Cheers to the nasal douche

Maybe during the summer holidays. In an old city that suffers from the sun, for example in Naples. Next to containers that have been empty for weeks. There, where many Swiss have thrown their romanticized ideas about dolce far niente in the trash. Maybe a stuffy nose is a good thing.

Otherwise never.

The problems of a stuffy nose start with breakfast. Keyword cornflakes. Not only do they not provide enough nutrients, you also get the feeling of an acute lack of oxygen if you eat them with a stuffy nose. This then continues throughout the day, which you inevitably experience as a Labrador: panting lightly, with your mouth open.

People with their mouths open always look a bit stupid. A Google image search proves this: “James Bond” doesn’t spit out a single photo of the spy with his mouth open. On the other hand, if you Google Adam Sandler…

But the king of the open mouth is Dieter Bohlen. The aging pop titan (congratulations on turning 70!) has filled his mouth so many times during his long career that it is now almost permanently open. At least the facial expression matches his shirts.

We say: A stuffy nose is not only annoying, it’s also not cool. So far, there is a certain consensus in society.

However, there is less agreement among experts on what measures should be taken against this. While blowing your nose is considered okay, dragging your snot down your stomach is frowned upon. From a health perspective, the verdict is not so clear. For both, if you do it with too much force, you risk pushing the bacteria-laden slime into caverns where it has no place. And where it can turn into something worse.

But there is a third variant: the nasal shower. A saline solution is introduced through one nostril and then expelled through the other nostril – in the best case with a lot of extra material. It is awesome.

The nasal douche behaves like a good friend: it pours pure wine. Not only is it pleasant at first, it may even bring a tear or two. But then there are the facts on the table in the sink, and soon that pleasant feeling of release sets in. Breathe in air – like a civilized person, through your nose. In combination with a nasal spray, the lighting lasts all night. But that is not enough. Because the symbolism behind nasal rinsing has at least as much value as a clear nose.

Such constipation is the ultimate symbol of stagnation – and therefore of death. Conversely, as Jean Tinguely tried to convey to us with his gigantic constructions: movement is life. Removing a blockage is essentially CPR. The experience of this process is not only liberating on a physical level.

Popping pimples, cleaning clogged pores – this seemingly disgusting activity is a monster trend on TikTok, a huge genre in itself. New material is created every day. And on YouTube, videos of cleaning sewer pipes receive hundreds of millions of clicks.

The nasal douche belongs to the same category. This purifies and opens neuralgic areas. Finally what needs to flow flows again. And instead of just watching, you can even experience it yourself with the nasal shower.

However, even nasal rinsing cannot get rid of a cold. Also, it only combats the symptoms – and its actual benefits have not been conclusively proven in science. In any case, it is advisable to consult a doctor or pharmacist beforehand – I cannot replace this here. I’m not a doctor. I’m just a fanboy. Nasal douches are not entirely harmless. For example, sterile water should always be used.

And while there are astonishing amounts coming from the skull, the question arises whether it wouldn’t be great if there were more such showers. Not just for the nose. Maybe one for social media? Or, *cough*, *cough*, one for society? To flush out all brakes and blockers. So that some life can be brought back into the place. So that things can finally move forward again.

Nonsense.

Such a nasal shower also opens up your astuteness again. And that thought disappears down the drain along with all the other snot.