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Australia, Ayurvedic remedy, Christmas, Dinacharya, Dosha, Dyslexia, Gargle, Germs, Ghetto, Hot male nurse, Neti pot, Summer, Throat infection, Turmeric, Twitter
A certain someone (remaining nameless to protect the hypocritical) jokingly accused me of ripping content I’d used in private conversations for blog post material. Well, derr! 😉
Hence the title of this post… something I Twittered earlier today.
Its two days before Christmas – and don’t forget, folks, its summer down here in the wonderful land of Oz – and I’m sick.
The whole left right (there goes my dyslexia) side of my throat feels like I’ve got a huge chunk of heated metal shoved down my mouth and lodged there, kinda underneath my jawline. Glands are up, throat is raging, and my head feels kinda mushy.
Went for a short walk down to the corner shop earlier and well, it wasn’t exactly an experience of normality. And just now, I awoke from a deep sleep and its only 9.30pm.
I’m not a very good sick patient. I sulk, a little. I’m a touch pathetic. Makes me wish I didn’t live alone – oh, for a compassionate (and hot) male nurse to bring me endless pots of green tea and tend to my every whim! (All I want for Christmas…)
But I digress.
I wanted to introduce two of my favourite sore throat fighting weapons – they’re usually very effective, but today… not so much. Clearly these germs haven’t run their course, and need further applications.
Sore throat weapon #1: Turmeric & sea salt gargle
This is an Ayurvedic remedy.
Mix up some warm water, sea salt and turmeric. Don’t ask me for measurements – I pretty much just shove in there whatever seems to be right.
It’s disgusting – but make a big glass. Then systematically, suck a mouthful back at a time and gargle for as long as you can stand it. Repeat. Eventually you’ll wanna rinse your mouth with plain water.
If you don’t have turmeric, try cayenne pepper.
Sore throat weapon #2: Neti pot
Folks, let me introduce you to my neti pot. Sure, it kinda looks like a mini watering can. And it is – just not for plants.
It’s my bestest friend on the health front after yoga and meditation. It’s also a tool of dinacharya (as is gargling really) – the daily practice of taking care of your physical body and health (which I only tend to do parts of).
Perhaps it’s not immediately obvious, but there’s a major connection between the health of the sinuses and the throat. I mean, think about it… the sinuses are filters that do their best to keep all the unwanted external world goop from permeating our bodies. But eventually it accumulates and then… drip, drip, drip… your throat is the first port of call.
So, good sinus health = good throat and then lung health.
Note: It’s best to get a proper run down from someone before having a go at this for yourself. But just briefly, you create a salt water mixture that’s around body temperature and about as salty as your tears. If burns, the mixture is too salty.
To start, tilt your head to one side, insert the nozzle in your nostril and let the water flow out through the other one. Not out your mouth. Once you’re halfway through the water supply, swap nostrils and reverse the flow.
This can be repeated as many times as necessary although it’s important to clear out the excess water in between – which includes much blowing of the nose and some bastrika breath performed bent over with your head down.
Neti can be performed every day if required although it’s a good idea to consider your dosha (constitution) first – for some people… all that water on the brain ain’t a good idea!
It can however, feel quite amazing. Not just in the sinuses either.
So… this is what I’ll be doing again very shortly. Trying in desperation to: a) make it to my team’s Christmas lunch tomorrow (knock off at 12 noon), and; b) ensure I’m in one piece on the 25th for the annual family seafood cook up (seafood is a better option than heavy roast dinner in summer)…
~Svasti
Svasti: A Journey From Assault To Wholeness 
Svasti,
It is very important to check with you physician before beginning neti pot or the company’s nasal rinse, which I prefer. They also sell packets with the ingredients in it, so no thinking…duh!
Sinus infections/problems could be related to many things including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), acid reflux, ear problems, blockages in the sinus and tonsils. If the discharge becomes and ugly color, an antibiotic is usually necessary.
Chronic sinus problems can cause fatigue, difficulty in concentrating, and pain, just to name a few. If an infection is left untreated, the infection can move to the brain.
No one panic! Most infections/discharge clears up on it’s own within a couple of weeks. I only obtain medication if it goes longer than that and/or begins to look ugly after a week or there is not improvement.
I am not a health professional, but have had sinus problems, five sinus surgeries and have learned how to manage them over the course of 20 years of dealing with them.
CC
@CC – I think a neti pot is safe to use without a doctor’s supervision if you’re learning it from a yoga teacher. Why? Because yogis have been doing this stuff for thousands of years. They invented it 🙂
So sorry to hear that you are unwell. I grew up in a family who’s answer for everything was Vicks. Not so good for me, as it turned out.
Whilst I have friends who gobble anti-biotics like Halloween candy, I am remiss in over the counter cold meds. Psych meds? Now that I know!
So, a couple of things. Here in the US we have a product called “Zicam”. In a weird twist, it is natural and yet available in magor pharmacies. Basically, it’s zinc. It comes in a nasal spray which is awful, or an oral spray, which is fine. It will curb your cold by several days.
Also, here is a tea that helps. Cut up an inch of ginger root and a few spring onions. Steep them in a quart or so of water. Strain and add some honey.
Hope this finds you better and best wishes for a healthy and peaceful new year.
Dear Svasti,
So sorry you’re sick, especially right before the holidays. You’re too good at describing how your throat feels – mine has started prickling sympathetically in the reading!!
I’m pretty sure you’re right – the neti pot is a very safe tool for sinus cleansing, and infection protection. My husband is an asthma and allergy specialist and recommends nasal lavage (aka nasal douche, nasal bidet, etc!) via the neti pot to all his patients with chronic sinusitis, congestion, allergies, or pain. Your pot is really cute!
I hope you are feeling a whole lot better very soon,
Karin
Jeezus…here ya go again with the recycling…,I’m gonna either have to stop talking to you or stop reading yer blog….note, though, that you probably would’ve forgotten all about the “throat is a ghetto for germs” thing if a certain someone who won’t be named hadn’t complimented you on your facility with the clever metaphor being undiminished by illness….
Speaking of clever, I may just have to use this comment as a blog post….
@Dano – thanks for the ideas! I stay away from western medicine as much as possible – as you can probably tell from my remedies above.
I also have a gruesome tea I like to brew up: using ghee, garlic, ginger and salt. They do work great don’t they, but they stink!
Best wishes to you also. 🙂
@Karin – I don’t think I’ve ever been sick like this before Christmas! Neti is possibly one of the best and simplest things for sinus health. Its great that more mainstream medicine is embracing this humble yogic technique.
@Jay – you’re just hilarious. You didn’t even touch my hot male nurse remark. I’m impressed with the restraint… And did I mention that someone who shall remain nameless has created numerous posts where I’ve thought… oh, now that sounds familiar! LOL.
But its true, the prompt on my own brilliance definitely inspired the title of the post, if not the content. What else am I gonna write about when I’m crook in the lead up to Christmas??
Thanks for the sympathy, friend… 😉
Sorry to hear about your health problems. I have been experiencing the weirdest back pain since last Sunday. All around lungs and rib cage – also on the right side. The pain challenges me during zazen, but I manage to transcend it until the sitting ends, then it plagues me again throughout the day. I thought how wonderful it would be if it was summer as this problem wouldn’t last too long. Then I read your post about it being summer down there… A re-think… Or in Zen, no think, I think too much already. 🙂
I have the worst sinus problems ever. That neti pot sounds great. Wonder if I can ask any yoga teachers here who know of it…
Hope you feel better already by the time you read this. I am always late to the ‘party’! 😛
@Derek – Hope the back pain heals up! I don’t think it matters where you are or the climate you’re in, there’s always opportunities to experience discomfort or ill health!
@flawedangel – definitely try to find a yoga teacher to show you how neti is done. Its a revelation!! I’m getting better, but still not 100% and its so strange… being sick this time of year…
Thank you for advise, Svasti, Interesting this pot. I’ve never seen one like this.
I wanted to say, turmeric (as other spicies) is not for everybody. I tried to introduce it in my kitchen because we have to think more about our heath in this age, but my husband could not eat anything that contained it.
@Liudmila – you’re welcome! You should be able to buy a neti pot online and for sure, give it a go.
My teacher has a saying – ‘for whom and when’ – nothing is for everyone, when it comes to food. That said, for those who can take it, it works wonders for a sore throat gargle! 🙂