I had a hard time falling asleep last night — even after using the neti pot, my sinuses were still inflamed and I could feel the pressure in my teeth. It was about 2 a.m. and I still hadn’t fallen asleep, so I got up and nettied again, took some melatonin and eventually drifted off to sleep.

Today I’m trying to use the neti pot every few hours, and a few snuffs of eucalyptus oil definitely helps open up my sinuses — although both options only provide temporary relief. (Since a euchalyptus steam doesn’t help much, I just hold the bottle of oil up to my nose and sniff.) I will say that the biggest help is staying mobile and upright. If I sit on the couch too long, my sinuses close up. If I walk around and do a few things around the house, the congestion eases. I made a quick trip to Whole Foods, and my sinuses were open the entire time, and I didn’t have the urge to blow my nose every minute.

A friend of mine recommended the book Prescription for Nutritional Healing, and I sat with it examining the options for cold relief yesterday afternoon. The book suggests taking vitamins A, C and E, as well as zinc to help boost immune function and promote healing. The recommended doses for A and E are the same that I already take, so I’ve only upped my C intake. I also picked up some red clover blossom at Whole Foods, which, according to the book, helps eliminate toxins in the lymphatic system that can cause congestion and inflammation. While at the store, I spotted Boiron’s ColdCalm homeopathic cold relief — I’m giving that a shot to see if it helps alleviate the runny nose and congestion.

I think I’m feeling better. I’m off to netty and sniff some more euchalyptus.