Unless you’re congested, you probably don’t spend much time thinking about the volume of air you breathe into each nostril. Surprisingly, each nostril delivers a different amount of air to your lungs through a mysterious phenomenon called the nasal cycle.

What is the nasal cycle? If you close your mouth and inhale slowly through your nostrils, you’ll notice one nostril seems a bit more congested than the other. That’s the nasal cycle at work. Your body is alternating the flow of air between the nostrils every 1-4 hours. In other words, sometimes we breathe predominately through the right nostril and other times we breathe predominately through the left nostril.  The nasal cycle feels like an alternation between congestion and decongestion of the nostrils. While you aren’t sick, one nostril is constricting airflow while the other one is open and allowing a free flow.

Some in the medical community are unclear as to why the nasal cycle exists. While others say that alternating between nostrils prevents excessive drying, crusting and infections that would be caused by a constant, static flow of air. Still other research suggests the nasal cycle is necessary to give us an optimal sense of smell since different chemical compounds absorb through our nasal mucous at different rates; if both nostrils were wide open, smells from our food and other odors would move through the nose too quickly making it impossible to smell certain compounds.

Ayurvedic medicine has a completely different take on this. It suggests that alternating the volume of air through each nostril stimulates the cerebral cortex. For example, when breathing predominately through the left nostril, you are stimulating the right cerebral cortex, which controls the parasympathetic functions. This system is responsible for activities of “resting and replenishing” that occur when the body is relaxed.  According to Ayurvedic medicine, left nostril breathing increases acidic secretions and is warming. When breathing predominately through the right nostril, you are stimulating the left cerebral cortex, which controls the sympathetic functions. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for stimulating activities associated with the “fight-or-flight” response. Right nostril breathing increases alkaline secretions and is cooling. Hatha yoga (part of Ayurveda) has a variety of breathing exercise that work between the two nostrils to purposely stimulate these parts of your body, especially if they are out of balance. See David Frawley’s book – Neti: Healing Secrets of Yoga and Ayurveda for more information on this.

If you want to know which nostril is the dominant one in any given moment, you can place a small mirror beneath your nose and just above your lip. Hold it horizontal to the floor and exhale through your nose. That exhale will create condensation on the mirror from each nostril; the largest amount of condensation is the dominant nostril for that moment. To track how often you change breathing cycles see this link at Vanderbilt University for instructions.

With so many neti pots on the market these days I can’t stop from writing about the plastic ones and their impacts on the environment. In 1996 when we began producing our neti pots, there were only a handful of these products available and most of them were ceramic. However, in April 2007 Dr. Oz introduced nasal rinsing to the general public and Baraka went from being in a niche market to the mainstream. Suddenly neti pots could be found everywhere and most of them were made of plastic.

While I’m glad more people are nasal rinsing, there are a few things you should know about plastic neti pots.

1. No netis pots on the current market are made from BPA-free or food grade plastics. BPA is a known carcinogen found in many plastics. It can leech into anything that’s put in it – which means the saline solution for your neti pot. For more information on eco-plastics view our previous blog on the subject.
2. Plastic is porous and can harbor bacteria. Manufacturers recommend that you replace their neti pot or nasal rinsing device every year. They suggest replacing your pot if there is any discoloration in the plastic, since the discoloration is caused by bacteria.
3. If you have a plastic neti pot with a hollow handle, bacteria is even more likely to be present. Since the handle is narrow and curved, it receives less water flow and is very difficult to clean, making it an ideal breeding ground for pathogens. If you own a plastic pot with a handle- or know someone who does- do your own investigation.
4. Salt can increase the breakdown of plastics; therefore you will have to replace your neti pot more frequently. The more replacement neti pots you purchase, the more waste is produced for our landfills.
5. Some plastics can emit a strange odor as they age. These are the cheaper plastics and their spout can have rough edges which hurt the nostrils.

Many people want a plastic neti pot to travel with because it won’t break. I fly frequently and have never had that problem. I wrap my neti pot in my clothes and put it into the middle of my suitcase. However, if you don’t trust your ability to pack it safely or the airline’s ability to not crush your suitcase, at least consider a steel or copper neti pot.

Plastics are a necessity in life. I think of the pacemaker in my father’s heart- a life saver! I try to use plastic only when necessary. I see the effects of gratuitous plastics while traveling in developing nations and it isn’t pretty. They don’t have the ability to hide it like we do in the United States. Every day when I’m offered something made of a plastic I don’t absolutely need, I say no.  It’s only my “no,” but if more of us do that, we can make more positive impacts on the future of our planet earth.

Recently I flew with a cold that I hadn’t given much thought to until take off. Suddenly it became a flight I’d never forget! My ears started to crackle and my head felt as if it were in a vice grip. For a moment, I thought I was going to rupture an ear drum. Medically this sensation is known as sinus barotrauma or aerosinusitis. I call it “pain beyond belief!” Aerosinusitis is your body’s inability to regulate to the cabin pressure because your Eustachian tubes are blocked. The Eustachian tubes connect the middle ear to the back of the nose. When they are inflamed and retain fluid due to a cold, allergies or an inner ear infection, your body is unable to adjust to changes in pressure.

Below are some suggestions of what you can do to avoid a painful flying experience:

• Chew gum or drink liquid. These methods cause you to swallow frequently, which will relieve the pressure.

• Valsalva Maneuver – Pinch your nose closed, hold your mouth shut and gently blow air into your nose. You might hear a popping noise as it equalizes the pressure.

• Decongestants – I don’t often advocate decongestants, but there are occasions when it’s absolutely necessary. I recommend nasal sprays vs. oral decongestants which are dehydrating. Familiarize yourself with flying and dehydration with this previous blog. In addition, a nasal spray can be used at the last minute if the first two suggestions don’t work.

• Ear Plugs – I’ve also been told there are special earplugs used to equalize the pressure. I don’t have any recommendations, but they’re all over the internet.

• DO NOT FLY WITH AN EAR INFECTION WITHOUT THE ADVICE OF YOUR HEALTH PROFESSIONAL! An ear infection is very different than simply having your Eustachian tubes blocked from a cold or allergies.

While adults can use the techniques above, infants deserve special attention with or without a cold. In a previous blog, I discussed the reasons why children have a hard time with the change in cabin pressure during a flight.

Below are suggestions to help your child have a pleasant flying experience:

• Breastfeed or use a bottle/pacifier. Like an adult, the constant swallowing equalizes the pressure. Make sure your child is upright while drinking.

• Nose Sprays – There are some nose spray made especially for children.

• Ultimately if you are caught unprepared on a flight or your child is unwilling to do the first two suggestions, you might try cupping both ears with two Styrofoam cups. Please see the blog I mentioned above.

If you are planning to fly and you or your child has congestion, don’t ignore it. The pain is not worth it and in most cases can be avoided with a little preparation.

It’s time to talk about airborne allergies again. Instead of focusing on the usual culprits of trees, flowers and grasses, this blog will focus on mold – a form of fungi. While mold grows year round, spring is just the start of its proliferation; especially in a year such as this with a mild winter and wet spring.

What is mold exactly? Like most fungi, it likes moist, warm places. Mildew, which is the stuff along your shower, is the early stages of mold. Mold is an essential part of our environment as it helps to decay vegetation and enhance the soil. Mold grows in colonies and can reproduce itself within 24-48 hours. Like pollen, mold becomes airborne and that’s when you breathe it in. Indoor mold can have a negative impact on your sinuses.

Fungal sinus infections may not be something you suspect as the cause of your sinus problems, but studies show they occur at an alarmingly high rate. If you’ve ever been exposed to a moldy environment and have problems with your sinuses, you could be at risk. A study by the Mayo Clinic in 1999 revealed that 93% of all chronic sinusitis was caused by mold! This was further supported by the findings of Dr. Donald Dennis who studied 639 patients between 1989-2003. Dennis said “You breathe airborne mold particles that are in the air. Then you have an allergic reaction to these mold fragments. This reaction causes small pits to form in the membranes that line the sinuses. These pits trap mucous so that it cannot drain. The stagnant mucous gets infected, which [can] cause nasal polyps [benign growths within the nasal passages] and thickening of the lining which obstructs the outflow of mucous. The polyps then cause more infection and the infection causes more polyps. Thus, there is a vicious cycle, which perpetuates itself. If you get rid of the mold in the nose and in the air you breathe and establish drainage in blocked sinuses you can get long term relief.”

Unfortunately, fungal sinusitis mimics bacterial sinusitis so there is no way to know what you have unless a culture is taken. Below are some recommendations:

1. Get a culture to properly identify your chronic sinusitis as fungal. Your GP should be able to do this for you, or at least refer you to the right specialist.
2. If the test is positive, most doctors will recommend an anti-fungal pharmaceutical. Aside from pharmaceuticals there are many natural anti-fungal products on the market; medicinal plants can do the job just as well without the side effects. Visit your local herb store for suggestions and advice.
3. Nasal rinse – using a neti pot can be helpful to flush out mold that may be lingering within the sinus cavity. It will also help to flush out excess mucous.
4. Make sure you are not continually exposing yourself to high amounts of mold. Check your home for damp places and remember if a carpet gets wet once and becomes moldy, don’t assume the mold will go away. Even if it dries out, mold spores can go dormant and then begin to grow again when the conditions are right. In addition, check the mold count in your region. Here is a great website on identifying indoor mold and safe ways to clean it up.
5. Test your home for mold.  Buy a home testing kit to grow a culture of the mold in your home and have it analyzed to find out exactly what you’re dealing with. Some molds are much more toxic than others.

Special note to the folks of the Greater New Orleans Region: as you may know, the mold count in New Orleans has been over the top since Hurricane Katrina. A low to moderate concentration of mold is a count of 1-12,999 spores. The Greater New Orleans Region has over 20,000 spores with a peak recording in 2005 (the year of the hurricane) of 65,000 spores! New Orleans is like a second home to me and I’ve seen what mold exposure has done to my friends. If you live in this region and are experiencing chronic sinus problems, please have a culture done of your nose.

Do you ever wonder why a child is more bothered by the change of air pressure on an airplane than you? Or why an infant, who has been silent the whole flight, starts screaming as you approach the runway? Children are much more susceptible to earaches while flying than adults for a couple of reasons.

First, children have shorter Eustachian tubes, which are responsible for equalizing air pressure.  The Eustachian tubes are narrower, more horizontal in orientation and lie closer to the nasal opening.  In other words, they aren’t developed enough to do their job well and the change in air pressure pushes the eardrum inward. Painful!

Secondly, the tonsils can be enlarged in children causing the Eustachian tubes to retain fluid.  Tonsils are small in infants and adults, and peak in size for children between the ages of 2-5. The Eustachian tubes may be unable to drain fluid and equalize the cabin pressure while in flight. Check out this great link to learn more.

Caught off guard on a flight with your child who begins screaming from an earache and you are hours from landing?  There is a trick. It may seem a bit complicated, but it is an emergency remedy that works!

Here’s what you can do:

1. Ask the flight attendance to get you 2 Styrofoam cups, 8 cotton balls and some hot water. Because of tightened regulations, flight attendants may insist they don’t have cotton, but they do. Be persistent.
2. Clump 4 cotton balls together (you’ll want to create 2 large balls) and put them into the Styrofoam cups.
3. Pour a small amount of hot water onto the cotton balls ONLY to moisten them. You don’t want any liquid in the cup as it will burn your child. The water needs to be very hot to ultimately create a steam. AGAIN I CAUTION YOU TO ONLY MOISTEN THE COTTON BALLS.
4. Bring your child to an upright position. This is very important because the Eustachian tubes can’t drain when they are horizontal and you don’t want the hot cotton balls to touch the skin.
5. MAKING SURE THE COTTON BALLS ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CUP put one cup over each of your child’s ears and make sure to get a good seal. You may need another adult to help you with this if you are traveling alone and your child isn’t cooperating.
6. The hot water on the cotton balls will create a steam that travels into the ears and helps clear the Eustachian tubes of pressure.
7. Like adults, children should NOT fly while they have an ear infection.

Hopefully this never happens to you, but I’ve been on enough flights to know parents can get caught off guard and this is a lifesaver.

Many parents wanting to avoid using pharmaceuticals on their infant (or small child) often ask us, “What is a safe way to reduce nasal congestion?” Believe it or not, the process is similar to relieving your own congestion. While you can’t use a neti pot in an infant’s nose simply because it’s too big, you can use a bulb syringe (also called a nasal aspirator) and the same saline solution you make for yourself.

First, create a saline solution by adding a 1/2 teaspoon of mineral salt to 10 oz. of warm water.  Then lay your infant on her back with the head propped up on a pillow or towel. Keep the chin slightly upwards. Using a bulb syringe (or an eyedropper), place 2 – 4 drops of saline solution in each nostril. Wait 30-60 seconds, while keeping your child’s head as still as possible. The mucous may drain, but if you aren’t sure, use the bulb syringe to suction out any excess saline and mucous. Make sure to compress the bulb prior to inserting the tip into your infant’s nose, and then slowly release to provide a light suction. Don’t suction the nose more than two or three times a day, or you can irritate the lining. Also, avoid using the saline drops for more than four days in a row as it can dry out the inside of your infant’s nose.

Another way to drain mucous is to make sure your child is lying with her head elevated. Place a rolled up towel or pillow underneath the crib mattress at one end to encourage the slight elevation. Lay your infant on her back with the head on the elevated portion, as this allows gravity to drain congestion out of the nasal passages.

Other suggestions are to use a humidifier or vaporizer. Both moisten the air to help break up nasal congestion and loosen thick secretions. A humidifier heats the water before it is sprayed into the air, while a vaporizer uses cool water. The humidifying effects of both devices are equal but parents often choose a vaporizer simply because the risk of their child getting burnt by the hot steam is eliminated. In both devices, you can add a few drops of eucalyptus or pine essential oil to the water. These oils are antimicrobial and decongesting.

If you urgently need to decongest your infant, many parents run a hot shower and take their infants into the steam for 5-20 minutes. This will loosen the mucous and ultimately give the infant some relief.

Have other suggestions on how to relieve congestion for infants?  We would love to hear them on our Facebook page.

Name that Congestion!

If you’re confused about the difference between rhinitis and sinusitis, you’re not alone. The symptoms can seem quite similar. Searching the internet, you’ll find that rhinitis and sinusitis are used interchangeably.  However, distinct differences remain.

Both conditions refer to inflammation, rhinitis is inflammation of the nasal cavity (just inside your nose); while sinusitis is inflammation of the sinus cavities.  Both can cause head pressure, congestion, fatigue, and ear pain. Given this, it is not easy to distinguish the difference.

Rhinitis is mainly caused by environmental factors or allergens. If you get nasal congestion each spring season due to pollen, that’s allergy rhinitis. Or if your friend’s cigarette smoke makes your nose run, that’s non-allergy or environmental rhinitis. If you have facial pain, you most likely have sinusitis; especially if it hurts to press your fingers on the area over your eyes or near your cheekbones. Sinusitis is typically caused by a virus or bacteria.

Allergic rhinitis often develops into rhinosinusitus. Not only is your nose inflamed, but so are your sinus cavities. No wonder it’s confusing!

It’s important to distinguish between rhinitis and sinusitis, because the treatments are slightly different. As mentioned, both are conditions of inflammation so both can benefit from nasal rinsing. Experiment with a hypertonic rinse or a method of rinsing called water retention.  Experiment how often to rinse – one person may do it 2-3 times a day while another person may find that too much.

Since sinusitis is usually an infection, you’ll want to see if nasal rinsing can flush out the infection. If not, you’ll need an antimicrobial. I don’t often promote products on our blogs, but I have to say that a person with chronic sinusitis could benefit from our Sinus Rejuvenation Oil.  The antimicrobial effects of this blend have helped many people who haven’t found success with allopathic medicine. Check out our testimonials.

Play around with what works best for you and keep asking yourself questions. Is it allergies caused by something airborne or digestive? Did it start out as an allergy and became an infection? The more you can learn about yourself the better. Look at our past blogs for suggestions and additional information.

It’s hard to imagine that an acidic stomach and a stuffy nose could be related. After all, your stomach is the midway point of your body and digests food, while your nose is located in your head where it draws in oxygen and enhances the taste of that food. To make things more confusing, if you were to have a problem with either of these organs you’d most likely see a specialist, and often times these specialists don’t make the link between your stomach and your nose.

A stuffy nose, sinusitis, nasal congestion and a number of other problems can be due to a condition called GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease- a more severe form of acid reflex). GERD occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. You may think that’s a long way for stomach acid to travel but if we look at our anatomy it makes sense. The nose drains into the throat and esophagus; the esophagus drains into the stomach connected only by a valve. That’s it. There are no other filters or buffers along the way. If that valve doesn’t work properly, acid can back up into the esophagus and then to the nose. In other words, heartburn is stomach acid making its way into your esophagus; that same stomach acid can travel all the way to your nose and cause inflammation. In an attempt to rid your nose of this harsh acid (in other words, to wash it away), it produces more mucous and thus a stuffy nose.

Not everyone with GERD gets sinus problems, but if you frequently have an acid stomach AND a stuffy nose, you may want to discuss this with your health practitioner or do more investigating for yourself. Other symptoms of GERD include: difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, lump-in-the-throat sensation, chronic cough and throat clearing, and mucous build-up in the throat. People can suffer from one or more of these symptoms.

What are the solutions? In most cases, GERD can be reduced or eliminated by altering your diet. The idea is to eat foods that don’t increase stomach acid. Acid inducing foods include:

• alcohol
• coffee/black teas
• sodas
• fried foods
• spicy foods
• dairy

If the thought of permanently eliminating these foods is more than you can handle, consider this: once you eliminate them and your digestive tract has healed, you may be able to reintroduce these foods into your diet.  There are plenty of books out there that give suggestions on how to make delicious, tasty meals while eating a low acid diet. Dropping Acid: The Reflex Diet Cookbook & Cure by Dr. Koufman is a popular book on the subject. Other books on the subject are Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford or Donna Gates’ Body Ecology Diet. If you search these books into Amazon, they’ll give you other suggestions on books that are similar. Or ask your local health foods or herbal store for other good ideas!

As a culture, we can no longer deny that our food choices have consequences on our bodies. GERD is your body’s internal alarm system telling you something is out of balance. Don’t ignore it.

Recently Dr. Oz did a show on Ayurvedic medicine. We got wind of this days before the show, which we thought was going to be about neti pots. Again! This time he surprised us with a discussion on the different aspects of Ayurvedic medicine including nasya oil.  Although I think his show is a bit glittery, he does have some useful information and is bringing alternative therapies like Ayurveda to mainstream America which is great!

Before I explain nasya oil, I want to discuss Ayurvedic medicine, which is the traditional medicine of India. “Ayur” means life and “veda” means knowledge or science. Ayurvedic theory states that all areas of life (body, mind & spirit) impact one’s health. Those of you reading this blog may already understand this. When I discovered Ayurveda, I felt like I was coming home. I was seen as a whole person not just a body with parts. Ayurvedic theories are time tested and it is considered the oldest medicine in the world. People like Deepak Chopra and Robert Svoboda have brought it to the forefront in the US.

Nasya, an Ayurvedic therapy like nasal rinsing, helps improve sinus health and additionally does much more! The Ayurvedic Encyclopedia defines nasya as “a nasal herbal therapy to be used for diseases of the throat, neck, head and senses.”

Nasya, as practiced by most practitioners in the US, is made from sesame oil or ghee with medicinal herbs. There are actually five different kinds of nasya therapy that range from powdered herbs blown into the nostrils to herbal juices which are inhaled. For the purpose of this blog, I’ll only write about that which is made from sesame oil or ghee.

In Ayurvedic medicine, the nose is considered the gateway to not only our head but to our life force; our prana. Nasya oil made of sesame and ghee usually contains medicinal herbs that hydrate the nasal cavity, nourish the tissues and prevent colds.  The oil is often warmed before being administered into the nostrils via a dropper. It’s inhaled to the back of the throat and often spit out.

Years ago I was given a nasya treatment and was inspired to create Baraka’s Dry Nose Oil which is similar to nasya yet different. I wanted an oil that people could use when they were on-the-go so I chose an organic sesame oil  combined with 4 essential oils. While the sesame oil moisturizes, the blend of essential oils mildly decongests and rejuvenates the nasal tissues. It is a lifesaver to combat dry nose in the winter or in high or arid climates and even during plane flights.

Many people like to nasal rinse and then use a nasya oil. It is often suggested to use it in the morning and then right before you lie down in bed. How often you use it is up to you. If you have a dry nose you’ll feel it’s effects immediately. As with any therapy don’t over do it. Start slowly using it once or twice a day and see how that works. More is not always better!

We’d love to hear from people who practice nasya. Comment here or visit us on facebook.

Most people think a stuffy nose is caused by excess mucous blocking the airways. In reality, it’s quite different. Nasal congestion usually occurs from inflammation. When an infection or allergen irritates the nasal cavity, this irritation causes an increase of blood flow, which then causes the blood vessels to expand. These expanding blood vessels (or inflammation) block the nasal airway, resulting in the feeling of nasal congestion. While mucous production usually increases, the mucous is not what blocks your airways.

What you may not know is that your congestion, or rather the feeling of nasal congestion, can occur even when you have no mucous. Have you ever had a cold and your nose feels full yet when you go to blow it nothing comes out? That’s inflammation. Sometimes blowing your nose too hard (because you think there is mucous) can increase the inflammation.

Chronic sinusitis is an extreme example of nasal inflammation as the sinuses are constantly inflamed. In addition, those who suffer from a dry nose at high altitudes, in the desert or during winter dryness can have this feeling as well.

I’ve found the best way to relieve nasal congestion and that stuffy nose feeling is to get on top of it as soon as it starts. Check out these past blogs with tips on how to reduce inflammation:

Reducing Nasal Inflammation

Surviving the Cold and Flu Season

Nasal Rinse During Allergy Season

If you’re chronically inflamed the solution may not be that easy. It could be the result of your diet, allergens, pollution and much more. Check out this past blog on sinus health and if that inspires you– look through other past blogs that investigate some of these issues specifically.