You
Allergies are the fucking worst.
As soon as I moved to Hawaii I realized it was going to be a rough year for me – wildlife flourishes out here, which means I’m allergic to just about everything. I keep waking up with black eyes and have to travel with a Kleenex pack everywhere I go. Sexy.
Thankfully, I have the cure for those mornings when yet another plant decides to bloom nearby.
I’m talking about my favorite dynamic duo: a Neti Pot
+ Nasya Oil
.
(Okay, obviously this is not a glamorous post, people. You still with me? Let’s dive in.)
Using a neti pot
That’s right – I rinse out my sinuses. I know, it sounds disgusting. (It kind of is.) I get it – I’ve been told by my doctors for over 15 years of my life to use a neti pot daily, and I only just started using it consistently about a year ago. The whole concept freaked me out. It sounded weird and I was lazy, so I didn’t bother trying it out until my allergies got so bad I became desperate.
I was so congested I was taking sudafed all day, every day (NOT GOOD).
But then I discovered that neti pots are pure magic.
» Not Pictured: Me actually using this because you don’t need to see water flowing out of my nose, ok? «
It’s pretty simple, really: you take a saline water solution, pour it through one of your nostrils while you tilt your head to the side, and the water runs through your sinuses and then out through the other nostril. You’re essentially washing out all the crap in your nasal passages that you’re allergic to (dust, dander, mildew… alllll the crap) so that the inflammation in your nose and sinuses can go down and you can feel good again.
Water flowing through your skull – I told you it was a little freaky.
But after you get used to using it a few times, it actually starts to feel AMAZING.
You will notice how clearly you can breathe when you use it, and you’ll miss it dearly on days you forget.
Now, before you get all weirded out, let me iterate that neti pots are 100% safe when used correctly, and they are indeed effective. A 2016 study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal showed that patients who used a neti pot consistently over a 6 month period experienced positive results in reducing symptoms of chronic sinusitis (which just means your nasal passages are all inflamed and you can’t fucking breathe).
Keep in mind that while the neti pot originated as part of the Ayurvedic yoga tradition in ancient India, every allergist I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen a lot) has recommended that I use a neti pot, too. So, it’s like the perfect treatment: it’s holistic, it’s does nothing but help you feel better, and both modern medicine and natural healers agree that it works. Because it does.
Obviously this doesn’t cure your allergies, and won’t work for acute allergic reactions or if your nose is fine but your skin is breaking out in a rash. But any time your nose feels congested (esp. when you’re sick!), a neti pot can be a real godsend.
But hold up for a moment – I’ve got to say this. This is important. PAY ATTENTION.
Do not use tap water in your neti pot.
Mmkay? The boxes and instructions and everything say this, but we humans can be quite stupid and either don’t read anything before using it or assume we are uniquely special so this rule surely doesn’t apply to us.
You can literally die if you just pour tap water up into your nose. Tap water is full of nasty shit like bacteria (which is why I use this filter in my water at all times) that can make you very sick if you dump it into your skull. You’ve got to use distilled or sterile water or tap water that’s been boiled for 3-5 minutes and then cooled (but not left out for hours on end – you’ve got to use it as soon as it cools to room temperature, or seal it for up to 24 hours in an clean glass airtight container). I keep it super simple and just buy a gallon of distilled water at the grocery store for like $1. Done.
Also, I really like to use this ceramic neti pot
Neti pots are available in just about every pharmacy/general store out there, in the allergy section of course.
So about the nasya oil…
It’s like my special secret. Using a neti pot on its own is great, but I add on a second step to my neti pot that really helps seal the deal.
After using my neti pot, I lie down and place 3 drops of nasya oil
Nasya oil is also part of Ayurvedic practice and packs a 1-2 punch when used with the neti pot. The pot clears everything out, but that can leave your sinuses a bit dried out and vulnerable to new allergens. So, this mix of herbal-infused oils coats the inside of your nose after you flush it out, lubricating the dry, irritated tissue while also creating a barrier to help protect you against more irritation. Plus, it’s super invigorating and helps you feel awake and alert!
This is another practice that honestly takes some getting used to. But again, the awkwardness of putting a few drops in your nose is nothing compared to the agony of wanting to claw your nose off your face, so for me it’s no issue. I lie down on the ground with my head tilted back and use a handheld mirror to make sure I put the drops in correctly (for some reason I struggle with feeling how many drops I’m putting in, so I like to actually see what I’m doing),. Then I just chill out on the floor for a few minutes while listening to a podcast to let the drops fully absorb.
Doing this every day has helped me ditch all my allergy medications.
It’s totally gotten my allergies under control. Now my sinuses feel nourished rather than attacked.
So bring it, nature.
Who else suffers from allergies? Have you guys tried a neti pot or nasya oil before? If you have other helpful tips to help with your allergies, please share in the comments!
xo,
Amy
This post is not sponsored, but there are affiliate links throughout this post, all for stuff I genuinely love and recommend!