Effect of Jala Neti and Kapalabhati on Allergic Rhinitis(Pratishyaya)

Allergic Rhinitis is a commonrespiratory problem  occurs due to changeof seasons or dust, pollens cold, mist allergy etc. It is characterized bynasal congestion, itching, sneezing ad rhinorrhea its prevalence is increasing withindustrialization urbanization and environment pollution. Allergic Rhinitis mayalso be associated with Bronchial Asthma, Sinusitis, Atopic dermatitis,Allergic Conjunctivitis etc. The global prevalence it  10% to 30% for adult and as high as 40% forchildren. About 500 million people suffer from Allergic Rhinitis across theworld.

Allergic Rhinitis can be correlatedwith Pratishyaya in Ayurveda. In which mainly Vata and Kapha get vitiated. Itis characterized by symptoms like headache, heaviness, anosmia, fever, cough ,hoarsenessof voice, anorexia, tiredness, impaired functions of sense organs and Yakshama(emaciation). In Ayurveda, for prevention and cure of Pratishyaya the holisticapproach has been advocated through various daily and seasonal regimens.

Our nose is highly developed sensory organ playing asentinel role to balance the respiratory system.The mucociliary layer ofnostrils actively participates in respiratory homeostasis by ciliary function,mucus secretion and inflammatory response. The integrity of respiratory mucosais essential for airways to fulfill their role. Nasal hygiene relievescongestion, reduces viscosity of mucus and keeps nasal cavity clean and moist.For this, the sprays, lavage and irrigation are being used.

The conventional therapy for allergic rhinitis mainlyfollows the long-term use of antihistamines and intranasal corticosteroidsprays It mostly causes nasal dryness or bleeding and drowsiness, and higherrecurrence rate after medication.

There are various yoga procedures associated with provenhealth benifits.Yoga is primarily a spiritual discipline, leads to union ofindividual consciousness with the Universal Consciousness. This is an art andscience of healthy living, focuses on bringing harmony between body, mind andspirit. Out of various streams of Yoga the Hath yoga is more popular in modernsociety. It is based on physical practices viz. shatkarma, asana, pranayama,mudra, bandh etc. In leading texts of Hath Yoga the Shatkarma have beendescribed before Asana and Pranayama. Shatkarma are six purificatory proceduresfor cleansing of different body parts. These are Dhauti, Basti, Neti, Nauli,Trataka and Kapalabhati.Jal neti and kapalbhati are described in hath yoga textto control the condition such rhinitis and sinusitis. The Jala Neti kriya,using saline water, helps to remove the infected mucous from nasal sinuses.Practice of Kapalbhati after Jala Neti kriya, expels the stagnated water andmucous and dries up the nasal sinuses by increasing mucosal temperature.

These practices also removethe toxins from the body and in the resistance of nasal mucosa against theallergens and microorganisms, hence considered to be beneficial in AllergicRhinitis. So keeping these facts into consideration the study  entitled “EFFECT OF JALA NETI AND KAPALBHATION ALLERGIC RHINITIS (PRATISHYAYAY)" has been proposed.