Coming home to ourselves is an inside job. It requires that we turn our senses and our awareness away from the outside world and focus within. One Ayurvedic therapy that is excellent at helping us to turn inward and nourish the inner pathway of prāna, is a therapy called nasya.
Nasya therapy is a practice in Ayurvedic therapeutics that involves oleation, or oiling, of the nasal passages to clear and nourish the brain and nervous system. As is one the the “five actions” of panchakarma, a traditional Ayurvedic cleansing protocol, nasya therapy not only lubricates and detoxes the head and sinuses but can also improve mental clarity, and even relieve tension in the head and neck.
I first learned about the practice of nasya after moving to New Mexico, the place where I found Ayurveda, and a place that taught me the necessity of protecting myself against the dry rough qualities of the high desert. After a few days of being there, my sinuses were so dry that I was having nosebleeds, and after asking a local who worked at a natural remedy store what they suggested, I was told to put sesame oil up my nose. I raised my eyebrows a bit, but I did it, and the relief was instant.
Doorway to Prāna
“The nose is the door to consciousness and the pathway to our inner pharmacy” -Dr Lad
The nose is considered the mukha or the opening of prāna vaha srotas, the primary pathway of prāna in the body. Prāna is considered the lifeforce present within human bodies, and all beings. It rules respiration, consciousness, and all activity in the body. Known in other traditions as Chi, the Breath of Life, and the Vital Force, Prāna unites our inner world with the outer world.
By applying medicated oils through the nasal passage, we nourish and support the pathway of prāna which can enhance our mental clarity, improve our resilience against airborne pathogens, ease tension in the head and neck, and more importantly, nourish consciousness itself. By stimulating the flow of prāna through the limbic area of the brain, nasya therapy can also help to regulate emotional stress.
Balancing the Doshas
Not only is the nose the doorway to prāna in the body, it is also a pathway of elimination for excess dosha in the head. Anyone who has ever had a head cold knows what it’s like to have excess mucus (an example of kapha dosha) exiting this door.
Even a gentle nasya oil can create the urge to expectorate, or cough up excess phlegm and mucus. There are many types of naya oil available, some with very sharp and pungent herbs designed to induce expectoration. For the purposes of this article, we will be discussing gentle forms of nasya therapy that primarily lubricate and nourish, rather than cleanse the pathway.
Treating the Head and Neck
Regular nasya therapy can help to relieve tension in the head, neck, and shoulders. Dr. Lad has often stated that nasya therapy is “good for everything above the collar bones.” By lubricating the nasal canal, and gently introducing medicated oils through the pathway of the nose, nasya therapy supports the coordination of prāna and udāna vayus in the head and brain, which can help with conditions like neck pain, tension migraines, congestion, and brain fog.
General Indications
Dry sinuses, congestion, stiffness of the neck head and shoulders, tension headache, nervous system stress, emotional stress, brain fog
General Contraindications
Not for children under 7 or people over 80 (due to choking hazard), during menses, within an hour before or after shower or swimming (or using a neti pot), on a full stomach, during acute injury or illness and emotional shock or stress, immediately after exercise, simultaneously with intoxicants
Types of Oils to Use
Generally, sesame oil and pure ghee (clarified butter) are safe options to use for nasya. Specially formulated nasya oils with brain supporting herbs are readily available at Ayurvedic product distributors such as Banyan Botanicals.
A Gentle Nasya Routine for Self Care
Take a few minutes out of your busy day to try this simple, at home nasya treatment.
Using a gentle, tridoshic nasya oil like Super Nasya Oil, lay on a flat surface like a bed or a couch where your head can be gently and comfortably reclined off the edge of the cushion so that your nostrils are turned upwards towards the ceiling. Using a dropper bottle, put 2-5 drops of oil into each nostril. Breathing through your nose, sniff the oil upwards into your sinuses a few times, staying relaxed with your head reclined. Stay in this position for a few minutes, gently massaging your face and the area around your nose.
After a few minutes, carefully sit up. If you feel like you need to expectorate (cough up phlegm), do it! Westerners are very shy about this, but it’s totally natural and an important part of cleansing the head and throat.
An Alternate Method
An even gentler way to introduce yourself to nasya therapy is to take a clean pinky finger, dip it in the oil you’re using, and use your little finger to gently massage the inside of each nostril. This is safe to do anytime and is a good way to get the feel for the power of nasya and the joy of a well lubricated door for prāna.
Article written by Rosa Harper
This article was featured in the February 2026 issue of Grace Notes, the Women’s Sangha & Ministry of Kriya Yoga monthly magazine.
*Medical disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical care.