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Is it a watering can, a teapot, a sugar bowl, a candle holder, incense stand, gravy boat? These are the questions that rise to the mind of people who see a neti pot for the first time. Its silhouette make them wonder about what it is and how to make use of it. They find it amazing when they find out that this simple pot can be used to clear nose congestion and sinusitis. While tracing its history one can understand that this was first used by die-hard yoga practitioners for cleansing purposes. Now, it is seen to be used to cure cold, sinus and other allergies. This is done by rinsing away pollen, dust, germs and other airborne contaminants from the nose. Thus its use extends to removing excess mucus, moisturizing the nasal membrane after spending time in planes or in heated or air-conditioned rooms and opening nostrils for meditation.

The neti pot is used by inserting the snout of the  pot into the right nostril and twisting your head to the left. Thus the nasal track will be cleared and the water will trickle out of the other nostril. This works on the principle that our nose is divided into two passages, and there’s a septum in between. Water is poured into one of the nostril and it goes around the back of the septum and gravity helps it flow out the other side.

This nasal wash is said to prevent or treat sinus infections. According to anatomy, the sinuses of a person drain into the nasal passages through little openings called matuses. It’s when these openings get blocked that mucus accumulates and causing pressure and infection. The neti water washes over the meatuses, thus keeping them open and the mucus inside the sinus cavities flow out—the water doesn’t actually go into your sinuses.

It is also understood that during ancient times yogis used this neti pot not only as part of their personal cleansing ritual, but also to help them attain higher states of meditation

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