What in the World is a Neti Pot?

I first heard about the Neti Pot a couple of years ago on the Oprah Show. The now-famous Dr. Oz was on Oprah's show raving about its benefits.

According to Dr. Oz, the little pot could be the answer to all your sinus woes, and by using it, you are actually washing out your nose the way people have done for thousands of years.

If you don't know what a Neti Pot is, it's a little teapot-looking thing with a long spout that you fill with warm, salty water....Did I say warm water? Yes, it must be warm water or you will get a brain freeze. Take my word for it; it happened to me. You tilt your head sideways and allow the warm, salty to run down into one nostril and it comes out the other side! The first time that I tried it, I felt like I would drown for sure.

Why would a sane person want to do this? According to Dr. Oz, it's like giving your sinuses a bath. You bathe other parts of your body, why not your sinuses too?

After I got the hang of it, the drowning feeling went away and it wasn't bad at all. I only used it for a short time and then it went under my bathroom sink, along with the Preparation H that I had heard worked wonders on wrinkles.

Recently, though, I heard from a yoga teacher friend of mine that she uses hers every day and hasn't had a cold in years. So, I am pulling my Neti Pot out and am going to try to use it every day (Notice I said "try!")

Oh, and I went to the health food store and bought something called "Ancient Secrets" Nasal Cleansing Salt to go in my Neti Pot. I noticed it is made in Wisconsin. Is this where all the ancient secrets are stashed away?

I will let you know how it goes with my Neti Pot and if you have any stories of your own, please share them on this blog. I look forward to hearing your Neti Pot confessions!