and cause neck
and shoulder pain as well as chronic headaches,
problems with the upper limbs, etc.

This chronic swelling may also cause an exhaustion of
the immune system resulting in recurring episodes of
common cold and the flu as well as recurring sinus and
ear infections.

Deviation of nasal septum - This condition may be one
of the causes of chronic nasopharyngitis as well as
create a susceptibility to recurring sinus infections
(which, in turn, weakens the immune system).

NASOPHARYNGEAL RINSING

The nasopharyngeal rinsing is a very effective method to eliminate the focal infection and the disturbance field associated with it. This physical treatment of the nasopharynx washes pollutants, pollen, bacteria as well as fungus away and keeps the tonsilar tissue in this area from swelling as well as reduces the possibility for infections. Dr. Horiguchi used to cauterize the
nasoparynx with special instruments dipped into a solution of 1% ZnCl. He used two procedures
for this cauterization, one entering through the nasal cavity and the second through the mouth. In
an acupuncture practice, a sea salt, echinacea and golden seal mixture or a sea salt and Bancha
tea mixture are recommended. The proportions are as follows: In a 1/4 glass of luke-warm water,
one pinch of sea salt should be mixed with ten to fifteen drops of echinacea and goldenseal
tincture8 (one can also use an equal mixture of Echinacea, Goldenseal and Dandelion). A quarter
glass of strong Bancha tea with a pinch of sea salt mixed in it can be used as well.
A dropper full of the above-described mixture should be inserted into the nostril while keeping the head up so that the solution can run through the nose into the throat (Illustration 68). Once the solution is in the throat the patient should spit it out.
Two droppers full are used in each nostril, twice a day. The patient should be reminded that it is very important for the fluid to pass through the nose into the throat.
The following page is an example instruction sheet given to patients who should be on the nasopharyingeal rinsing protocol.
Shinsaku Horiguchi, M.D., Ph.D., used a special instrument to reach the nasopharyngeal area (Illustration 69). His treatments consisted of swiping the nasopharynx with a 1% zinc chloride solution. He would treat a patient twice or three times a week for several weeks until the symptoms associated with chronic nasopharyngitis would disappear.