Sutra Neti (Nasal cleansing with Thread)

24 Jun 2021 HYN Himalayan Yoga Academy

Table of Contents

Sutra Neti is a Hatha yoga technique to clean your nasal cavity. It is one of the six methods of purification or Shatkarma as given in the yogic text Hatha Yoga Pradeepika. There are various types of Neti practiced by Yogis including Jala Neti (with water), Dughda Neti (with Milk), Sutra Neti (with cotton string), etc. A waxed cotton string is traditionally used to clean the nasal cavity in Sutra Neti.

Breathing: Breathing is performed through the mouth.

Duration: The practice takes about 10 minutes. Once every few days or once a week is sufficient.

Awareness: Physical –on relaxing the body and moving the catheter or thread smoothly and slowly.

Sequence: Sutra Neti should be performed before jala neti as the latter will flush out all the impurities and particles in the nose which have been dislodged by sutra neti.

Preparation of Sutra Neti (Nasal cleansing with Thread )

This practice involves passing a length of cotton thread through the nose. Traditionally, a specific prepared cotton thread, sutra, was used. Several strands were tightly wrapped together and dipped in melted beeswax. The width was about 4mm and the length was 36 to 45 cm.

Nowadays, people commonly perform the practice by using a thin rubber catheter lubricated with melted ghee, butter, edible oil, or saliva, allowing it to slide easily through the nasal passage. The size of the catheter depends on the individual nasal passage. Beginners often start with size 4 and later progress to size 6.

Steps

Basic practice

Take any comfortable standing, sitting, or squatting position.
Relax the whole body.
Tilt the head slightly back. Gently and slowly insert the narrow end of the catheter or the waxed end of the thread into whichever nostril is flowing more freely.
As the thread is inserted, twist it so that it enters the nostril easily. Always keep the tip pointing downward towards the base of the nose. Never push the catheter straight up because the nasal cavity is behind the nose, not at the top of the nose.
When the thread reaches the back of the throat, insert the index finger and thumb, or the middle and index fingers, into the mouth.
Pull the catheter or thread gently and slowly out through the mouth, leaving a few inches of thread hanging out of the nostril.
This action may cause retching at first, but it will become easier with practice.
Hold each end of the sutra or catheter with the fingers. Very slowly and gently pull it backward and forward, no more than 15 times on the attempt.
Remove it slowly through the nose and repeat the process with the opposite nostril.
Technique II: Advanced practice
After completing technique I, leave the thread with one end passing through the mouth and the other through the nostril.

Advanced Practice

Gently insert the waxed end entering from one nostril into the other nostril and pull the end through the mouth.
In the final position, both waxed ends together so that they merge, and twist the thread so that the two ends become cut away so that the join may pass easily through the nostrils.
The thread is now circular.
Slowly draw the join the mouth, progressively sliding the thread through the nostrils.
Eventually, the join should be located between the entrance to the two nostrils.
Disconnect the join.
The thread now enters one nostril and emerges from the other; it no longer passes through the mouth.
Gently pull the sutra to and fro, a few times only to begin with it there is the slightest discomfort, stop the practice immediately.
Pull one end of the thread and slowly withdraw it from the nose .

Precautions

Do not use force under any circumstances. The interior of the nose is very delicate. After persistent attempts, if the thread or catheter will not pass through the nose, consult a competent teacher. Make sure that the sutra is perfectly clean before inserting it into the nostril. It is best not to try sutra neti until jal neti has been perfected.

Contra – indications

Those people who suffer from chronic bleeding in the nose should not do sutra neti .Anyone nasal septum turbinate should first seek the advice of a yogic or ayurvedic doctor.

Benefits

The benefits are the same as for jala neti.

Sutra neti can rectify the problem of deviated nasal septum.
If one or both nostrils are not flowing freely due either to deformed bone or fleshy outgrowths, the regular friction of sutra neti causes these obstructions to disappear within a few months.
Helps to prevent respiratory system related illness.
It calms and influences on the brain.
It activates depression, anxiety, anger and removes drowsiness.
Balances the prana flow throughout both nostrils and corresponds the left and right hemispheres of the brain.
It makes the head feel free, light and fresh.
It increases the concentration and makes better memory.