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Sniffing it Out: Mahika V, 28, management consultant

From herbal sprays, allopathy to my grandmother's nuska of eating Chyvanprash every single day, I must have tried everything under the sun in an attempt to get rid of my sinus problem. I detested waking up every morning with a blocked nose (which became a running one in the day) and a wheezy chest. If that wasn't bad enough, I was allergic to so many things that it would take a single whiff of a flower or someone's strong perfume to send me into a tizzy state of sneezes. So when I learned of the salt cave therapy, I was desperate to give it a go. Even if it meant flying all the way to London.

Compliments Of the Cave

Never mind the 10 hour long flight that left me deranged to the core. I didn't waste much time in locating London's first ever salt cave in Wandsworth. Plus, they were offering a complimentary first session. Perfect! This was definitely a good sign, I assured myself. A brainchild of Hungarian-born Sofia Benke, who brought this therapy to Britain, had used salt caves in her native Hungary to combat respiratory and pulmonary disorders. And now, I was just about to discover salt's anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties myself.

Hitting Salt Bottom

On reaching thecentre, I was in for a surprise. The salt cave centre was very different from what I had imagined it to be. No concrete and gloomy walls and definitely no bats. In fact it was more like a clinic, a welcoming one at that. While I waited near the reception area and filled out a form about the severity of my nasal problems, I was asked to hand over my shoes, and any edible items. In return, I was given plastic covers as footwear, a gown (not very figure complimenting, if I must add) and a hair net to put on. It reminded me of a hospital room and the attire of a surgery.

Winter Wonderland

As I entered the man-made salt cave, I immediately warmed up to it. It reminded me of a winter wonderland and the beaches of Miami at the same time. The walls and the floor were completely covered in a thick dense crust of white salt. The sun loungers, footstools with magazines, and the sound of waves filled the room. But only this was better, the saline smell that usually bothered me at the beaches wasn't present here. As the lights were dimmed, I settled on my bench. I spent the next one hour, flipping through magazines, meditating for a bit and even caught a wink in the last 15-minutes. The air in the room just felt exceptionally clean and clear. An hour later, when the lights went up, I felt invigorated and most importantly my nose felt less blocked.

Mucus-Free in Mumbai

Back home, my family and friends assured me that I sounded less nasal than before. The truth was that my nose continued to feel clear even after a week of the treatment. My allergies did return eventually but the fact that I have a safe and sound option that I can rely on was reassuring. Maybe, I'll get a pet cat after all.

You can log in for more details at www.saltcave.co.uk. A course of 10 to 30 sessions is recommended for effective and lasting results.