13-12-2015, 01:59 AM
Much has been written on the subject of nasal irrigation, not a common practice in the Western world but a regular part of Yogic hygiene, aka jala neti. Indeed, a whole variety of commercial products (neti pots, and sachets of concentrates for irrigation solutions, is big business both online and at your local pharmacy. We would recommend considering nasal irrigation as sensible aftercare when consuming any potentially irritant substances by way of insufflation. Though the practice might at first seem daunting, it is by no means unpleasant once accustomed to the sensation and you do not need any specialised equipment or commercial solutions to practise nasal irrigation at home. We present a simple, DIY approach that has worked well for us.
Equipment
Empty mineral water bottle, with sports cap, ideally 1 litre capacity
Sea salt, coarse crystal preferred as it doesn't contain anti-caking agents
Making isotonic saline
Producing your own isotonic saline is a trivial process; add common salt to warm water at a rate of one quarter teaspoon per 8 fl. oz., or 1tsp per litre. For comfort, this should be reasonably close to body temperature.
Therefore, add a teaspoon of salt to your empty bottle, fill it about half full with hot water and shake to dissolve the salt. Top it up with cold water and you should end up with a lukewarm saline solution that feels neither especially hot not especially cold to the touch. Fit the sports cap back to the bottle.
Nasal irrigation
The actual practice of nasal lavage is far simpler and less offensive than it might sound. Placing your head over the sink, tilted to one side, insert the nozzle of the bottle into the uppermost nostril, breathe through your mouth and allow the water to pour into your nostril, whereupon it will flow through your nose and out of the other nostril. Sustain this for 20-30 seconds or as long as is comfortable. Tilt your head to the opposite side, and repeat with the other nostril. Once you've used about half the solution, blow your nose and repeat. This should help to flush out any residual grot and minimise damage to the nasal mucosa.
When to irrigate
This is largely a matter of personal taste, though we would not recommend constant or obsessive irrigation. When irrigating after insufflation, it is sensible to allow between 5 and 20 minutes after dosing for proper absorption prior to irrigating.
In a perfect world, and especially so with any unusually aggressive substances, it may be worth irrigating 15-20 minutes after each dose, but this may prove less than practical and might do more harm than good if taken to excess. The author tends to rinse not more than twice per day; often once is sufficient. Of particular importance is to rinse not too long after the final dose of a session and before going to bed.
Disclaimer
The practice of nasal irrigation is not a panacea and does not remove all possible harms associated with insufflation. Performed correctly it reduces the extent of any damage and discomfort and is thus recommended as sensible harm reduction practice if you intend to insufflate at all, but it should not be taken as licence or as encouragement to insufflate anything that you otherwise wouldn't.
Equipment
Empty mineral water bottle, with sports cap, ideally 1 litre capacity
Sea salt, coarse crystal preferred as it doesn't contain anti-caking agents
Making isotonic saline
Producing your own isotonic saline is a trivial process; add common salt to warm water at a rate of one quarter teaspoon per 8 fl. oz., or 1tsp per litre. For comfort, this should be reasonably close to body temperature.
Therefore, add a teaspoon of salt to your empty bottle, fill it about half full with hot water and shake to dissolve the salt. Top it up with cold water and you should end up with a lukewarm saline solution that feels neither especially hot not especially cold to the touch. Fit the sports cap back to the bottle.
Nasal irrigation
The actual practice of nasal lavage is far simpler and less offensive than it might sound. Placing your head over the sink, tilted to one side, insert the nozzle of the bottle into the uppermost nostril, breathe through your mouth and allow the water to pour into your nostril, whereupon it will flow through your nose and out of the other nostril. Sustain this for 20-30 seconds or as long as is comfortable. Tilt your head to the opposite side, and repeat with the other nostril. Once you've used about half the solution, blow your nose and repeat. This should help to flush out any residual grot and minimise damage to the nasal mucosa.
When to irrigate
This is largely a matter of personal taste, though we would not recommend constant or obsessive irrigation. When irrigating after insufflation, it is sensible to allow between 5 and 20 minutes after dosing for proper absorption prior to irrigating.
In a perfect world, and especially so with any unusually aggressive substances, it may be worth irrigating 15-20 minutes after each dose, but this may prove less than practical and might do more harm than good if taken to excess. The author tends to rinse not more than twice per day; often once is sufficient. Of particular importance is to rinse not too long after the final dose of a session and before going to bed.
Disclaimer
The practice of nasal irrigation is not a panacea and does not remove all possible harms associated with insufflation. Performed correctly it reduces the extent of any damage and discomfort and is thus recommended as sensible harm reduction practice if you intend to insufflate at all, but it should not be taken as licence or as encouragement to insufflate anything that you otherwise wouldn't.
