Psst....have you heard about the latest invention that has saved the voice over community? It has literally saved many vo talents from being passed over for a job. It's called Nasal Irrigation. I call it the Nose Douche. Cute huh? And it's exactly what you picture when you hear about it.
I first learned about the neti pot last year after having nasal turbinate surgery. This procedure scared me more than having a baby! How could I knowingly have a procedure done that could affect my livelihood? As it was, I had the surgery and it all worked out without a hitch but my ENT doc suggested I use the neti pot post op day 3 - 4. I had only told a few people that I was going under the nasal knife. A few days after the procedure, a very good client of mine asked to me to voice a big project the following week. I did not want to turn them away and I felt that I should be better by then....of course I would! Well, Sunday comes and I'm stuffed up more than Kirstie Alley at an all you can eat Sizzler buffet. What to do...
The Neti pot called my name. If you haven't seen one in person just think "I Dream of Jeannie" and the Genie's lamp. Here is it's origin.
Nasal irrigation is an ancient Ayurvedic technique known as Jala neti, which literally means nasal cleansing in Sanskrit, where the practitioner uses a neti pot to perform the irrigation. The irrigation-specific elements of jala neti are starting to be recognized by Western medicine under the term nasal irrigation to treat a variety of conditions.
Sticking a concoction of saline solution and tepid water in your face is not something that you feel comfortable doing the first time. Being a Neti virgin was short lived. The mixture was in the pot, my head was poised over the sink and I had nothing to lose except a big check for the narration project that would be going down the sink if I didn't try this out. The neti was nestled in the nostril...(say that 5 times fast) and like the spaghetti in the nose trick, the saline solution came out the other side and down the drain. I will spare you the gory details of what came out but I could BREATHE! It was a miracle.
I am now a Neti convert....pshaaww to those that prefer OTC meds when you can have relief naturally. I've converted a few people...husband, 12 and 9 year old sons, 76 year old mother, brother in law etc....
Thank you Western Medicine. This Easterner thanks you every cold and flu season!
