I’m a big believer of the spicy food/hot shower thing.
Strangely, I’ve found sucking on some strong licorice candy clears my congestion, but the effects only last as long as the candy.
I find that spicy food helps a lot, even if it’s just a temporary relief. Back home during cold season I’d hop down to the local Indian joint and enjoy an hour or two of having a runny nose rather than a stuffed nose.
Other times I’ve blown my nose as hard as I could and then do it a little harder one more time. Sometimes when it’s really blocked I get a gigantic chunk of…something…grey and pink and veiney and I find after I blow out one of those I can breath better from then on. It kind of looks like a piece of my brain but I don’t really think it is because other wise by now I would have some pretty severe drain bramage…
Uh…
In conclusion, kittens are fuzzy.
Likethis?
I know they are made for infants and toddlers, but I don’t see why an adult couldn’t use it? And it plays music while it sucks!
Here’s what I do:
For immediate, temporary relief of symptoms, drink a very hot liquid. Only instead of drinking it, fill your mouth and hold the liquid for a while, before drinking it down. Your sinuses are right there, the hot liquid will really help, if you do this.
Secondly, my surgeon recommended something that, once I tried it, I wished I’d known of years ago, I could have saved a small fortune in over the counter cold and sinus meds. Drink 1/2 ounce of Apple Cider Vinegar, (cheap, from the grocery store), you can mix it with corn syrup or maple syrup or whatever to make it better, if you like.
Here’s how it works, apple cider vinegar is made with the skins of the apples on, concentrating an enzyme of something that actually thins mucus in your body. And the vinegar has natural antibiotic properties so is good for you besides. Thinning the mucus is more than half the battle of fighting any sinus blockages or infections. If it can’t drain, it’s just multiplying in there. Once it drains, your body can get the upper hand much more easily. It isn’t curing you as much as helping your body to do the healing. That’s how it was explained to me.
The thing is, it’s the bomb. It works wonderfully and almost immediately, it’s quite amazing when you first try it. Take it once or twice a day until your cold clears up, which shouldn’t take too long.
The only caveat is that vinegar is very hard on the enamel of your teeth and it’s a good habit to brush your teeth right after drinking it, that’s what I do!
Good luck to you, hope you feel better soon. I am picturing you trying every single one of these suggestions and giggling a little!
There is always the fun route- nothing clears up my nose (temporarily) better than a good orgasm. Alone or with a friend, it’s a good way to clear the head.
I use apple cider vinegar on my hair and diluted on my face as a toner and I notice that if I get it too near my nose my sinuses will sting a bit and then feel clearer. One time, though, I took an accidental whiff directly from the bottle and my nose started bleeding! Ouch!
When I’m not careful in lab I’ll occasionally catch a whiff of anhydrous ammonia. That clears things right out, but I do not recommend doing this on purpose 
Take out Water Pik. Attach nasal adapter.
Run hot water out of tap until it gets decently warmhot. Put 1 cup of that water into Water Pik reservoir, stir in 1 tbsp regular salt.
Open two of those Benadryl capsules and sprinkle the capsule powder into the reservoir.
Insert adapter-thingie up one nostril, turn on [del]SinoRooter[/del] Water Pik at lowest pulse setting and wait while it pulses its way up through my cheekbones and under my eyebrows and then out the other nostril, carrying little disgusting clumps of coagulated glop along with it. After about 10 long seconds switch nostrils.
Blow nose for next 45 minutes, turning head at varous angles.