Love Your Nose in the Spring

Sneezes and sniffles! Our poor noses are suffering this season due to an early Spring (three weeks early according to The Weather Channel). Ayurveda encourages us to take good care of our noses, not just in the Spring but all year around. Here’s why:

The nose is the organ for our sense of smell. Ayurveda places great emphasis on the five senses because each one is connected to one of the five elements. The sense of smell is connected to the earth element and, wouldn’t you know it, Spring is the season of earth awakening. Believe it or not, one of the ways to take care of our nose in Spring is to shed the heaviness we’ve been holding onto since Winter. To do this, eat more bitter, astringent and pungent foods like asparagus, broccoli, radishes, arugula, cabbage, hot sauce, etc. Avoid eating foods that will add water or weight, like salty and sweet foods and dairy.

The nose also provides a direct link to our brain. The respiratory system and nervous system are actually separate, but there is a way to cross over that barrier. Ayurveda uses a technique called nasya, which means “nose.” A medicated oil is sniffed into the nose. As it coats the inside of the nostrils, it makes contact with the olfactory nerve, which carries the medication (herbs) directly into the brain. Even without the medication, nasya is very effective in enhancing the sense of smell and moisturizing nostrils that are irritated from all that sneezing.

To do nasya, wash your hands well. Place one drop of organic sesame oil on each pinky finger and coat the inside of the nostrils. Sniff vigorously and rub the sides the nose with your other fingers. The best time to do nasya is in the morning, either when you first get up or after your shower.