Nasya
The administration of oil or herbal preparations through the nose: Ayurveda’s treatment for the head, sinuses and mental clarity, in a few morning drops.
Nasya designates in Sanskrit what passes through the nose (nasa). In Ayurveda, the nose is considered the gateway to the head: what is instilled there acts, according to tradition, on the sinuses, the throat, the senses and the mind. Nasya is both a daily hygiene practice — one or two drops of sesame oil in each nostril — and one of the five purifying actions of panchakarma, where it is performed under supervision with medicated oils.
Tradition assigns it several uses: lubricating mucous membranes dried out by indoor heating or air conditioning, clearing a heavy head, supporting the voice and the breath, calming an excess of Vata. Within the dinacharya, the morning routine, it comes after cleaning the nose and pairs well with nasal rinsing with a neti pot, of which it is the oily counterpart: salt water cleanses, oil protects.
A concrete example: in winter, one drop of warm sesame oil in each nostril in the morning helps many practitioners get through the heating season without an irritated nose. The gentle technique, the contraindications (acute colds, pregnancy) and the choice of oils are detailed in our guide to nasya, to compare with nasal rinsing with a neti pot.