I use a Neti Pot every day to clean out my sinuses.
The feeling is great — it calms and soothes me. I take a Neti Pot, fill it with warm water, add some Kosher salt
Then I do it all over again for my left nostril!
The first time I Neti Potted myself I was amazed to see all the bits of black stuff that were washed out from within me.
Living in high-density areas where people and pollution are your constant neighbors and always within elbow’s reach, the germs and dirt they bring into your life — err, your nose — need to be cleaned out every day or you risk getting a cold or irritating your delicate sinus lining.
Your first time getting Potted might feel strange because you are deliberately putting water up your nose and your initial instinct is to fight against willingly letting that happen.
Once you get used to the process, though, you immediately start to feel the benefits. New Potters sometimes don’t add enough salt so they get a burning sensation.
If you try Potting, and it burns a little, stop what you’re doing and add a little more salt and you’ll be fine.
Some countries have giant water bags on poles with a hose hanging down so anyone can get a sinus cleansing right there on the street! If you feel a cold coming on or if you were stuck in a meeting with lots of sick people or if your nose is feeling really dry inside, Neti Pot yourself and get immediate relief.
The number one cause of the common cold is dry air and the way to fight the dry is to keep your nasal membranes wet and moist so germs and dirt cannot find rocky purchase: Help them slide right back out the way they snuck into your system.
Here’s a really neat video you can watch that shows you in graphic detail how to use a Neti Pot.