Spring- Allergy Season Again!
Written By: Sue
April 18, 2011
Allergy Remedies for Pollen Season
While the snow may be behind us, spring pollen is now at our doors and can often look like a fine dusting of snow. Sometimes it’s white but most often pollen is yellow. As you can see from these pictures, it’s obvious why it might irritate your eyes and nose. But for those of you that don’t find your cars or yards dusted with it, you may wonder how microscopic amounts can cause such irritation.
Pollen, even when unseen, can cause the body’s immune system to overreact in some people. The body thinks the pollen is a hostile invader and releases antibodies and chemicals (histamine) to defend itself. It’s the histamine which is released into the blood that causes the runny nose and sneezing.
What can you do? Millions of people search for allergy remedies and take antihistamines to block the histamines from building up in the blood. People who do this can have success, but at a price. Many report drowsiness, constipation, anxiety and dry mouth. Ultimately, we don’t know the long-term effects of these synthetic drugs on our bodies. Use caution when taking them on a regular basis.
Nasal rinsing is a natural allergy remedy and is helpful in flushing out the pollen at the end of the day to clear the sinus cavities to get a good night’s sleep. Remember the body’s response to the pollen may last several hours after you rinse (ie the histamine remains in your blood) so you may want to rinse a few hours before going to bed and minimize your exposure to pollen. In other words, don’t go cutting the lawn or setting up the barbecue after rinsing.
But what do you do during the day when the pollen is irritating you at the office or a weekend soccer game? A curious thing has happened to us here at Baraka. Our Sinus Rejuvenation Oil seems to reduce the histamine response in the body, especially if it is used prior to allergy season (before the histamine levels have gone out of control). Now we don’t have the science to back this, but if you’ve read my last blog you’ll see that scientific research on natural products is all over the map. You need to try different allergy remedies to know what works for you.
Other suggestions to help with allergy season include:
- Reduce your dairy intake; which is mucous forming
- Reduce or eliminate alcohol; which can cause a histamine response
- Purchase an air filter and air conditioning
Limiting our triggers during allergy season helps to reduce our chances of allergic reactions to pollen. Try different allergy remedies until you find one that works best for you; because you know your body best. Read our blog from last week and try some of the cold and allergy remedies that have worked for the Baraka crew.
Science Behind Cold Relief?
Written By: Sue
April 11, 2011
Learn What Your Body Needs for Cold Relief
Science writer Jennifer Ackerman authored a book called Achoo- The Uncommon Life of the Common Cold. Ackerman reports that the latest scientific research indicates that products such as zinc and Echinacea don’t work to fight sinus congestion, sore throats and any other symptoms that come along with a cold. Hmmm. Wasn’t it just a few years ago the latest science suggested they did? Science Behind Cold Relief and More Cold Theory Relief Information
Since scientific research continues to be all over the map on which natural remedies to use, I decided one thing: I need to listen to my own body. Zinc and Echinacea work for me! Call it a placebo, call it whatever you like, but I’ve fought off many colds by using these and other products that don’t have the science to back them up.
However, what works for me won’t necessarily work for you. If you don’t know what your body needs to fight a cold, I say forget the scientific research and begin experimenting.
Here’s what the Baraka crew uses:
- Ilana- Lemon and ginger tea, extra sleep, echinacea and goldenseal, stops eating dairy
- Star – Emergen-C, humidifier, Baraka Sinus Oil, orange and cranberry juice
- Kage – Wellness Formula, calls in sick
- Stephani – Uses Baraka Infused Salt in her neti pot, Wellness Formula, Baraka Sinus Oil, lots of sleep!
- Mike – Gypsy Cold Care Tea, neti pot
- Loren – Vitamin C, Yin Chao, lemon, honey and hot water
- Danny – Vitamin C
- Sue – Zinc, Wellness Formula, Baraka Sinus Oil, nasal rinsing
Notice, not everyone uses a neti pot or the sinus oil! Each person’s needs are different. Try playing around to discover what works for you. Over time, you’ll be able to knock out a cold before it knocks you out! For those of you who already have success fighting a cold, what do you use?
Our Commitment to a Greener Planet
Written By: Sue
March 28, 2011
Why We Make A Ceramic Neti Pot
Over the years people have asked us why we don’t make a plastic neti pot. We only have one reason: we don’t want to contribute to the mounting plastic problem in our world. On average, plastic grocery bags are used for 12 minutes and water bottles less than 1 minute before they are thrown into our landfills for thousands of years. On the Big Island of Hawaii, there is a beach that once was beautiful, which is now the repository for mounds of plastic from around the world. The area is known as South Point with windmills lining the road providing sustainable energy to the island with the irony being that the beautiful cove is filled with plastic refuse. There are a lot of examples like these. In fact, our plastic problem has gotten so big that an island the size of Texas swirls in the Pacific Ocean! Whoa! See this article: Greenpeace International Campaign Ocean Pollution
At one point, we had gotten very excited about the biocompostable plastics that were appearing on the market. I was even going to fly to a conference in Brussels to learn all about them. But the more I investigated, the more I learned that biocompostable plastics only decomposed under perfect compostable conditions and even that is questionable. Biocompostable plastics are made of a combination of petroleum and plant-based materials. The plants obviously breakdown, but the petroleum polymers do the same as regular plastic – hang around for thousands of years and pollute our soil!! That doesn’t seem very green!
Check out these two websites for more info:
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/article/truth-about-bioplastics
http://news.discovery.com/earth/bioplastic-plant-plastic-environment.html
So as it stands, we will continue to make our ceramic neti pot. That doesn’t mean we will stop investigating greener and more sustainable ways to produce them. We are always looking to lessen our footprint on this beautiful planet we share. Please read more about our green commitment: Baraka Green Commitment
Do Neti Pots Relieve Chronic Sinus Congestion?
Written By: Sue
March 14, 2011
How Neti Pots Can Help Sinus Congestion
If your sinus congestion has lasted over 3 months, you’re likely to have a chronic sinus condition. The symptoms can range from a mild post nasal drip to head pressure so severe it causes headaches. With such a wide range of problems, can nasal rinsing help them all?
First, let’s consider three questions:
1. Do you have a deviated septum or a broken facial bone? All this can contribute to the sinuses being unable to optimally regulate themselves- so when you rinse, water may run out one side but not the other. Or both sides may not release water. Nasal rinsing can help in these situations, but not always.
2. Does the saline solution not completely drain from your sinuses? Anatomy books lead us to believe that our sinuses are created proportionally to our body size and evenly placed and angled in our bodies. This is far from the truth. 10% of people have an extra sinus cavity and our sinuses can be different sizes, making one side more difficult to drain. It is helpful to bend over at the waist with the crown of your head to the floor for about 30 seconds to drain excess water.
3. Are you repeatedly exposing yourself to allergens that trigger congestion? Allergies can range from airborne pollens and pollution to food. If your congestion is airborne, nasal rinsing might be beneficial in cleansing the nasal cavities and reducing inflammation. If it’s food, nasal rinsing might not work so well, since the inflammation leading to your sinus congestion is triggered internally. (An additional thought is to check your home for mold or mildew.)
So how do you answer the question: Will nasal rinsing benefit my sinus congestion? Investigating the above questions may help to understand why you are chronically congested in the first place. From there, you can focus on how nasal rinsing can be beneficial. If you’ve never rinsed before then by all means try it. Not just once but a few times to see if it changes anything.
For those of you that have rinsed and aren’t sure of it’s benefits – experiment around! Everyone is different! Unless you’ve been told by your health provider not to rinse, there is no harm in seeing what works for you. Try rinsing every day and see how you feel. Or once a week. Try an isotonic rinse one time and a hypertonic rinse the next. Experts can only give suggestions and if you’ve read my past blog posts, you know I advocate trying different things to determine what works best for you. Listen to your body.
Confessions of a Reluctant Neti Pot User
Written By: Stephani
March 4, 2011
Can You Imagine Putting Water Up Your Nose?
When I started working at Baraka in 2003 I was completing my college education and looking for a job flexible with my class schedule. I began in Baraka’s quality control and shipping department – a complete stranger to neti pots and nasal rinsing. The idea of flushing water through my nose made me uneasy. I wondered – why would I do that to myself? I didn’t have sinus issues; I didn’t need to use a neti pot.
Then it happened – I got a horrible cold. After working at Baraka for 2 years, I finally had a reason to use the neti pot. I was nervous – was it going to hurt? Was I going to choke? Would it really make me feel better? Putting all my hesitations aside, I shoved that pretty little spout in my nose filling my sinuses with a saline solution.Since I was so heavily congested the water wasn’t able to run out the other side of my nostril… so I took in all the water I could handle. When I rinsed the other nostril, the water started to drip out. Within moments, a huge flush of water dispensed from my nose, and I was officially nasal rinsing!! I felt relief almost instantly! I continued to rinse twice a day and within 4 days my cold was over.
Now I Know Why People Nasal Rinse
While I knew the neti pot had helped me, the real results came when my husband (then boyfriend) got the same cold; apparently we share everything! He did not use the neti pot and he suffered for an entire week, 3 days longer than I did. That is what really amazed me – sure I still got sick, but I was over the cold sooner and had a tool to give me relief along the way.
Now I tell everyone about the neti pot, not because I’m Baraka’s General Manager, but because it works! I rinse not because I have a chronic sinus condition, I rinse to maintain good sinus health. It’s amazing to see what flushes out of my nose after a day of gardening! This may be gross to look at, but I’d rather see that grossness go down the drain than hang out in my sinus cavity! Everyone should have a neti pot in their bathroom, and of course it should be a Baraka Neti Pot!!!
Reduce Nasal Inflammation
Written By: Sue
February 28, 2011
Why Hypertonic Rinses Work
Most nasal rinsing devices teach you to make what is called an isotonic rinse (about a 1/2 teaspoon of mineral salt to 10 oz of water). This means there are equal amounts of salt in the saline solution as in the cell walls of the body, and it comes close to the body’s pH. This rinse helps to stimulate the cilia and flush out excess mucous and particulate matter. Most expert neti pot rinsers know that if it burns when they rinse, they haven’t used enough salt. Pure water or water with low amounts of salt can feel acidic and actually aggravate the sinus cavities.
To create a hypertonic rinse, you double the salt. This means there is more salt in the saline solution than in the cell walls of the body. Here’s the benefit. Doubling the amount of salt activates an exchange of fluids through a phenomenon called osmotic pressure. The body recognizes that there is more salt in the saline solution than in the cell walls of the body. It wants to equalize the pressure so it releases fluid from the inflamed tissues. It’s quite remarkable!
Doesn’t it burn, you may ask? Doubling the salt creates a saline solution that is more alkaline than acidic. In other words, it shouldn’t burn. A hypertonic rinse will also help to liquefy mucous and decrease the pressure you feel associated with inflammation. While relief can be apparent right after rinsing for some individuals, it may take a few rounds for others. You can rinse up to 3 times a day with a hypertonic solution if you are fighting a cold.
Bottom line: If you sound nasally when you speak, and you are fighting a cold or have allergies, you could probably use a hypertonic rinse!
If you want the exact science behind this, Wikipedia does a fine job of explaining it. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osmotic_pressure)
Nasal Rinsing History
Written By: Sue
February 14, 2011
Image by Sherrie Super
Salt Water to Improve Sinus Health
For centuries, people have been putting salt water up their nose to improve their sinus health. Simple methods such as inhaling salt water or using a tea pot like device have been used. Modern man, however, has become inventive in creating similar yet additional ways. Below is a list of the ancient and modern methods of nasal rinsing that I’m aware of:
1. Ocean Water - Probably the most ancient method of rinsing the nasal passages. Just jump in the ocean and inhale the water. I don’t know that I’d recommend that to anymore as Baraka fans who surf complain about polluted waters and their own troubles with sinus infections. Makes me sad.
2. Bowl of Water – My grandpa used to do this. Mix some salt in a bowl of water, scoop it into the palm of your hand and inhale! Why not?!
3. Neti Pot – This technique is known as Jala Neti and can be found in Ayurvedic medicine. A neti pot can be made from ceramic or metal materials but many modern day ones are made of plastics in various shapes. With the head tilted to one side, the spout is inserted into the top nostril where water flows through and out the other side. Gravity is used to move the water.
4. Positive Pressure Nasal Rinsing Devices – These devices often look like a water bottle or oversized syringe. The idea is to exert pressure onto the device which then pushes water into the sinus cavities. Similar to the neti pot, water goes in one nostril and out the other. But unlike the neti pot, you are generally standing upright instead of tilting your head to one side.
5. Waterpik or Devices Like It – A mechanized positive pressure device. Think of it like a motorized water hose which uses an electric pump to push water through the sinus cavities.
It’s obvious that I prefer a neti pot to the other nasal rinsing methods. It’s clean (unlike the ocean) and doesn’t slop water about the bathroom like my grandpa used to do. But mainly, I prefer it because it doesn’t exert pressure, and potentially push fluid, into the Eustachian tubes. And strangely enough, most of these devices tell you NOT to rinse when you are congested!! Say what?!
Whatever your choice- nasal rinsing rocks! And if you want to see some crazy, unorthodox ways people go about rinsing, search “neti pots” on You Tube. Some folks get really creative!
Chances of Getting Colds Increases with Dry Nose
Written By: Sue
February 10, 2011
Colds and Airline Flights
Ever wonder why you’re more susceptible to a cold after a long flight? It could be all those people crammed into a small space, but what pushes us over the edge is the low humidity. Once in flight, the humidity drops into the teens and our moist nasal membranes start to dry up. Most people don’t notice this when they are flying less than 4 hours, but on international flights, it’s undeniable. Not only do our nose and lips go dry, but our hair flattens and we become unusually thirsty. We can lose up to 8 oz of fluid from our body each hour we’re in flight. Some of the worst infections I’ve gotten as an adult have been after an international flight. Other places our nasal passages go dry are in arid regions like Denver or Tucson, or during the winter when our heaters kick on and the outside moisture levels drop.
If you find yourself in any of these situations, it’s important to stay hydrated, because moist nasal membranes help the cilia (tiny hair like structures) move things out such as bacteria or viruses that want to settle in. We often think too much mucous is the culprit for a cold but a dry nose is no better. If overly dry, people can find it painful to breathe and experience nose bleeds. Think of a dry nose like dry skin which can feel irritated and crack. But unlike dry skin, the sinuses can become a breeding ground for infection.
Remedies for Dry Nose
What can you do to hydrate your sinuses? Keep the humidity in your home between 35-45%. With the correct humidity, the sinuses remain moist and easily rid themselves of infection and particulate matter such as pollen or dust. How do you know if your home is too dry? You can purchase a humidity meter. Or snap your bedroom sheets and see if they spark! If that doesn’t help or you are scheduled to take flight, the best trick I’ve found is to drink a lot of water, wash your hands often and avoid alcohol while in-flight. Another suggestion, inspired by the Ayurvedic tradition, uses a combination of sesame seed oil and herbs/essential oils to soothe the nasal passages and get the cilia to move again. In a sense, it’s lotion for the sinus cavities! See our Dry Nose Oil for more information http://www.sinussupport.com/education/dry-nose
Why The Sinus Salt You Use Matters
Written By: Sue
January 18, 2011
The Bright White Stuff
Years ago a buyer from one of our stores called us and said “I love your neti pot, but why are you using the bright, white stuff?” – referring to the sinus salt I had packaged with our neti pot. I hadn’t a clue what he was talking about so he explained.
“If a salt is bright and white and easily tumbles out of a salt shaker it’s most likely been processed.”
My mind went blank for a moment, realizing the bright, white salt was all I knew. Evidently, I really didn’t know much about salt so I began to do some research. This was the beginning of our journey into organic sinus salts.
SALT FACTS
1. Salt in nature tends to have a pigment such as a pink Himalayan salt or a grey Celtic sea salt.
That pigment is a combination of trace minerals. When the trace minerals are taken out, you are indeed left with the bright, white stuff – sodium chloride. It’s unmistakable in our culture; it is the salt we all grew up with.
2. Most salt that makes it to our tables is the byproduct of industry. (See a book titled Salt – A World History by Mark Kurlansky for a fascinating read.)
3. If a salt crystal is perfectly round, it’s been processed because salt crystals in nature are as different and unique as snow flakes.
4. Unprocessed salt tends to absorb moisture when left out, so it clumps. If it doesn’t clump, it’s most likely had an anti-caking agent added to it. That can be anything from talcum powder to sodium silicoaluminate to bentonite or magnesium carbonate.
As neutral as I’m trying to be in my reporting of this, I can’t help myself – OMG!!! I had no idea they could do all that to salt!!
What is the point of nasal rinsing if you are using a salt loaded with chemicals?
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want a processed salt up my nose. I recommend finding a true mineral sea salt from natural sources.
How Often Can I Use A Neti Pot?
Written By: Sue
October 26, 2010
The most frequently asked question to us here at Baraka is: how often should I rinse? The answer, although simple, may not be easy for most people:
Listen to your body
In a culture that trusts science over the wisdom of the body, most people have not developed an ability to do this. We want a set of instructions and we keep to these instructions even when it isn’t benefitting us. In time, we give up saying something didn’t work or in the worst cases have caused ourselves harm.
Nasal rinsing may be a simple way to begin listening to your body. To give you an example: I have an aunt that lives in Ohio. She first began nasal rinsing in the summer months which can be humid. She rinsed every day and had great success as it helped her with her allergies. She continued this same routine into the Fall and Winter. Winters in Ohio can be very dry due to heaters and frigid temperatures. She began to notice that her nose felt irritated. She even got a nose bleed. Because salt is drying, she needed to reduce how often she rinsed. Then on New Year’s she got sick. She called me saddened as she felt she couldn’t rinse much to clear her cold. I told her now that she had excess mucous, the salt would be perfect.
Not only can climate effect how our bodies respond to nasal rinsing but so can our body constitutions. Some people are naturally moist; oily skin and retain excess fluid. They might more easily tolerate daily rinsing. Other people are dry; dry skin, dry hair and easily dehydrate. They might dry out their nasal passage easily and should watch for signs of this when they rinse. Some people are a combination of the two.
Your body will tell you exactly what it needs if you listen. At first you may be impatient. We all have busy lives and just want to resolve what ever ails us. However, it is becoming more apparent that “one-size-fits-all” as a medical model is failing. More than ever, we need to tune into our bodies. We need to know what works and what doesn’t. Expecting anything else puts us in harms way. How many of us have learned this lesson the hard way?
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Baraka Blog FeedRecent Posts
- The Nasal Cycle
- Truth About Plastic Neti Pots
- Earaches and Flying
- Believe it or Not, Mold Can Cause Sinusitis
- Flying and Children
- Relieving Congestion in Infants
- Rhinitis verses Sinusitis
- An Acidic Stomach and a Stuffy Nose
- What The Heck Is Nasya Oil?
- What Causes A Stuffy Nose ?
- Snake Oil or Medicine?
- ALL THAT MUCOUS!
- Surviving Cold & Flu Season without Visiting Your Doctor
- Structural Issues and Nasal Rinsing
- New Year, Old Common-Sense Reminders
- Selling the Dream
- Are Antibiotics Right for You?
- The Future of Herbal Medicine
- Your Sinuses, Cigarettes & Secondhand Smoke
- The Ozone, Climate Change, Pollen Connection
- Stress, Sinuses and Your Immune System
- Indoor Air Pollution and 10 Tips For Healthy Sinuses
- Air Pollution and Sinus Health
- Are Your Sinuses Sick?
- Clean Neti Pot- Clean Nose
- Fears of Nasal Rinsing
- Nasal Rinse During Allergy Season
- Your Sense of Smell
- How Does Pollen Count with Sinus Allergies?
- What Causes Your Sinus Headaches?
- Building Sustainable Community
- Spring- Allergy Season Again!
- Science Behind Cold Relief?
- Our Commitment to a Greener Planet
- Do Neti Pots Relieve Chronic Sinus Congestion?
- Confessions of a Reluctant Neti Pot User
- Reduce Nasal Inflammation
- Nasal Rinsing History
- Chances of Getting Colds Increases with Dry Nose
- Why The Sinus Salt You Use Matters
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