Susan Smith Jones

Then one day when she was visiting her grandmother, the older woman told her that if she followed her healthful guidance and suggestions, she would not only see her allergies and sinus problems clear up within 30 days, but her entire life would also be improved. Along with a new diet of whole foods, deep breathing, visualization and meditation, her grandmother introduced her to neti.

Her grandma called it her “easy breathing” practice.

“She didn’t have a neti pot; she used a small teapot with a spout. In less than four weeks of practicing nasal cleansing two times a day… I was free from excess mucus, allergies, sneezing, constant throat clearing, extra weight and a pessimistic attitude,” recalls Smith Jones. “And my grandmother went from being someone who was strange and weird to me with her ‘health nut’ approach to life, to my greatest mentor and the person who changed my life for the better.”

EXPERTS ENDORSE NETI

Smith Jones’ grandmother was in good company and not by any means alone in enthusiastically spreading the message about the use of neti pots for clearing up sinus problems, allergies, mucus, and postnasal drip. (Neti pots are also used to foster deep meditative breathing for yoga and to help with snoring.)

In May of this year, Dr. Mehmet Oz, in his final appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show after five years, spoke once more of the benefit of using a neti pot for nasal cleansing. Dr. Oz, popularly known as “America’s Doctor,” has been a vocal proponent of the use of neti pots over the last few years. It is his focus on this ancient worldwide practice that has brought the neti pot out of obscurity and made this ancient secret a popular mainstream phenomenon.

Whether called nasal irrigation, nasal lavage, neti-potting or sinus irrigation, says Dr. Oz, “When you use it properly, it reduces dust and other contaminants in the nose, and it’s a very effective way to clean the sinuses. Modern studies are showing that it’s as effective as drugs for preventing sinus infections. Regular use of a neti pot is also hugely beneficial for people with nasal allergies and headaches,” he said in an interview with Healthy Living.

“What a lot of people don’t know is that the sinuses are linked closely to lung health. The sinuses are a major source of nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide opens things up: the blood vessels, the airways. When we intubate a patient through the nose, we always worry about how that will affect their breathing—because it can reduce the lungs’ content of nitric oxide. So, it follows that keeping the sinuses healthy also keeps the lungs full of fresh clean air. We don’t yet know whether nasal irrigation is as helpful for asthma as it is for sinus problems, but it certainly will do more good than harm for asthmatics,” he said.

MAY PREVENT COLDS

Nasal cleansing can be extremely beneficial when it comes to cold prevention. Nasal irrigation with a neti pot was “effective” in reducing overall incidence of colds among practitioners, according to Dr. Richard Ravizza of Pennsylvania State University who presented recent findings at the 50th Scientific Assembly of the American Academy of Family Physicians, held in San Francisco.

Ravizza and Dr. John Fornadley placed 294 college students into three groups. One performed nasal irrigation; another took placebo pills; the third was left untreated. The students kept a “cold symptoms diary.”

The authors found that students who used the daily rinse experienced a significant reduction in the number of colds contracted compared with non-users. On average, those engaging in nasal irrigation had fewer colds over the study period, the authors said, compared with the placebo or untreated groups.

NETI AIDS SNORERS!

Spouses of snorers take heart and get thy loved one to use a neti upon retiring. Use of the neti pot before sleep can help to ensure that the nasal passages are open for optimal breathing during sleep. This can help prevent snoring and mouth breathing and aid in a deeper, more relaxing sleep.

A NATURAL, EASY PRACTICE

“It just seems so natural to me to practice nasal cleansing daily, and I even take my small neti pot with me when I travel,” says Smith Jones. “While I practice neti twice a day, the morning is my favorite time and it’s part of my diurnal, personal hygiene ritual: I brush and floss my teeth, scrape my tongue and cleanse out my nasal passages. I prefer the morning for nasal cleansing because during the night, mucus accumulates in the head and congestion often develops as a result. It is important to clear this congestion out first thing so that one has a proper flow of energy for the rest of the day.

“So, not only have I been doing nasal irrigation for decades, I also highly recommend it in my private practice; I especially recommend it for anyone with sinus problems and environmental allergies. Within 30 to 90 days of practicing neti one to two times a day, I’ve seen many clients and friends heal their sinusitis and no longer need allergy medications after a lifetime of use.”

HOW TO CHOOSE A NETI POT

While many companies offer nasal cleansing pots, the only one that Smith Jones herself uses and recommends is the Ancient Secrets® Nasal Cleansing Pot by Lotus Brands, Inc. In fact, the Ancient Secrets neti pots are actually patented because of their sensuous design and ease of use.

“Their pot is crafted from sturdy, lead-free ceramic and coated with food-grade sealant glaze; it’s a heavy-duty construction that’s dishwasher safe. It makes nasal irrigation easy and enjoyable,” she says. Additionally, the ceramic is obtained from an FDA-certified manufacturer with food-grade, lead-free ceramic verified by independent third-party testing to comply with the highest standards of safety.

The model has an ergonomic easy-grip form that allows you to hold it easily in a balanced and absolutely controlled manner, so that you can avoid excess spillage or leakage or dripping.

The spout is tapered to provide an excellent seal to the nostril to make the process less messy.

It is dishwasher and microwave safe. This is important so that you can hygienically wash the pot from time to time as required with the hot water cleaning cycle of your dishwasher.

The travel model is made of a high-density plastic that is used for medical devices and food containers and does not contain any heavy metals or bisphenol-a, the estrogenic contaminant found in many plastic products.

The plastic model is also dishwasher and microwave safe so that it can be hygienically cleaned, an essential feature for a neti pot. Be wary of other options such as the bio-plastic PLA, the raw material of which comes from corn (including genetically modified sources), but which cannot be hygienically cleaned in a dishwasher, thus making it unsuitable for long-term use as a nasal-cleansing device.

Nasal cleansing with the neti pot is one of the very best methods of taking care of your health—from eliminating postnasal drip to helping with asthma and allergies as well as cold and flu prevention and personal hygiene—use of the neti pot will make a world of difference for your health. Just ask Susan Smith Jones!

Oprah Highlights Miracle Health Powers of Ancient Practice

Dr. Mehmet Oz

Amy, who suffers from sinusitis, bravely demonstrated the use of a nose bidet, or neti pot. Dr. Oz said the device can help clear mucus from your sinuses using warm saltwater. “It’s actually filling up those little nooks and crannies that you have and allowing your body to evacuate that stuff so you can actually begin to function normally,” he said. Since then, Amy says she and her husband have used the neti pot every day! “It is fantastic. I have not had one sinus headache. I haven’t spent any money on any cold products,” she says. Rachel, a member of the Harpo staff, benefited from the neti pot, too! “It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that it’s been life-changing for me,” she says. Rachel is a lifelong allergy sufferer, but since she began using the neti pot, her symptoms have eased up. “I can breathe at night. I’m not blowing my nose, you know, 30 times a day, which is my normal state of being for the last couple years,” she says. “So thank you, Dr. Oz, because it was really a huge change for me and I’m very happy.”

While the first show started the craze, it was this SECOND show that blew it out of the water…. So neti pots are going fast—and that’s a good thing for everybody! (Ancient Secrets Nasal Cleansing Pots, the #1 selling neti pot in the natural foods industry, is “in stock” and ready to go!)

How to Nasal Cleanse

Temperature is very important. Test a few drops on your wrist to make sure it’s neither too hot nor too cold. It should feel warm and comfortable.

The neti pot, which has been used by yoga enthusiasts for centuries, is designed like a little tea kettle with a very long spout that is shaped to fit inside your nostril and form a seal so that water enters one nostril and only pours out the other. “You tilt your head at an angle, pour water up your higher nostril, and let it fall out the lower nostril,” says Smith Jones. “If you plan to irrigate your sinuses regularly, then this is by far the best solution. Raise the nasal cleansing pot slowly to develop a steady flow through the upper nostril and out the lower nostril. You are in total control of the flow by the way you hold the pot. Some people clear both sides with one pot full of saline solution, but some people prefer using an entire pot for each nostril.”

Resources

Ancient Secrets Nasal Cleansing Pot is available at Whole Foods Market and natural health retailers nationwide. For more information or to find a store in your area visit www.ancient-secrets.com or call 800-824-6396.

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