Jala Neti - The Yoga Practice of Saline Nasal Irrigation

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Occupational Health and the
Application of Jala Neti in the Workplace

Contents of this page
Introduction
The Importance of Nose Breathing
Appropriate Workplaces for Nasal Cleansing
Lessening of Work Place Cross-Infection
A Clear Mind and Working Efficiency
Practicalities of Introducing Jala Neti into the Workplace
Learning and Teaching Jala Neti
Statements of Satisfaction from 20 Workplace Neti Users

Introduction
The practice of nasal cleansing can easily be adapted into the workplace. For those working in dusty and toxic conditions, a quick wash out of the nose several times a day will help to keep the nostrils clear of foreign particles and functioning to their best possible ability. The main issues relating to Jala Neti in the workplace can be outlined as following.

The Importance of Nose Breathing
The nose and the post nasal cavities are the body's primary air filters which are designed to protect the lungs from any material entering them other than clean air. Ideally, in a clean living environment, the small amounts of dirt trapped within the mucus lining of the nasal passages can be tolerated short term by the body and are usually spontaneously removed by coughing, sneezing, blowing, sniffing, spitting or swallowing.

However in today's industrial situations, where air quality is far from ideal, the job that the human body's air filtering systems have to do is exceptionally difficult. Even where extraction systems are present or personal protection equipment such as filtering masks are worn, a great amount of undesired material still gets into the nose.

Regular cleansing of the nose by way of saline irrigation will help to keep the nasal filtering system functioning to the best of its ability, where otherwise, the build up of nasal dirt would overload the mucus lining and cause the person to mouth breathe. Even partially blocked nostrils can limit the inhalation of fresh air during light or moderately heavy work to such an extent that one may need to resort to mouth breathing. In summary, mouth breathing fails to properly filter, warm and humidify incoming air. Several factors should be explained about the dangers of chronic mouth breathing:

Mouth breathing causes the air going into to the lungs to be either:
too cold and wet, thereby causing higher secretion of mucus within them, further making breathing inefficient or alternatively:
it may be that the air reaching the lungs is too hot and dry, causing body heat-up and excessive sweating.

Mouth breathing causes toxic particles and bacteria travel straight into the lungs. If small particles do enter the lungs and lodge themselves on the lining there, one effect is to block the air cells, which lowers the exchange rate of gases to and from the bloodstream. Reduced oxygen and increased carbon dioxide in the bloodstream causes tiredness, a sluggish body and a dull mind. Another effect, is that the toxicity of airborne substances damages the lungs and also enters the blood stream to circulate through the whole body causing gradual toxemia. Particles which are known to have carcinogenic effects will therefore react quicker upon the physiology if they have by-passed the nasal filtering system.

Mouth breathing means that the mucus lining of the throat must therefore do its best at filtering all incoming air. It becomes irritated from the dirt, causing dryness, thirst, coughing, spitting, nausea, headaches and, depending on the foreign matter inhaled, other reactions of many kinds. Drinking liquid for a clogged up throat, only washes it down into the stomach often suppressing the appetite and interfering with digestion. Over time, consistent throat problems such as infections, inflammation of tonsils and adenoids, thyroid imbalances, along with habits like smoking, all contribute to a gradual debilitation of general health and possibly contribute to the development of cancers of the throat and lungs.

In short, mouth breathing is a sure recipe for a health disaster! The practice of Jala Neti is a simple and effective prevention technique for all the problems which can arise from mouth breathing.

Appropriate Workplaces for Nasal Cleansing
According to common sense, the types of places where workers would find themselves in a high dust environment would likely be the following:

* Woodworking factories
* Metal industry workshops
* Building trades such as carpentry, plastering, painting, plumbing, concreting, brickwork, roofing, insulating, electrical,
* Automotive Repairs
* Spray Painters
* Construction and Demolition sites
* Textile Industries
* Fibreglass fabricators
* Mining sites
* Warehouses and factories (even without equipment producing airborne by-products) have floor surfaces which are always dirty from personnel and goods moving in and out of the building.
* Outdoor occupations such as nurseries, farming dust and chemicals, grain and animal handling, gardening and landscaping where pollens can be of high annoyance.
* Transport industries - those constantly "on the road" - such as couriers, truckies, taxi drivers, where automotive pollution is their daily diet
* Those working indoors in premises which may have a smoky atmosphere - such as bars, pubs, clubs, kitchens.

BUT ..... beyond all these so called "dirty" places, the highest incidence of upper respiratory and nasal complaints is in a completely different area to where one might ordinarily expect. According to the 1989 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey, the highest incidence of all workplace respiratory complaints was in the occupations of professionals, managers, clerks, salespersons. These persons seemed to be the ones most at risk of viral and bacterial infections, allergies, hayfever and sinusitis. How could this be?

Might it not be the higher likelihood of cross-infection through office air conditioning and the lack of fresh air in the office blocks with no windows to open? It may be related to the higher mental stress of the so called "white collar workers" resulting in lower immune system responses.

There's a phenomenon now being investigated called "sick building syndrome" which postulates that the higher incidence of workplace sickness in tower blocks is due to the combination of all the unnatural elements in the office blocks such as air conditioning, fluorescent lights, photocopier ozone, decor fumes, cleaning chemicals, synthetic carpets, electromagnetic radiation, Cafe Bar Beverages (only joking!!!). No-one has yet proven the causes of such statistics but common sense would suggest that these confined office workers would definitely breathe in higher numbers of recycled, airborne bacteria than outside workers.

Lessening of Work Place Cross-Infection
It's an old cliché in winter, to blame the workplace for your cold or flu. "I must have picked it up at work", they say, or "Jackie gave me her cold last week, so it's my turn for a couple of days in bed". Everyone blames the giver for their getting the bug! But in fact, not everyone gets that "flu going round", so it stands to reason that not all workers are equally susceptible. In the workshops of industry or in the air conditioned tombs of the nation's offices, an air conditioning system can easily be the spreader of airborne germs no doubt, but you don't have to be the one who ingests them.

The nose is supposed to be the prevention filter for such things, but it's always the mouth breathers who go down with the respiratory ailments first. A person who starts their day with clean, clear nostrils, after doing Jala Neti in their morning shower, and cleans them again by repeating Neti at home after work, will be the last to "go down with the flu", if at all. In places such as hospitals, clinics, child care centres or any public institution where infection is common, self protection and hygiene of the nasal passages is of great importance.

A Clear Mind and Working Efficiency
Keeping a clear mind is another important element affecting ones function in the workplace. Mistakes and accidents are often the result of tiredness, headaches, irritability, misunderstood instructions, poor vision, poor hearing, hotheadedness, depression. Frequently, such people are habitual mouth breathers due to constant nasal congestion for whatever reason, be it chronic illnesses like allergies, hayfever, sinusitis, or whether it be from industrial or environmental pollution simply blocking up the nose. Since many of these factors can be the result of mouth breathing, many of these symptoms can be cleared up by nasal cleansing.

Many people today suffer headaches - intermittent and chronic. There are many different kinds of headaches and, no doubt, many different causes and triggers for them. Take for example a person who works hard with their mind in a sedentary type of job who may have reoccurring "tension headaches" on stressful days. Reports from many people we have taught Jala Neti to have indicated that performing Neti at the onset of a tension headache gives instant relief, lasting for quite some time and that regular daily use helps in prevention of the headaches too. No-one has as yet shown or proven why this is so but we postulate that it is due to an imbalance between the mental and physical inputs and outputs. According to yoga principles, an imbalance between the function of left and right nostrils can cause over heating of the brain and as a result, headaches. Therefore it is of no surprise to us that, by clearing the nostrils and balancing the breath through both sides, headaches can be relieved. Headaches in the workplace reduce not only personal well-being, but also working efficiency. The effect of running warm salty water through the nostrils, is just like a good swim in the surf. You know how that gives you a good clean out and how refreshing it feels afterwards. Neti cleans out all the senses of the head - eyes, ears, nose, throat, smell and thinking. It gives an instant and long lasting "lift" to the mind. One of the most common yet undefined effects reported from nasal cleansing is - "I feel mentally clearer".

The Practicalities of Introducing Jala Neti into the Workplace
What would be the cost in dollars and time of a worker's regular nasal cleansing at work the frugal employer or employee might well ask.

The financial cost of learning Jala Neti is usually very little. Few instructors ever charge for their time to demonstrate and teach the practice if the new user come to them. However, should the instructor take the time to travel to the place of employment to teach some workers and staff, employers or employees might well be expected to cover the instructor's travel expenses and tuition time. An other idea would be that an instructor set up "teaching seminars" where a representative from several companies would come and be trained to be the instructor at own their particular workplace. Then there would always be a knowledgeable person on hand for any guidance needed for new employees.

The cost of a Neti Pot is around $20 - $50 depending on material and will last many years. We recommend stainless steel for the workplace situation, both for hygiene and durability. The only other materials needed are water, salt and tissues or paper towels.

Should an employer decide that Jala Neti would be a good thing to introduce to the workers, the point should be discussed here, whether the purchase cost of Neti Pots for workers would be borne by the management or the workers themselves. One point of view is that nasal cleansing is just like any other of an industry's protective measures for the health of their workers. Like breathing apparatus, hard hats, overalls, ear muffs, gloves, etc., a Neti Pot could be classified very easily as protection equipment of the trade and supplied by the management or reimbursed as a tax deduction. Nasal cleansing can also be seen as a subtle form of health insurance.

The cost factor is really quite negligible from either side considering the benefits which can be gained from the technique, especially if one is saving on nasal medications, doctor's visits, days off work, greater working efficiency and the like.

It takes a teacher about 10 minutes to help a new user through the practice for the first time, (all going well). In a few cases, the first time user might have a nasal problem to sort out and the lesson might need to be repeated twice - taking a total maximum of 20 minutes.

For an employee to do Neti in the workplace, for instance in the washroom, at the end of a shift for example, it takes the user no more than 5 - 10 minutes, even if they decide to do it twice for very dirt-laden nostrils. It is no more time consuming, nor any more of a fuss than going to the toilet and washing ones hands afterwards.

Whether a worker would want to use a Neti Pot at work and/or at home, is, of course, up to them. A worker could own one pot personally and transport it to and from work each day, (a bit of an inconvenience), or else they could have a company owned pot in their work locker as well as a privately owned pot for home use.

It is obvious that most people would not want to share their Neti Pot with others at work. It's a bit like letting someone else use your toothbrush! At home, family members might share their pots, but in the workplace, it is highly unlikely. A Neti Pot should always be kept wrapped in a clean place away from any possible contamination. A suitable storage container should be found for this purpose.

Learning and Teaching Jala Neti
Over the years of teaching Jala Neti to all sorts of people, we have concluded that people should be taught by a qualified instructor. Sometimes, new users have nasal problems which require some expertise and guidance. There are many finer points to the technique which the user learns over time, and which are all explained in The Jala Neti Booklet and one of these booklets should be purchased by users who wish to teach others or for reference at the workplace. Perhaps one or more users could be the Neti teachers at the company who would instruct newcomers or if help with guidance if other users encounter any problems. After some time of personal daily practice and study of the booklet, any user can become qualified to teach others. This "passing on" of yoga knowledge ensures accurate tuition and less difficulties for users.

Statements of Satisfaction from 20 Workplace Neti Users
1. After 4 years as a spray painter, I had a very bad sense of smell. I never noticed it, but I must have gone through most of my life with one blocked nostril. Since doing Neti, my sense of smell has improved and I am now able to unblock my nose everyday and have both nostrils working.

2. As a nurse, I tried Neti mainly for hayfever but also for cleansing our the possibility of airborne germs at the hospital. Short term, I got relief, almost total, of the dreaded hayfever. Long term, if a headache develops, Neti frequently relieves the symptoms. I felt much safer at work and around sick people.

3. Before learning Neti I had frequent sneezing, a post nasal drip and blocked right side of nose possibly caused by daily exposure to all the chemicals in my job as a contract cleaner. After the first trial I felt clearer in the head and nasal passages. Short term, my sneezing was reduced by 90%. I'm feeling cleaner, it has helped to balance left and right nostrils. Neti is excellent for improving the breathing process. It appears to reduce hayfever and allergies.

4. I read for my studies a lot, day and night. Short term, I can breathe much better and my head feels clearer. Longer term, I feel clearer in the head, thinking is easier. A great technique to clear the brain and nose.

5. As a full time mother of 6 children under 12, Neti has made me clearer in the mind and calmer. My 10 year old has asthma and always had blocked sinuses. Beforehand she said "No Way", but since starting Neti there has been a marked health improvement in her and stress improvement in me!.

6. I took up Neti to control colds, flu and headache which get spread around our office frequently. It gave relief from headaches and a clear head after a sleepless night. I've not had as many headaches or caught as many colds as some others in the office anymore.

7. Being a part-time landscape gardener, I took up Neti for sinus relief and nasal blockages. It was surprisingly easier than I first thought. After the first trial I felt a lot clearer. It gives me clearer nasal passages and easier breathing. Long term, my nasal passages unblock at a faster rate. I also experience less headaches.

8. I was permanent mouth breather which got in the way of my singing and acting. I couldn't breathe through my left nostril before Neti and I needed cleansing in my brain. For the first time in my life I could breath through my left nostril. It started to loosen the gunge at the back of my nose and throat making my voice more mellow. Longer term, my stress levels seem to be diminishing.

9. I took up Neti for headaches and stress from long periods of study. After the first trial I felt clear minded, fresh, alive. Short term, I'm more clear minded. Long term I'm more alert. Neti is an amazing and fantastic way of clearing the head.

10. Short term I have a cleaner nose and clearer breathing. Long term, I have less hayfever and a brighter mind. Neti is simple, painless and beneficial. It has really improved my fitness and sports ability by having full nose breathing.

11. Before Neti I had hayfever and a blocked nose all the time. After the first trial I felt really good. Short term, I could breathe properly. I don't use nasal spray any more. My eyes look brighter. It has helped my concentration and memory when writing.

12. Working in the smoky kitchen and table waiting in a smoky restaurant before Neti I had hayfever and catarrh. After the first trial, I was impressed at the amount of relief gained and felt clear headed. Short term, I reduced my medication for hayfever relief. Long term, I felt much clearer in the head and the smoking doesn't bother me at all.

13. I only tried Neti for curiosity and only do it once or twice a week. Short term, my nasal passages are clearer. I suffered from allergy in the eyes worsened by my work with plaster and wood. Neti helps clear and relieve the irritation caused at work.

14. For over 40 years, I've had sinus and bronchitis, aggravated by whatever job I've been in and asthma over the last year. Neti is so easy to do. Short term, I've had no breathing problems. Long term, I've had no heavy feeling any more in the head. I can't understand why doctors don't suggest it to patients.

15. I tried Neti for constant colds through winter and blocked sinus most of the time. As a kindergarten teacher I get everybody's bugs and probably just pass hem on too! Short term, I got clear sinuses and less colds. Long term, both sides of nasal passage are now both even, where before the left was blocked more than the right. Neti is very good and easy to adopt into regular practice.

16. I took up Neti only for general hygiene. I was not a mucusy person and didn't think it was necessary for me. After the first trial I felt good and I was amazed at how easy it was. In the first 2 weeks, Neti started to clear my right sinus, which I didn't realise was blocked before. Firstly, it made me more aware of dust and dirt affecting me in the factory warehouse. Longer term, the right nostril is clear now and I can breathe equally through both sides. I can take bigger and easier breaths. Neti is something everyone should do as part of their daily hygiene. The benefits will speak for themselves. It should become a cultural norm, like having a shower.

17. For me, my breathing is freer. My husband, a concretor, was most impressed and now does it twice a day. He now breathes freely through the nose and has stopped snoring.

18. Since starting Neti I am less affected by pollens in the garden and have less sinus difficulties. It clears the head and is excellent for stopping nasal infections during a dose of the flu. Neti is a beneficial daily habit. It clears the head.

19. After years of putting up with poultry shed dust I decided to give Neti a go for my nasal problems. I mouth breathe far less, I get much less sneezing and the constant smell doesn't make me nauseous all day.

20. I always suspected work fumes (in a chrome plating factory) was causing my daytime headaches and bad night time breathing. After doing Neti twice daily at work for just 2 weeks, my headaches had lessened considerably, my sleep had improved greatly and I was much happier to go to work each day.