Cultivating Individual Health

Tools for Well Being

Upon arising, rinse the face and eyes with cool, refreshing water.  Rub the water gently into the eyes, then perform some eye exercises; look from side to side, up and down and in circular motions.

Scraping the tongue is a valuable way to help the body rid itself of ama (toxins) that accumulate on the tongue during sleep.  Observation of the tongue can be informative to the overall state of digestion and health.  It also stimulates all the internal organs and the gastric fire by stimulating the energy channels of the tongue.

The Simple How-To: After washing the face gently, scrape from the back of the tongue forward with a few strokes and then hit the scraper against the sink to remove accumulation.  Repeat a few more times, or until the removable tongue coating is gone (7-14 scrapes). 

Before rinsing the accumulation down the drain inspect the qualities of the exudate.  If there was a lot of coating to the tongue that means that digestion is inefficient and producing a lot of waste.  If there is still the strong odor of last nights dinner then digestion of that meal is incomplete and breakfast should be postponed, or spicy teas (such as ginger) should be consumed to stimulate gastric function.

The Neti Pot is a small pot (clay, plastic or metal) with a narrow spout used to pour warm saline water through the nostrils.  By irrigating the nostrils both air borne toxins and pathogens are removed from the mucous and nasal cavities.  The Neti can be performed daily, or as often as needed.  It is especially effective first thing in the morning, before bed, or directly after exposure to dust, dirt, or other debris.

To make a Neti solution add approximately 1/4 teaspoon of Sea Salt (non--iodized) to the neti pot, and fill with warm water (if your tap water is chlorinated or of questionable quality warm filtered water on the stove top), and mix salt in water with measuring spoon or a clean finger.  Then taste the solution, if it tastes like your sweat or tears it is probably just right.    If there is congestion in the throat, gargle first with a small amount of this solution to help soften and dissolve mucus in the throat.
Put the spout in one nostril lean over the sink and allow water to naturally drain out, do not suck in or try to breathe through nose, only mouth breathing.  The water will start to drain through the opposite nostril.  Let it pass for ten seconds or so, then remove spout, let water drain from both nostrils and then blow out residual water.  Repeat on other side.  One pot of water can irrigate both sides twice.  For a deeper cleanse, you can refill the pot and repeat the process.      

Using a Neti during a cold can speed recovery.  The normal preparation can be used throughout the illness.  But if the snot is green or yellow then add a pinch of Goldenseal or Turmeric to the neti water, stir thoroughly and perform as usual.  This will help fight the infection.  Those that have access to T-36 C-5 or T-40 C-3 Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca brand Tea Tree Oil) might want to experiment with a drop of it in their neti pot, some respond quite well to this in helping fight colds, but it might be too intense for others.  

After irrigating the nostrils with a saline solution it is important to oil the nose.  Inhale 3-5 drops of oil (sesame or sunflower) into each nostril and then take your finger and rub the oil around to distribute the lubrication.  This is particularly important during the summer and winter when artificial heating and cooling tend to dry the air.  Nasya is much like sunscreen is for the skin, it creates a protective layer to help insulate the nose from shocks of rapidly changing environments.