Part 5 Kapalbhati (3)

Kapalbhati (Skull Lustre) is  yogic technique for cleansing the frontal cavity, which can be performed either by inhaling air, drawing up water or expelling water through the nose,   is of three kinds:

1. Vama-Krama: Inhaling from left nostril and exhaling through right nostril and reverse.  This is same as Pranayama Practice.
2. Vyut-Krama: Drawing water through the two nostrils and expelling it through the mouth slowly and slowly.
3. Sit-Krama: Reverse of Vyut Krama i.e. drawing in water from mouth and expeling through the nostrils. GS states that by this practice, one becomes like Cupid God.

GS states that by above kapalbhati practices, disorders of phlegm are destroyed and age never sets in.

How Jala Neti /Vyut krama and Sit-Krama Kapalbhati helps in cleansing?

The first line of nasal defense are the tiny hairs called “cilia” which should trap larger particles entering the nose. These cilia are usually cleansed by the act of normal breathing and by blowing the nose, but sometimes, due to a gradual build up of dirt they can become clogged and may requiring washing out. The whole of the nasal passages from nose tip to throat (and beyond) are covered with a layer of mucus. This mucus is secreted from within the mucus linings and its function is to trap smaller foreign particles and bacteria. The dirty mucus is normally blown out, snorted and coughed out or swallowed. The sinus passages are an even finer mechanism of filtering which, if infected, secrete a runny mucus to evict the germs.   This is generally called sinusitis and can be a short term symptom or a chronic condition.

During the simple Neti, the water simply flows up one nostril to just above the bridge of the nose where the usual air flows meet, backwards into the middle cavity and then the water flows down and out the other side. In this route, it passes by the frontal and mid nasal sinuses.

Whereas in Vyut Krama & Sit Krama Kapalbhati, the water flows fully through the whole nasal cavity, down the back of the nasopharynx and through the mouth. In this route, it passes by the post nasal sinuses, cleansing all the nasal passages more strongly. In neither version, is there any discomfort or damage to the nasal functions. Ideally, at no stage, should any water actually go into the sinus passages or the eustachian tubes. However, this may happen if the practitioner breathes incorrectly or blows too strongly when drying. In such an event, a few minutes of air drying will clear out any stray water droplets. This only causes momentary discomfort and is not dangerous unless an infection is spread where none was before. However, if the rules and procedures of the yogic method of Jala Neti are followed, it is unlikely that this should happen.  The way in which Jala Neti rinses out the dirt and bacteria filled mucus lining would be obvious to most people as the warm water loosens and dissolves any internal build ups, and takes them outwards. But what may not be so obvious is that, due to gravity and a venturi effect, the sinus passages are also drained by the vacuum pressure flow of the water. Whereas it would normally be impossible to drain a “dead end” passage like the sinuses, Jala Neti achieves this ingeniously and simply. For those with thick mucus conditions as well as those with running sinuses, the relief of sinus pressure can be felt within seconds. As well, the eustachian tubes (which are also dead end passages) receive exactly the same effects as the sinuses, that being – a drawing outwards of dirt and mucus. Hence Jala Neti is of great benefit for blockages and infections of the middle ear, by draining the tubes to relieve the pressure build up as well as removing germs. In a more detailed examination, it would also be seen that through the effect of osmosis and capillary action, the blood vessels of the nose are stimulated to cleanse as well.