Nasya is considered to be one of the five most powerful therapeutic techniques to clear your sinuses in Ayurveda. Nasya is the nasal inhalation of herbalized oils into the sinuses. This can be done in an attempt to clean out lymphatic vessels in the brain – called the sagittal sinus. (1, 4) 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 is only been a few months since Western medicine discovered the lymphatic vessels in the sagittal sinus that literally drain the brain. Until this research, western medicine thought both the brain and central nervous system were completely devoid of lymphatic vessels. (1-4)
According to Ayurveda, when these lymphatic channels become congested, toxins can build up in the brain and cause a serious of mental and emotional and psychological disorders. It is said that these lymphatic vessels constrict as a result of trauma, with the consequence of us burying the memory of these traumatic experiences. This process allows us to move through these traumas and continue on with our lives, albeit with unconscious emotional patterns still in play.
New research suggests that the brain lymphatics are related to mood stability and, when congested, can cause a host of brain and mental and emotional concerns. (5,6,7)
A Case Study
A few years ago, a patient came with a history of adrenal exhaustion, blood sugar imbalances, endocrine irregularities and a very large goiter. Working with her medical doctor, we designed a plan to help detoxify her congested lymphatic system. The main treatment that we used was a series of nasya treatments that involved sniffing herbalized oil with ginger into the deep sinuses. I describe this at-home therapy in this article and in the associated video.
I also gave her a series of self-inquiry exercises to do to help her release some of the old emotions related that might be related to this thyroid condition.
After the third nasya treatment, while she was doing her self-inquiry exercises, she had an epiphany. She saw herself as a 14-year-old being abused that she had totally blocked out of her mind. She said that what was most amazing about this experience was not really affected by the memory of the abuse. She was more taken aback by her life experience before and after this abuse. Before this day, she was a happy-go-lucky, fun-loving child. After this day, she noticed that she became a more serious, type A, driven person. She became a straight-A student, perfectionist, and then a corporate executive that worked 90 hours a week. She had a huge capacity and pushed herself to accomplish any task at hand, whether it was at work or at home.
She realized that this 10 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 said it was easy for her to just let go of this trauma.
This is exactly what Ayurveda predicted would happen when you detoxify the sagittal sinus. Old emotional traumas would be released and a new level of awareness would prevail. This new level of awareness would be stress-free, and would not drive the body into such a state of exhaustion that it would burn out her adrenals, blood sugar, and her thyroid.
At the end of her 1-week detox with the naysa therapies, the goiter in her neck had drastically shrunk. When she started, it looked like she had a grapefruit in her neck. Seven days later, you could barely see it.
Her stress levels decreased and, after a few months, her hormonal imbalances stabilized. Soon after, she got pregnant and gave birth to a healthy baby. The goal of this therapy was to increase self-awareness, to break the pattern of unconsciously doing the same self-harming stuff again and again, and we can start enjoying this precious thing called life.
Home SAN
The traditional name for this therapy is called, shiro (head), abhyanga (massage), nasya (nasal inhalation) or SAN. This is an advanced version of the daily practice of nasya, where you sniff an herbalized nasya oil in order to lubricate and protect the sinuses. The super-nasya therapy starts out with a deep facial, head massage, steam and aroma inhalation. It is then followed by a nasya therapy, and then followed by an herbal nasya with ginger – which is designed to clean out the saggital sinus and stimulate the brain lymphatics. Practice this 3x/week for 4-6 weeks at home. This practice is ideal during a cleanse or detox like our Lighten Up 4-day Cleanse, our 4-day Short Home Cleanse or our 2-week Colorado Cleanse. Do not do this within two hours of bedtime.
Step 1. Head, Neck and Shoulder Massage with Nasal Preparation
- Vigorously massage the head and neck for five minutes with LifeSpa’s Lymphatic Massage Oil.
- Take a hot shower and continue to vigorously massage the head and neck with the Lymphatic Massage Oil.
- Steam and face and neck: Fill a large bowl with freshly boiled water. Add 1-2 drops of eucalyptus oil or Vicks VapoRub. Take a clean, large towel and drape it over the head to make a tent. Lean over the bowl so that the steam is trapped inside the towel tent. Inhale the steam for two to three minutes.
- Gently apply hot towels to the neck and face. If available, I prefer to use hot water bottles and press them on the sinuses under the cheek bones, forehead, temples (side of head) and then track the top of the head in a Mohawk pattern.
Step 2. Standard Nasya with Herbalized Nasya Oil
- Follow the procedure below for the standard nasya therapy. It is best to use LifeSpa’s Nasya Oil.
- Lie on a bed with the head hanging off the side. Try to get the head back far enough so that the nostrils are perpendicular to the floor.
- Then, take a couple of deep breaths through the nose.
- After a large exhale, using an eye dropper, place two or three drops of the nasya oil directly into both nostrils.
- Then, with one big inhale, sniff the oil quickly and deeply into the sinus cavity: hold both nostrils closed and breathe in through the nose while rapidly closing and opening the nostrils.
2. Repeat the 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.
- Making 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 the mixture. It is ready when it is all dissolved.
- Sniffing Ginger Drops
- Repeat the same procedure in Step 2 for the ginger drops.
- Take time between each nasya to recover from the experience. There can be a short period of burning.
- Gargle with 12 ounces of warm salt water.
- 12 ounces of warm purified water with 2 tsp. of a natural salt.
Can you describe the self-inquiry exercises used with the nasya therapy that helps release old emotions?
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
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.
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!
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.
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.
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?
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.
Christine, the References are at the end of the article.
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
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/
What time of the day do you suggest to do this process?
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?
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
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
HI Dr. John,
Can the Nasya oil be something other than sesame oil based?
Is the burning sensation like eating Wasabi?
Can one use drops of ginger essential oil instead of the ginger powder? If so how much?
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
I am wondering what other therapies can be done for multiple chemical sensitivity?
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.
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
I have a friend recently diagnosed with a brain tumour. Could this be part of his treatment alongside radiotherapy and chemotherapy ?
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.
Would doing Nasya with plain coconut oil be helpful? I am allergic to sesame oil.
Thank you!
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.
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?
Can I use Essential oils for this? If so how? Basically the same technics or how would I change things?
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.
Hi Angie, this should be fine. I would recommend showering afterwards, to rinse the scalp if using oil to massage. Be well.