Three of my four scheduled clients cancelled yesterday due to illness. The good news is that they’re staying home and not sharing what they have. The bad news is that they feel like crap. Their misfortune gave me time and a timely topic for today’s blog post.
If you’ve been in business for a while (or even if you haven’t) you’ve heard the mantra “location, location, location.” I’d like to offer a new mantra for all business people.
Prevention, prevention, prevention
If you’re like most people your first response to hearing about a Neti pot will be disgust. Anyone who’s inhaled water while swimming will resist the idea of purposely pouring water in their nose. But when you think about rinsing away germs, irritants, and mucous it becomes more appealing. Knowing that you can decrease your chances of getting a cold, the flu, or a sinus infection might even make you hurry to get a neti pot of your own.
What the heck is a neti pot? Think small tea pot or maybe miniature Aladdin’s lamp (although I’m still waiting for a genie.) You can find them made of ceramic, metal, or plastic which is great for travel. Look at your local health food store or search online. Here’s my link to one option at Amazon. Ancient Secrets Ceramic Nasal Cleansing Pot, 1 Neti Pot
Ready to Try?
- Once you have neti pot in hand put ¼-½ tsp. of sea salt in the pot. Then add warm water to the salt stirring so it dissolves. Aim for water the temperature of your body.
- Next hold your head over the sink with your head to the side. Insert the spout of the pot into your nostril and let the water drain out the other nostril. It takes some practice to get the right angle and not feel like you’re going to drown.
- After you’ve poured water through both sides bend over and blow into a handkerchief. Don’t blow your nose while blocking a nostril.
If you know you’ve been exposed to a bunch of sick people (or even one) head straight to your neti pot. It also works well when you’ve been exposed to allergens. And if you end up with a cold or allergy symptoms using your neti pot a couple times a day will help decrease your symptoms and hopefully recover more quickly.
More help
Once you get the temperature of the water right and the correct amount of salt you shouldn’t feel any discomfort or burning. If you do feel discomfort, play around with the amount of salt you use and the temperature of the water.
If you want more help check out some of the videos on YouTube demonstrating the use of neti pots. And yes, there are books about using a neti pot. I have this one and like it. Neti: Healing Secrets of Yoga and Ayurveda
What are your favorite tools for staying healthy?
Washing hands thoroughly before and after clients as well as before eating are, of course, great ways to stay healthy, as well as using a neti pot regularly. But if I do end up with a cold or flu, at the first sign I take a high dose of Vitamin A along with a tincture of Echinacea w/Goldenseal. That usually nips any illness right in the bud! One should check with their doctor first, though to make sure the dosage they are taking is safe for them.
Thanks LIsa. Yes, hand washing is so important in prevention. I’ve never tried vitamin A, Good to know. It’s great having multiple tools to choose from.