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The issue of suitable waters and salts to be used for nasal cleaning arises sometimes. We have come

across many opinions and preferences regarding both these issues. Below we analyse, from the

traditional yoga point of view as well as from common sense, the different options.

There are those who recommend only sterile, purified water should ever be used for nasal cleansing

and then there are those who say that anything you can safely drink can be safely put up your nose!

We take the middle approach and suggest that the best answer is actually the one most appropriate

to your particular situation. The range of different water options available, from the most pure

down to most doubtful, are as follows:

1 -Bottled, sterilised, normal saline solution available from pharmacies

2 - Boiled then cooled, bottled spring water (not mineral) from shop

3 - Filtered, boiled then cooled rain water from domestic tank4 - Filtered, boiled then cooled town water from house tap

5 - Unfiltered, boiled then cooled town water from house tap

6 - Unfiltered cold mixed with hot water from house tap

7 - Other more dubious options found in nature and in cities!

Our recommendations for different situations are as follows:

For those recovering from post-operative nasal surgery

If this situation is you and you or your doctor have any kinds of worries about post-operative

infection, play it safe and use the very purest water, salt and equipment you can arrange. 1 or 2 asabove may only be necessary for a short while whilst your nasal tissue recovers and builds up the

usual resistance to germs. Be sure to wash your hands before nasal cleansing, perform it in a clean

room with clean equipment. Make sure no-one else handles or uses your equipment. Keep it wrapped

between usage. Clean your equipment regularly by boiling for 15 minutes or soak in bleach solution

and rinse twice again.

For those with chronic nasal allergies

1 ,2 or 3 as above would be suitable. You could experiment with those 3 options to find the one

which is most cost and time effective without creating any chance of a reaction to water soluble

substances which may be in town water. As Jala Neti begins to work, it helps to desensitise the

nasal physiology and you will find that you become more resilient to foreign smells and substances

entering your body (both the nose and mouth).

For those with the usual old sinus and hayfever problems

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 as above are suitable to begin with and, like those with allergies, as the nasal

environment rebalances, you will find normal tap water will work just as effectively without any side

effects.

For those with no major nasal ailments who perform nasal cleansing as a regular daily health

maintenance routine

no special water purity is necessary to gain the benefits of Jala Neti and the rule would be to useyour intuition about the water you drink and douche with. If it smells or tastes funny, don't use it.

If you want to be a puritan, use whatever you can afford and have time to arrange. But this author

has used many of the waters and salts around the world for 15 years and never noticed any ill

effects arising from the practice. Even overly chlorinated, fluoridated town water through the

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nostrils for 30 seconds, 3 times daily is unlikely to have ill effects. Mountain stream water is nice,

and unpolluted sea water can be diluted about 4:1 and warmed to body temperature. Beware of

polluted rivers, agricultural run off into dams, and stagnant ponds. When camping, always look inside

your pot before using it to check for bugs!

Ideally the purest sea salt should be used. The basis reason for this is that, biologically, sea salt is

the closest to natural human body salt. They say that all life evolved from the sea and therefore it

makes sense to use the most primal salt for internal human cleansing. However, we have heard aboutpeople having reactions to sea salt which has come from polluted areas of the world's oceans. If you

trust the ocean water quality used by salt distillers in your country that would be the best to use.

If not use option (1). Below are some of the different types of salt available on the market today

and their suitability for use in nasal cleansing.

Pharmaceutical Sodium Chloride (NaCl)

Laboratory processed, 100% sterile, pure salt without any of the usual trace elements found in sea

salt. Used in pharmaceutical normal saline solution. Arguably the purest, although least natural salt

available.

Cooking or Pickling Salt

This is generally nothing other than pure sea salt, but check on the packet. It can vary in coarseness

and purity. The finer the better for quick and even dissolving. If you can't get it fine, grind your

own from whatever you can buy. Store airtight to avoid lumping up. Found in supermarkets and

health shops.

Table Salt

This is just finely ground cooking salt with a free flowing agent in it to stop it lumping up in your salt

shaker. Who needs aluminum, silicone or iodine up their nose? For most people it can be used without

any harm when cooking salt is not available, but those with very sensitive nasal tissue may find it

irritating. Try to avoid it if possible.

Vegetable Salt

This is a compound mixture of different mineral salts, herbs and spices, and will do your nose and

olfactory senses NO GOOD AT ALL!

Rock Salt

Depending on origin, rock salts have other minerals in them and are therefore not recommended for

nasal cleansing. They are usually very big, hard crystals requiring a salt cellar. Nice for cooking with,

but not for up your nose.

"Celtic" Salt

So-called Celtic Salt is a rock-based salt with a wide range of trace minerals. Whilst it is very tasty

for cooking, and probably of no harm for use in nasal irrigation, it is better to stay with pure sea

salts.

Macrobiotic Salt

Often greyish in colour. Usually just sea salt from Japan and therefore more expensive than local

salt. May be used with no harm.

Home Page:- An Introduction and its ApplicationsThe Links Page:For Finding Teachers and Neti

PotsLearning Jala Neti:- How to, and how not to, do it Research on Jala Neti & Yoga Therapy:

Our Library of Articles:on Nasal Cleansing

No copyright is placed on any material in this site. The information may be freely distributed without permission.All we ask is that it is reproduced in context along with a precautionagainst self-teaching Jala Neti.

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