The Dangers Of Using A Neti Pot

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I will admit that I occasionally have a look at the Daily Mail online newspaper especially to make sure that people like Kim Kardashian are still alive and well (in fact it’s because of the Daily Mail that I actually found out who she is!)  This week an article caught my eye on how 3 people have died from using a neti pot incorrectly.  In the UK neti pots are prescribed by the NHS for blocked or runny noses.  In the US however, 3 people have contracted a rare condition called amoebic meningitis.

neti potA couple of years ago I wrote a blog post on how to use a neti pot with a video which you can read and see here.  It explains how you should only boiled sterilized water with salt and allow it to cool to room temperature.  The Daily Mail reports that by using tap water containing Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba less than 1mm in diameter, these 3 people contracted this rare and fatal disease.  However if your domestic water is treated with chlorine, the amoeba will be killed of.  If it is drunk however, it will be killed by stomach acids.  But taken in through the nose, it can travel from the sinuses to the brain, which it then proceeds to destroy and prove fatal for 90% of cases treated with antibiotics.

There have only been around 250 cases of meningitis caused by Naegleria Fowleri around the world so the chances of contracting it are extremely low.  It is still a great, natural way of cleansing the sinuses without having to use medicated sprays with unnecessary chemicals.  Using a neti pot is an ancient cleaning practice originating in India.  It is an Ayurvedic and Yoga practice performed daily and referred to as Jala Neti Kriya.  It is a fantastic way to clear, and cleanse the sinuses of mucus naturally, and really wakes you up in the morning.  However the Daily Mail reports that a study done by the Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, suggests taking a break after using your neti pot daily for 3 weeks.  Flushing can also get rid of the healthy layer of mucus that acts as a defense for bacteria and allergens.  It is also very important to clean the pot after each cleanse.  A study done by the University of Alberta showed that 70% of neti pot users were not cleaning their pot after each use, increasing the risk of infections.

Therefore it is important to use your neti pot correctly and with caution.  Make sure the water has been boiled and sterilized beforehand and that it is cleaned after each use.  Although many use it daily in India, you may want to stop using it when your nose has cleared up, and resume only when needed.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

eight limbs of yoga patanjali

The Eight Limbs Of Yoga: Past and Present

The Eight Limbs of Yoga are sequential stages in an individual’s journey through yoga.  According to Patanjali, each step must be understood and followed in order to attain the ultimate goal of Ashtanga yoga, that of liberation of the self.  However, over the last few centuries, as yoga became available to more people, and evolved with the modern world, the strict adherence to perfecting one step before moving on to the next, disappeared.

Read More »
Charlie Stewart-Brown

Charlie Stewart-Brown

Charlie began practicing yoga over 27 years ago as a recommendation for her severe anxiety, and has been teaching for over 15 years to people of all ages and abilities. With over 1300 hrs of training and 22,500 hrs of teaching, she is also the lead trainer on the Indiv Yoga 200 hrs YTT & RCYT Kids Yoga Teacher Training Courses, having certified over 400 students worldwide.  She is the voice of the ‘Yoga and Mindfulness Program’ on British Airways long-haul flights, has spoken at many seminars and corporate workshops, and runs exclusive yoga and meditation retreats during the year.

Originally from London and having worked in New York and Lisbon after her Psychology degree, she has since settled  in Switzerland with her husband, and dedicated her life to expanding her knowledge of the science of yoga, mindful meditation and better physical and mental health.

Over the years Charlie has trained with some of the most renowned yoga teachers around the world (David Swenson, Shiva Rea, Anne-Marie Newland, Leslie Kaminoff, Sadie Nardini, Sonia Sumar etc) certifying in Hatha, Sivanada, Ashtanga, Childrens and Family Yoga, Yoga for the Special Child, & Inner Engineering with Sadhguru. She has become highly respected for her successful work in yoga therapy, especially for Autism, ADHD and other behavioural and developmental syndromes. She has also talked at some of the biggest corporations in Switzerland and the annual SGIS (Swiss Group of International Schools) Conference on implementing Mindfulness in the work place and the education system.

Charlie holds the highest yoga qualifications as an ERYT500 (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher), RCYT (Registered Children´s Yoga Teacher), RPYT (Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher) and YCEP (Yoga Continued Education Provider) with the Yoga Alliance, and has developed Indiv Yoga™ to bring a more physiological, therapeutic and individual approach to yoga. Indiv Yoga™ Switzerland is a RYS (registered yoga school) and RCYS (registered children’s yoga school) providing Yoga Alliance teacher training certifications of the highest professional standards.

The focus of Indiv Yoga™ is to provide the benefits of yoga to every type of individual, using its teachings to achieve physical and mental balance, and diminish the anxieties of modern life for adults and children.

Read her online testimonials and qualifications for a feel of her knowledgeable and friendly professionalism.

Romantic meditation you tube

Download this FREE 7 mins Meditation For A Better Romantic Relationship