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Earlier this week, Dumb Little Man posted a list of 11 odd but simple ways to improve your health. Some of these seem odd, indeed. One suggestion is to use Neti pots to perform nasal irrigation. This practice floods the nasal cavity with warm salt water, and allegedly improves sinus health.
I’m skeptical. My logical mind just doesn’t see any reason this would be beneficial to health.
Or what about skin brushing? How does this remove any more toxins than washing with soap and water? Again, it sounds a little kooky.
I’m not saying that these practices don’t have health benefits, but I suspect many of them are purely psychological. I could be wrong. These techniques remind me of my cousin’s household. She and her family de-worm themselves on a regular basis. They can tell you all about how the human body is infected with worms, and how de-worming leads to a more satisfying life.
Other suggestions at Dumb Little Man are more sensible:
- Practice breathing deeply.
- Improve your posture.
- Fast occasionally.
- Laugh.
I’ve read enough to believe that each of these can influence health and wellness, though again I believe some of the gain may be mental. But there’s nothing wrong with that. In the end, even physical gains are mental, aren’t they?
[Dumb Little Man: 11 odd but simple ways to improve your health]
Mac
23 responses so far ↓
1 d.a. // Apr 17, 2008 at 9:28 am
Saline sinus washes - either by syringe or by Neti pot - are often recommended by allergists and doctors to help keep the sinuses flushed, and cut down on congestion. Seriously.
2 Adam Wolf // Apr 17, 2008 at 9:30 am
I use a saline sinus wash whenever my allergies act up (on recommendation from an ear-nose-throat specialist) after a horrible incident where repeated usage of OTC allergy medications dried my sinuses out enough to give me a infection straight from Hell.
3 Red // Apr 17, 2008 at 9:51 am
I started using a sinus rinse when recommended by my doctor during a month long sickness that was draining the life out of me.
Two things you should know about sinus rinses:
1) They are absolutely DISGUSTING, especially at first. Warm salt water up your nose is just as pleasant as it sounds, though you can get used to it.
2) They are incredibly effective. While I was sick, it was the only thing that would help me with my body’s unstoppable ability to produce mucous. Now that I’ve gotten better, I’ll use them on mornings where my allergies are getting the best of me.
The benefit isn’t hard to understand. Imagine the most effective nose blow you’ve ever done, and that’s what the result feels like.
Highly recommended.
4 d.a. // Apr 17, 2008 at 9:56 am
@Red: agreed, those first few rinses are TERRIBLE. I’ve likened it to “getting b*tch-slapped by the ocean”.
5 J.D. // Apr 17, 2008 at 9:59 am
Since my allergies have been giving me hell lately, you guys are actually making me think I should try this. I can’t believe I’m saying that.
6 Andrew is getting fit // Apr 17, 2008 at 10:07 am
One man’s kooky seems to be another’s salvation.
7 TosaJen // Apr 17, 2008 at 10:12 am
Totally try the neti pot (I use SinusRinse, myself) if you have sinus or allergy problems.
The advantage to SinusRinse for me, is that the salt is premeasured (too much or too little salt is the leading cause of pain doing this), and I don’t have to tilt my head all over creation to get the water where it needs to be.
There’s something oddly satisfying to see the multicolored mucus getting washed away when you’re fighting down a sinus infection.
8 MS // Apr 17, 2008 at 10:13 am
Don’t feel bad J.D., They’ve just about got me convinced, too…
9 Maria - Never the Same River Twice // Apr 17, 2008 at 10:20 am
@J.D. You might want to try Ocean (or the store brand). It’s a little bottle of nasal saline rinse that is very easy to use. It’s kind of like nasal spray for colds, but it’s just salt water. I use it for allergies and find that $5 bottle once a month does me a world of good.
BTW, I have done skin brushing. Don’t know if I got any healthier, but my skin was incredibly soft.
10 brad // Apr 17, 2008 at 10:50 am
When I was a kid, our family doctor always told us to gargle and snuff with warm salt water when we got sick with a cold or flu. To snuff, I simply poured some warm salt water into my cupped hand and snorted it. Pretty awful, but it did help. The gargling part was hard too; on a couple of occasions I accidentally swallowed the water and got sick to my stomach!
11 Jolene // Apr 17, 2008 at 11:07 am
J.D. I just tried the Neti Pot a couple weeks ago. I was unsure about it at first, but once I tried it I really liked it! I will definitely use it again. I wrote about my experience here- http://healthydiscoveriesbyjolene.blogspot.com/2008/04/neti-pot.html
12 Joe Kunin // Apr 17, 2008 at 11:31 am
I could be wrong, but I believe the purpose of skin brushing is to increase circulation and scrub away dead skin. Besides, it feels awfully nice
13 Cecily T // Apr 17, 2008 at 11:48 am
Yeah, everyone is pretty much with the Neti pot thing. I agree…I doubt it’s beneficial just for general health, but if you are an allergy sufferer, it can’t be beat.
The skin brushing thing is a tad odd, and the de-worming thing? Ewww…but I’ve seen the advertisements for those de-worming programs and they are truly the grossest things you’ve ever seen, meant to scare you into using their products b/c OH. MY. HEAVENS..you mean those wiggly things might be *living* in my body??? ahhh…
14 Anne Keckler, Personal Trainer // Apr 17, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I’ve personally seen no evidence that enemas or fasting offer any health benefits.
The sinus cleansing seems to be really good if you have allergies or a sinus condition. House plants will certainly increase the indoor air quality.
But some of that stuff just seems hokie. Let’s just say I’m skeptical, but willing to be proven wrong if someone has a good source of information.
15 elisabeth // Apr 17, 2008 at 12:59 pm
I notice more folks commenting on the neti pot rather than the colonics idea (which may indicate something about what is really disgusting!). I agree with Anne K @14: there isn’t good research evidence to say that “colon cleansing” is a good idea, in fact, my understanding is that it can be harmful. Adjusting one’s diet to include abundant whole grains and other sorts of fiber is good for you, and will do great things for one’s digestive system, in a much more natural way.
16 Elizabeth // Apr 17, 2008 at 1:56 pm
I have to add to the chorus of Neti fans - I tried it for the first time this week, and I was very impressed with the result. I’ve been recovering from a cold, and it was a little difficult at first, but my nose was unstuffed for hours.
Allergists and ENT specialists have been prescribing saline rinses for decades. As a child, my doctor had me use a small bulb to squirt saline water up my nose for sinus infections - not nearly as effective as the Neti pot and also pretty uncomfortable. If you have any sinus problems or pollen/mold/dust allergies, definitely give the Neti pot a try!
17 MaryMR // Apr 17, 2008 at 2:53 pm
using nasal rinse was suggested to me by my GP to help with allergies. As a result, I don’t need to start my allergy meds as soon in the season or keep taking them as long–which is helpful for my system not getting used to allergy meds by over use.
Also, she taught me how to make my own using a plastic squeeze bottle (no neti pot), approx. 6-8oz. and table salt and baking soda. Go to a cooking supply place and find a 1/8 of teaspoon or sometimes it’s even called “just a pinch” right on the spoon. Have the salt just a little heaping and the baking soda flat. Fill it up with warm tap water and rinse.
It was weird at first, but now it feels great–similar to the feeling of brushing my teeth. Obvy, YMMV.
18 typome // Apr 17, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Neti Pot works for me too after my doctor recommended it for ringing in my ear, and it actually does help. And apparently nasal irrigation is an ancient practice in India, so I guess it works for most people if it’s still around today!
19 Ro // Apr 18, 2008 at 10:58 am
My husband and I both use a saline rinse. He has severe sinus problems and it has really helped him a lot. Mine are less severe so I don’t do it everyday, but it does help. It does take a few times to get used to doing though but is worth it if you have those problems.
20 m // Apr 18, 2008 at 5:15 pm
For someone with chronic nasal congestion, allergies, and sinus problems, a netti pot is a Godsend. Not sure if it would be useful for those with no probs. in this area, but can imagine it can be a good preventative measure at the very least.
21 brooklynchick // Apr 19, 2008 at 7:47 am
The Neti Pot experience is gross, I’m not going to lie to you. I respect you too much for that.
It really really works. It was recommended to me first by an acupuncturist but then by a Cornell Hospital Ear Nose and Throat doc. Its good for allergy season, but for me its critical when I have sinus headaches. Only thing that works.
Also I have no idea if skin brushing is good for your health but its great for softer skin.
22 Cynthia // Apr 22, 2008 at 11:23 pm
I’m thinking I may have to try the Neti pot thing. Heaven knows I have allergies!
As for the skin brushing… I shouldn’t think it would do much to detox your body, but I have heard that it can help alleviate the loose skin issue from losing large amounts of weight somewhat. No idea if that is really true or not, but it would tend to stimulate circulation, so who knows, maybe it does help skin to shrink down some. As noted, your skin will feel soft and great after doing it!
I recently bought a soft boar hair brush and I like the feeling of skin brushing!
23 J.D. Tries the Neti Pot // Apr 24, 2008 at 9:53 am
[…] here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!Last week I wrote about some odd ways to improve your health. I was particularly dismissive of the Neit pot, which allows a person to perform nasal irrigation. […]
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