It is the inflammation attacking the delicate lining of the nose or the upper air-passages which results in the discharge of mucous raining freely through the nose. The discomfort and pain in the course of the disease are the effects of inflammation. And inflammation is the body’s reaction to the injury caused by the germ attack. It has been already explained that at the spot of inflammation a regular battle is in progress between the germs and the white cells of the blood. The pus or the mucous that flows through the nose is a mass of the germs and the cells which have been killed. It is sticky because of the presence of mucin which helps to protect the membrane against infection.
Normally the cold gets cured of itself in three or four days but we can hasten this function by helping the white cells against the germs by cleansing off the mucous consisting of the inflammatory debris by ‘Jala-neti‘ two or three times a day with warm water containing a little salt. This will prove an excellent germicide too.
The ‘Sutra-neti‘ done once in the morning only has been found curing the cold within twenty four hours.