Nasya is considered one of the five most powerful therapies in Ayurveda.
What is nasya? The nasal inhalation of herbalized oils into the sinuses, which has many benefits. In my opinion, the most unique benefit is supporting cleansing of lymphatic vessels in the brain called the sagittal sinus or tarpaka kapha. The saggital sinus is just under the skull on the top of the head in the pattern of a mohawk haircut.
While this technique has been practiced for thousands of years, it hasn’t been long since Western medicine discovered lymphatic vessels in the sagittal sinus that literally drain some three pounds of toxic chemicals and plaque out of the brain each year while we sleep.
Until this recent research, Western medicine thought both the brain and central nervous system were completely devoid of lymphatic vessels.1-4
Learn more about brain lymphatics and Ayurveda here.
According to Ayurveda, when these lymphatic channels become congested, toxins can build up in the brain and cause serious mental, emotional, and psychological imbalances.
It’s said that these lymphatic vessels constrict as a result of trauma, which causes us to bury the memories. This process allows us to move through hardships and continue with our lives, but can drive emotional patterns into the unconscious, where they can wreak havoc.
New research has confirmed the Ayurvedic take on brain lymphatics, which suggests that they are related to mood stability and, when congested, can cause a host of brain, mental, and emotional concerns. 5,6
Learn more about the emotional connection to brain lymphatics here.
Case Study: SAN, Nasya, Exhaustion + Goiter
A few years ago, a patient came in with a history of adrenal exhaustion, blood sugar imbalances, endocrine irregularities, and a goiter the size of a grapefruit in her neck!
Working with her MD, we designed a plan to help detoxify her congested lymphatic system using an Ayurvedic spa therapy I have used successfully in my Ayurvedic Panchakarma Clinic for 26 years.
The technique is called SAN or shiro-abyhanga-nasya, which translates to: shiro=head; abyhanga=massage; nasya=nasal inhalation.
The SAN technique is a series of nasya treatments that involve sniffing herbalized oil with ginger into the deep sinuses. (I describe this at-home therapy in this article and associated video.) I also gave her a series of self-inquiry exercises to help release some old emotions that might be related to this thyroid condition.
After the third nasya treatment, while she was doing self-inquiry exercises, she had an epiphany. She saw herself as a 14-year-old being abused—a memory she had totally blocked from her conscious mind! She said that what was most amazing about this experience was not the memory of the abuse itself, but rather seeing clearly the change in her life before and after this event.
Before this trauma, she was a happy-go-lucky, fun-loving child. Afterward, she noticed she became a more serious, Type A, driven person. She became a straight-A student, a perfectionist, and then a corporate executive who worked 90 hours per week. She had a huge capacity and pushed herself to accomplish any task at hand, whether at work or home.
She realized that this ten-minute event, while quite terrible, was not worth ruining the next 20 years of her life. When she saw the contrast of her life before and after this event, she realized that she was unconsciously staying super busy, burning out, and overachieving to run away from that trauma. It was her way of staying safe—and it worked. Except for the fact that she had burned out her adrenals with a history of chronic fatigue, had blood sugar issues, and now her thyroid was failing.
After SAN, when the brain lymphatics had been decongested, she had a level of clarity she had not had in years. She was able to see clearly how her trauma had shaped her life and was ready to become reacquainted with her old happy go-lucky childlike self. She told me she was able to just drop her armor along with the need to continue to be an overachiever and perfectionist.
This is exactly what Ayurveda predicts should happen when you detoxify the brain lymphatics within the sagittal sinus. Old emotional traumas will be released and a new level of awareness will prevail. This new level of awareness will be stress-free and reveal the joy we all have and protect so deep inside of us.
The focus is not to be dragged through the emotional mud, but to regain the awareness of our natural state of joy and happiness that offers us a sense of safety and security needed to let the more delicate, vulnerable, and powerful parts of ourselves out.
At the end of her 1-week detox with naysa therapies, the goiter in her neck was unnoticeable! When she started, it looked like she had a grapefruit in her neck. Seven days later, even a trained eye could barely see it.
After the SAN therapy and this powerful shift in her awareness, she was able to change her behavior and find peace. Her stress levels decreased dramatically and, after a few months, her thyroid imbalance completely stabilized. Soon after, she got pregnant and gave birth to a healthy baby and, shortly thereafter, another.
The goal of SAN therapy is to increase self-awareness, break unconscious patterns, and start enjoying this precious thing called life.
At-Home Super Advanced Nasya (SAN)
Once again, the traditional name for this therapy is shiro– (head) abhyanga– (massage) nasya (nasal inhalation) or SAN. This is an advanced version of the daily practice of nasya, in which you sniff herbalized nasya oil in order to lubricate and protect the sinuses.
The super-nasya therapy starts out with about 45 minutes of deep facial and head massage, steam, and aroma inhalation before the herbal oil nasya. Key to the success of this therapy is putting the time in preparing the head with massage and steam.
Once the head, neck, and sinuses are prepared, an herbalized nasya oil is sniffed, followed by special ginger nasya drops you prepare, designed to clean out the saggital sinus and stimulate brain lymphatics.
Practice this routine three times per week for four to six weeks. This practice is ideal during a cleanse or detox like our 4-day Short Home Cleanse or 2-week Colorado Cleanse.
Do not do this within two hours of bedtime.
Step 1. Head, Neck + Shoulder Massage with Nasal Preparation
- Vigorously massage head and neck for five to ten minutes with LifeSpa’s Lymphatic Massage Oil.
- Take a 15-20 minute hot shower and continue to vigorously massage head and neck with Lymphatic Massage Oil.
- Steam face and neck: Fill a large bowl with freshly boiled water. Add 1-2 drops of eucalyptus oil (or more, depending on your tolerance). Take a clean, large towel and drape it over your head, making a tent. Lean over bowl so steam is trapped inside towel tent. Breathe for three minutes.
- Gently apply hot towels to the neck and face. (If available, I prefer hot water bottles.) Press on sinuses under cheek bones, forehead, temples (sides of head), and then track the top of the head in a mohawk pattern. Continue for 10 minutes.
Step 2. Standard Nasya with Herbalized Nasya Oil
- Follow the procedure below for standard nasya therapy. It is best to use LifeSpa’s Nasya Oil.
- Lie on bed with head hanging off side. Try to get the head back far enough that nostrils are parallel to floor.
- The take a couple deep nasal breaths.
- After a large exhale, using an eye dropper, place two or three drops of the LifeSpa Nasya Oil directly into both nostrils.
- Then, with one big inhale, sniff oil quickly and deeply into sinus cavity: hold both nostrils closed, release, and breathe in through the nose while rapidly closing and opening the nostrils.
- Continue to sniff deeply and spit as needed
- Repeat sniffing procedure with nasya oil three times.
Step 3. Advanced Nasya with Ginger Drops
CAUTION: If you are sensitive to smells, aromas, or generally sensitive by nature, please do not proceed with the Ginger Drop Nasya.
- Make Ginger drops (Shunta gunti drops)
- 1 tbs warm water
- 1/8 tsp ginger powder
- 1/4 tsp brown sugar, Sucanat, or jaggery
- Warm and stir mixture. It’s ready when it is all dissolved.
- Sniff Ginger Drops
- Repeat procedure in Step 2 with ginger drops.
- Take time between each nasya to recover from the experience. There can be a short period of tingling or slight burning in sinuses. This sensation may track across the top of the head along the sagittal sinus as the SAN completes its mission.
- Gargle and spit out a full 12 ounces of warm salt water taking small amounts of water at a time.
- 12 ounces of warm purified water with 2 tsp of natural salt.
This process may feel complicated at first, but after doing it a couple of times, it should feel like a relaxing, healing, at-home spa experience, and you may begin to feel lighter, clearer, and more aware.
Have you tried SAN? Did you experience any benefits? Let us know in the comments below!
Max Nuccio says
Would it be ok to do the abhyangha with coconut oil for the Sagital Lymph Cleanse?. The lymphatic oil is out of my range financially right now. I am vata pitta but in a pitta time of year and tropics so focusing on balancing pitta.
gretchen a gehlhoff says
Thank you for all your knowledge, passion and kindness! You are very much appreciated!
Blessings,
Gretchen
Lynda says
HI, thanks for all that you do. I am wondering if there is a modification for those who are chemically sensitive? I am keen to cleanse the brain lymphatics as I have lymphoma and an acquired brain injury which probably caused a lot of inflamation when it happened. I do have a local uyurveda clinic. Any suggestions? warm regards
[email protected] from Australia
Duarte Sousa says
What about doing all this self-treatment inside a Turkish bath session. Massage with heat and oil, inhale vapor and eucalyptus oil, and Nasya Oil inhalation treatment. Can I compress it to 20 minutes session?
I just order the Nasya Oil because all my life I had a memory problem, now at 44 years old with my memory is better than ever but I still want to open more doors. I will let you know how it goes.
Geet says
Duarte Sousa,
I too was thinking of doing this my FIR sauna.
What all did you do to improve your memory?
Kim Kies says
I’m curious about the dose of the practice. Do you do this daily? If yes, for how many days? Or, do you space it out and do it once or twice a week? It seems pretty involved and would not be sustainable for very long durations, so I’m curious about what is needed to get results, or if the results vary that whether you need to keep doing it until you experience some results.
Thank You!
Amy says
Did you mean gun powder tea or gun powder?
Seth says
Amazing resource for advanced nasya. Thank you Dr. D.
Preet says
Hi there
I have had similar experiences as described above in the case study and dealing now with ++intrusive thoughts which can be debilitating. I know its stagnant lymph in my brain. Do you recommend the above for myself. Also is there an alternate to the nasya oil I can make at home (I am sensitive by nature so cant make the ginger formulation). Thank you very much.
Jacques Ouellet says
Hi, I’m talking on top of my own life observations, but there’s no such thing as fixing something only in the mind or only in the body. Things must be dealt both ways to be efficient. If you somatise you inner discord a lot in term of back pain, a back massage probably won’t be a durable relief. Try addressing the root of your insecurity which prevents you from being at peace. Do fear meditation asking yourself of the root cause. With persistence, you’ll deal with past choices you prevented yourself from analysing due to ego (there’s nothing shameful about it). You must cultivate opening of thoughts for yourself or for others.
– Jacques
Tiziana says
Much gratitude to you Dr. John Douillard. I have 2 questions:
1) Would inhaling Ginger Essential Oil have the same effect with less side effects? Maybe placing Ginger in an essential oil diffuser when the molecules of essential oil are micronized?
2) Can you comment of the daily practice of oleating the nose and nostrils without doing a full Nasya in regards to detoxification?
Thank you!
Leanne says
Yes I’m wondering the same thing. Diffusing ginger while doing the 1step… what do you think Dr. D?
Yaw Duodu says
Hi Doctor John
Thank you for this informative video. My question though is, can you do the ginger drops instead of the nasya oil drops or the 3 steps must be completed at the same time
Maria Louise says
Hello Dr. Douillard,
Thank you for your great work and this article. After a cleansing diet this will be a great next step. Two questions: Can I also use organic coconut sugar instead of brown sugar? And do you have experience with kids and the Nasya? Or do your prefer other technics for detoxing the brain for kids? Thank you & warm regard
angie says
Hi Dr. John,
thank you for the terrific information. I am wondering if you can substitute a steam sauna session after massaging the scalp vigorously instead of taking a hot shower. Is this okay?
Thanks again.
Sarah Shedd says
Hi Angie, this should be fine. I would recommend showering afterwards, to rinse the scalp if using oil to massage. Be well.
Chrisrina says
Can I use Essential oils for this? If so how? Basically the same technics or how would I change things?
Kathryn says
Please let us know what the benefit of using sugar, (brown or sucanat) in your sagittal sinuses will have. Herbs and oil, OK, but sugar, sounds scary?
Gina says
Would doing Nasya with plain coconut oil be helpful? I am allergic to sesame oil.
Thank you!
John Douillard says
Hi Gina, thanks for reaching out! If you are allergic to sesame oil then using coconut oil would be beneficial in lubricating the mucus ducts, especially after neti wash. Most nasya oils contain added herbs which are very beneficial. We do not carry a nasya here at LifeSpa without sesame oil, I would recommend researching other sources.
Casey m CROW says
This guy is a total quack. Read his article on Keto, filled with incorrect info and misinformation.
Carol Anderson says
What are the specific reasons that you claim he is a quack? Or are you just a common troll?
Jolanda says
I have a friend recently diagnosed with a brain tumour. Could this be part of his treatment alongside radiotherapy and chemotherapy ?
John Douillard says
Hi Jolanda. Any kind of self care and ways to soothe the nervous system will help support the overall health of the body, mind, and spirit. In remembering everything is connected we begin to heal on multiple levels. Listening and working with their current doctor is going to be vital as well. Best wishes.
Nikki says
I began having tinnitus about a year ago. I also changed the house from land lines to a modem on a land line hookup, but no phones in the house and everything is now WIfi. These things could be contiguous, but I am also now 70. I used to have sinus congestion issues but they are gone after getting rid of all the metal amalgams in my mouth and detox and having a sinus operation to open the passages. I have a deformed sinus and missing a sinus in one side of my forehead. This could have been from an injury as a child. I haven’t eaten beef or pork for 35 years. I eliminated gluten about 3 years ago and got rid of my chronic diarrhea. I have tried to eliminate sugar from my life and do a pretty good job. My diet is exceptional, organic or all natural. This has eliminated many problems that others of my age have. I struggle to be alcohol free. I only drink socially, but I would prefer to be a tee-totaler. I live in a drinking environment, my husband drinks daily and always has. I have eliminated many people who drink from my life. This makes for a pretty solitary social life, but that is preferable to the alcohol.
I had a very difficult, abusive and stressful childhood, both physical abuse, verbal abuse, neglect and general meanness of my parents. I look back and am amazed I survived. At the age of 18, I thought I had mononucleosis. At this point I had been on my own since high school graduation at 17. I was at various times homeless and of course bad things happened to me. The doctor said it was not mononucleosis, it was a completely dead thyroid. I now believe that it was the relentless stress that I was under as a child that killed my thyroid, adrenals, etc. I have never felt physically vibrant but have always pushed myself. Running mini triathlons and running every day. I don’t do that now, but I exercise and belong to a rec center. I take 1.14 of naturethroid daily and use idodine. I eschew all other drugs. I am a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, meditate and am a certified yoga instructor.
I should probably be a candidate for your personal consultation, but can’t afford that at this point. I have written a novel that has been purchased and will be published by an a large international Indian publisher in winter of 2016. At that point, if it gives me the financial security I need, I may consider a personal consultation.
I may buy your sinus oil and try that, but I am also concerned about putting stuff up my nose. I have tried salt and soda nasal washes and a couple of times I ended up with an infection that I had to beat away with vitamin C and zinc. Since I rarely get sick, I am a bit reluctant to put your oil up my nose. I would like to find some treatment for the tinnitus. It is basically a problem when I wake up and it is more in my head than my ears. It abates after I get up. I have idiopathic periodic high blood pressure that I deal with through meditation and exercise and other means such as supplements, that also may be the source of the ringing in my head. So, if some of the other posters on this site or the doctor would respond I would appreciate it. The tinnitus may be benign and a product of my age and shouldn’t concern me. I don’t know. If I go to the medical doctor they will do a few thousand dollars worth of tests and say” “hmmmm…..” I guess I am looking for reassurance that this is not serious. I can live with it. Thanks for reading…Nikki
Vacheslav says
sounds like you have anemia, totally not eating meat is a bad idea!
Carol Anderson says
There may be a link between tinnitus and zinc levels. My source is the Walsh Research Institute (www.walshinstitute.org) where our family learned about blood chemistry issues that are exacerbated by stress/epigenetics…
Best Regards
Dana says
Nikki I would check also for candida yeast infection in the gut!
Tinnitus is one of the symptoms and its also linked to alcohol consumption and alcohism.
Carrin says
I am wondering what other therapies can be done for multiple chemical sensitivity?
John Douillard says
It is different for every person. A consultation is always best to find root causes. In the meantime you could try this 4-step protocol https://lifespa.com/from-prebiotic-to-probiotic-4-steps-healthy-microbiome/ Be well.
Linda says
Can one use drops of ginger essential oil instead of the ginger powder? If so how much?
John Douillard says
Hi Linda, the preparation of an essential oil limits the constituents it contains. I don’t recommend that you substitute oils for a whole herb ginger formula or the raw ginger root iself.
Be well,
Dr. John
Tara says
Is the burning sensation like eating Wasabi?
Vanessa says
HI Dr. John,
Can the Nasya oil be something other than sesame oil based?
Maria L. says
Dr. Douillard, I’ve done this therapy two times now, and want to ask you about two things: when you get to the shower and after the massage, can you use shampoo to get rid of the oil? Also, today I felt a very strong burning sensation, all the way to the crown and my ears, which did not happen in the first time and had to stop on the first dose of ginger drops. Is it normal?
John Douillard says
Maria, feel free to shampoo out any excess oil. It helps to work the shampoo into your dry oiled hair first, then rinse and repeat the shampooing on your wet hair. I would back off on the ginger drops and reintroduce at the smallest amount when you feel comfortable.
Be well,
Dr. John
Maria L. says
Thanks Dr. Douillard. Isn’t it, though (the burning sensation) one of the desired effects of the therapy? I wonder if it was too soon, then. I’ve only done it two times
Vivien says
What time of the day do you suggest to do this process?
Bahadur Ali says
I am having sinus problem since long, the nose continually has to be cleared, more so when eating, warm or hot food, at night the drip travels down the throat causing me to cough. I feel exhausted and drained always.
Recently I am having rashes all around my body, I have dry skin specially, on the legs, I use moisturizers, but it gives temporary relief, now i am having rashes in small eruptions, and it is all very itchy, am using hydro cortisone ointment, but they come up in different places.
Please advise on the second problem. Thank you
Bahadur Ali
John Douillard says
Hi Bahadur, this sounds like a potential toxin problem, which is often related to lymph flow and digestive health. A consult is always recommended to get to the root of these multi-layered concerns. And, a cleanse can be very helpful to help reboot digestion and detox the body, the skin, and the lymphatic system.
You can read more about booking a personalized Ayurvedic consult here: https://lifespa.com/about-lifespa/ayurvedic-clinic/
And here is a link to more information on our Colorado Cleanse: https://lifespa.com/why-colorado-cleanse/
Christine says
May I ask you provide the link(s) to the recent research that you mentioned in this piece? I LOVE as you do, to show others how my interest and belief in Ayurveda is well placed now being proven by modern science.
Thanks for all you do.
Helena says
Christine, the References are at the end of the article.
Marjie says
Would you talk a little please about sterility of the bottles n droppers and anything going up your nose. If you are a sensitive person is there something you can use in place of ginger?
Lori says
Thank you for this article, Dr. Douillard. So timely for me. I have a strong emotion-related pressure in my nose and palette, so the Nasya may have double benefit for my situation.
I have read that gentle nostril massages (clockwise, then counter-clockwise) can be good for unblocking emotions there. Would this compliment the Nasya?
I had the same question as Kim regarding the self-inquiry exercises.
Thanks, again, for sharing this information with the world.
Nancy says
If you’re inhaling the sugar and ginger powder…aren’t you inhaling ingredients that might not be sterile? I’m confused about inhaling this stuff deep into the brain if it could contain germs…or at a minimum, not sterilized. I had a treatment like this at a Spa in the Middle East…don’t know what I was inhaling but it did concern me. thank you for answering!
John Douillard says
Nancy, I’ve never found any problems in all my years in practice with inhaling these herbs. They’ve been used for centuries in this way to widespread benefit. If you are concerned about the sterility of your Nasya oil dropper you can remove the rubber portion and boil the glass dropper.
Vacheslav says
For God’s sake, ginger is used to treat inflammation!
Jan says
oh my goodness, thank you for this article! I see myself in so much of this case study. Is the Home SAN really something I can do on myself or do I need another person to help….I live alone and the self-massage, etc. is just not always as effective as when another person administers.
Thanks much, this really, really hit home for me.
Kim Viehweg says
Can you describe the self-inquiry exercises used with the nasya therapy that helps release old emotions?
John Douillard says
The self-inquiry exercises can be found in the online support for our Emotional Freedom Cleanse: http://store.lifespa.com/lighten_up_new_year_cleanse_support.html
Tracy says
This link is not working, is the Lighten Up Cleanse still available?
Annalysa says
The link returns a 404 error – page not found on Sept 25, 2018
John Douillard says
The Lighten Up Cleanse has been discontinued. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Thank you,
LifeSpa Staff