Stick this up my what?
The first of these healing rituals was to cleanse my sinuses every morning to improve the clarity of my breathing and flush away any lurking toxins. Unfortunately, those toxins don't just get up and walk away. In order to force them out, I had to fill a little pot with warm salty water, stick it up one nostril, tilt my head to one side, and allow the water to drain out the other nostril and into the sink below. Delightful.

The pot, called a neti pot, looks like the kind of small pitcher a child would use to serve tea to her dolls. Available at health food stores and even some major drug stores for $5-$15, they are available in either ceramic or plastic. While I was at first drawn to the beautifully glazed ceramic version, I was advised that its spout (which was straight, rather than curved) made it more difficult for beginners to use.

At first, I struggled with my pot. When I tilted my head, the water either pooled in my ear canal or got caught in my throat, making me cough. Soon, however, I got the hang of it. The key was (as usual) to relax. For complete directions on how to use a neti pot, check this out .

fter a week or so of regular use, I definitely noticed a change. I'd averted a cold that had been circulating around my workplace. Plus, I noticed that I had an easier time controlling