Sinus Care – Nasal Irrigation How-To

Nasal Irrigation has been a life saver for me. But as with all things medical, consult your own physician before trying anything that might affect your your health. Now a days most sinus specialists have at least heard of the Neti. Back when I started, I had to take the literature to them! I recommend printing out the University of Wisconsin study (link below) to take with you!

Nasal Irrigation How-To

Many people are reaping the benefits of the Neti Pot, also known as nasal irrigation. I have been infection free for nearly 10 years and I attribute it to a combination of things, but mainly the Neti.

Basically it is moisturizing the sinus cavities using an isotonic solution. (Isotonic solution: A solution that has the same salt concentration as the normal cells of the body and the blood. As opposed to a hypertonic solution or a hypotonic solution. An isotonic beverage may be drunk to replace the fluid and minerals which the body uses during physical activity.) I create my own solution using Sea Salt and baking soda (NOT baking powder!)  The purpose of the baking soda is one of pH. Sort of like a buffering agent. I used salt only for years, and I find the addition of the baking soda seems to mellow out the solution. It has less of a "bite".  Basic recipes are a one to one ratio of salt to baking soda.  I actually mix the salt and baking soda in the ratio of two parts salt/1 part baking soda and keep this ready for use. The extra salt makes the solution hypertonic. ( hypertonic: 1 adj, pertaining to a solution that causes cells to shrink. 2 n, a solution that increases the degree of osmotic pressure on a semipermeable membrane.) 

I mix my solution fresh each time. Take ½ to 1 teaspoon of the mixture and drop it into your neti pot. Put 8 ounces of filtered water into a microwave safe cup (I use a Pyrex 1-cup measuring cup) and microwave on high until it boils for at least one minute. I do this to get rid of as many of the by-products of chlorination as possible. Remember, this is going into you head!

Once the water is boiling take it out and pour it into your neti pot. Allow the mixture to cool down for several minutes. Most western medicine articles say use at “luke-warm” and most eastern or yoga articles say to use the mixture “as hot as you can stand it” being careful not to burn the delicate nasal membranes. This you will have to decide for yourself. I personally like it very warm, nearly hot.

When the neti pot is ready, put the spout into one nostril and tip your head slightly. The water will flow out the other nostril. Some say do this for 20 seconds on each side. I do one 8 oz. pot for each side. The next step is very important. Using breathing techniques, dry the sinuses of the extra water. Try bending at the waste with a clean paper towel and gently blowing out your nose to make a hissing sound. Breathing up through the sinuses as opposed to through the throat is what we’re aiming for.

Start this regimen daily about a week before you usually feel a sinus infection coming on. Do it at least ten days in a row. Most sinus sufferers are acutely aware of their sinuses. When I wake and feel that familiar pressure, I immediately neti and the pressure is gone. I’ve even seen bad sinus headaches disappear after performing the neti regimen.

Following are several links for your further study. If you suffer from chronic sinus issues it can change your life! Please let me know if you begin to or have practiced some form of nasal irrigation and how it works for you!

Websites for further study:

http://interneti.co.uk/

http://www.cfp.ca/cgi/reprint/49/2/168

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasal_irrigation

http://www.fammed.wisc.edu/research/past-projects/nasal-irrigation

Ten Water Saving Tips Beyond the Ordinary

OK, I admit it, I'm a water nut! And I'm not talking about going to the beach or a water park, in fact I rarely swim. I'm talking about the wasting of the most precious element next to air.

http://water.usgs.gov/watuse/
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2005/3051/

In Florida 65% of the available potable water is used for irrigation! Some of that is for agriculture, but way too much is for watering lawns. Mismanaged sprinkler systems that go off in the rain, water concrete and go off in the peak heat of the day are just criminal.

http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2004/circ1268/

Here are a few things I do to lower my water use, beyond the basic 'turn off the faucet while brushing teeth' advice:

1. No sprinkler system period! Water by hose only when establishing a new plant or in an extreme drought.
2. Plant only drought-tolerant or natives that work well in your area with no extra watering, just rain.
3. Use of "Johnny Boy" on toilets to save water when washing hands.
4. "If it's yellow, let it mellow; if it's brown, flush it down!"
5. Low flow toilets and shower heads - easy and low cost fix for water use.
6. Have bricks/water bottles/ galleon jugs in toilet tanks to displace water.
7. Rain barrels to collect water for use instead of turning on hose.
8. 5 minute shower timer to remind you to get out of the shower faster! (Free at a eco-festivals and your local water management district!)
9. Collect water from faucet while waiting for hot water, for showers, pet cleanings, dishes, whatever reason you wait for hot water. Save it to use for plants, cleaning hands, countertops, etc. as just a few ideas.
10. Use day-old pet water to water plants.

These are just some of my personal ways to lower water use. I realize I can be a bit extreme since I don't have to worry about a lot of people in my household. Here are a couple even more extreme things I hope to have someday. Consider it my water conservation wish list!

Self-Contained Composting Toilet: http://letsgogreen.com/composting-toilet-desc.html

Smart Shower: http://bluelivingideas.com/topics/saving-water/smart-shower-james-dyson-award/#more-3586

Tankless water heater saves water since there's instant hot water instead of running out the cold water from the lines. http://tanklesswaterheaterguide.com/  It has the added benefit of saving energy costs too!

The Mighty Tabbouleh

I love tabbouleh. I make it using quinoa instead of bulgar for nutrient purposes, but the big ingredient, the thing that makes it taste so fresh, is parsley.

I brought home some parsley the other day and it tasted terrible. Really bitter. Here's the cure: snip the stems and put into a mug of water. Just as if this were a bouquet of fresh flowers. Change out the water after you notice the parsley perk up. The fresh water will improve the taste as well as keep the parsley fresh for up to a week! Change out the water every 2 days to keep it clean.

This also works for celery. Is it just me or do these veggies taste bad these days? I may just be getting old. My son says it's my "old taste buds", but I think something is up. Especially when the taste improves after putting the celery or parsley into water. For the celery, just do the same thing, cut the bottom off and put it into a tall jar of water. You can put the whole thing into the fridge if you want.
And don't get me started on the lousy taste of tomatoes and bell peppers!! If I figure out how to make these taste fresher and less bitter or in the case of the tomatoes, less like cardboard!; I'll post it!

Now go make up a batch of tabbouleh! It's so good and so good for you!


Recipe: Tabbouleh
Serves 4-6

1 cup cooked quinoa -
3/4 cup minced parsley*
1/2 cup finely chopped green onion
1 tomato, diced
1 cucumber, seeded and diced
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice, or to taste
1 tsp. sea salt, or to taste
Pinch allspice (really, add this! You'll be surprised at how good it is!)

Combine the quinoa and the chopped vegetables and toss to mix. Combine oil, lemon juice, salt, and allspice. Add to quinoa mixture and mix well. Chill. Serve and enjoy.

* Some recipes call for 1/4 c. mint and 1/2 c. parsley. I prefer the all parsley.
I've also made this with millet and it's just as good. Millet is a great grain, but go easy if you are hypothyroid!
Also, I often make the Tabbouleh without the grain. I store the grain separately and mix when ready to eat. This way I can use the Tabbouleh as a topping for a tofu burger or hummus sandwich!

Almond Milk - The Easiest Food I've Ever Made!

Surfing the web as I do, I came across a great blog:  http://sogoodandtasty.blogspot.com/2010/02/homemade-almond-milk.html

Basically it's this:
1 cup almonds
4-6 cups water (I used 4.5 C. since my blender is small)
Soak almonds in water overnight.
Pour it all into a blender and blend until pieces are as tiny as your blender will get them.
Pour it all through a fine mesh strainer, using a spoon to get as much liquid out as possible.

My twist, one teaspoon of vanilla and about 2 tablespoons of honey mixed in.
I also saved the pulp, one small container with cinnamon and honey in it and one container plain.

Place the milk into a clean, well sealed jar and refrigerate. 

The first thing I did was make my usual morning oatmeal. I cooked it in the almond milk instead of water and it was much richer, mellower tasting. Then I added about 4 spoonsful of the pulp and it was really good! I'm sure the extra almond pulp added a nice protein boost!

The plain almond milk was good to drink. I like the extra oomph of the vanilla and honey, but taste it first! You might just prefer it plain! My next batch will be plain and I'll experiment with mashed potatoes. 

As much as I've always loved cow products, they do create mucus and if you have sinus issues or use your voice a lot, you know dairy products are not good for you.  Many people love soy milk, as did I until I had some issues with it.  Rice Milk is also good, but not nearly as many great benefits as almonds! The protein and B vitamins in almonds are much higher than in rice.  Also, with 3 pounds (about 9.5 cups) of almonds costing under $10 at BJs, it's less expensive to make my own almond milk than to buy any other product.  A huge plus is that the ingredients are known and controlled by you! So you know it's pure!

I hope you try it! And stop by the So Good and Tasty blog! Jacqui has  many more interesting recipes shared there!

Teach Every Child about Food: Jamie Oliver's TED Prize Wish!

This is something every human, and especially every US human should consider. It reminds me a little of the UK television show "You Are What You Eat". But it all comes back to toxicity. Chemicals are ingested where they need not be. As one person put it, "If it came from a plant, eat it! If it's MADE in a plant DON'T!" We Americans need to use some form of chemical control on everything from our food to our yards to our medications. We really took the 1950's slogan "Better living through chemistry" to heart. And we are now an obese, heart & kidney disease-ridden population. The idea that our children will live lives 10 years shorter than ours just because we've drugged them with sugar, fat and salt is pathetic. We have brains! We can do better.

This video is 21 minutes long, but the time passes too fast. Please watch it and pass it on. Consider it every time you start to plan your grocery shopping or a meal.

The wonders of the Neti Pot! Save Your Sinuses!

For years I suffered two sinus infections each year, one around Easter and the other in the Fall. Both times related to specific plant blooming times. I had to take Zyrtec in the morning and Flonase at night as well as the antibiotics! Ugh!

Then finally a doctor at the Mayo clinic started me on the path to freedom from sinus infections. His advice: keep the nasal passages moist so they can deal with the pollen attack better. He recommended "Ocean" nasal spay. I took it one step farther, to the Neti, and haven't had an infection since.

The Neti is cheap, safe and well proven over several thousands of years. Learn more about it here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasal_irrigation

And of course, Google/Ask/Bing it yourself. The main thing is that I no longer need antibiotics twice a year. No more daily antihistamines. Although I will take a Benadryl after a full day of gardening during certain seasons and high pollen counts.

I also stop all cow milk products during the high pollen times. Cow milk products simply exacerbated the problem for me with the increased mucus dairy is known to produce.

So between the Neti and no cow's milk for those two months, I am sinus clean! (And I love my cheese and ice cream the rest of the year!)

If this helps just one person even a little bit, then I'm happy! Have you ever tried Neti? If so, share your experience in a comment!
Thanks!