What's your short-term, over-the-counter solution?

Funny you should ask - I saw an article just yesterday in the local newspaper, and found this with a Google search:

http://www.oprah.com/health/oz/oz_20070426_350_106.jhtml

I tried it and I swear by it now. The Neti Pot definitely works! Just use warm (not hot, and definitely NOT COLD) water, with the saline solution they provide (or you can figure it out watching YouTube instructional videos), and cleanse your sinuses. It helped me flush mine of a lingering head cold.

I just boil water and steam my face. Breathing deep over a pan of steaming water works wonders....especially during the winter/cold season when we're stuck indoors often. Just flush it all out and keep your sinuses moist....Another good thing: after boiling water, put your tea pot/kettle in your bedroom and let it blow steam into your room. A low level humidifier basically...

This is very good advice. A student of mine used to dry orange peels, and then when she got colds would put them in a large bowl, covered with a towel, pour the steaming water over them, and inhale the steam. The citrus from the oranges used to work wonders for her. I've tried it a few times, and fresh or dry sage also works well too.

Oh, that's a great idea, the orange peels and/or sage...

I'm a big fan of Advil Cold & Sinus. It relieves the pressure without all the bad side effects (mainly jumpiness). Wal-Mart sells a generic version (Equate Cold & SInus) that I actually use instead of the Advil (it's the same thing). Make sure to drink plenty of water or fluids. The more hydrated you are the better the flow will be.

I'm on a personal crusade against Afrin nasal spray (or other similar products). I overused Afrin two years ago and spent one of the most frustrating and painful periods of my life trying to get off the stuff. It took about 3 months to kick it. Your body can develop a dependency on it and it gets to a point where your nasal membranes won't shrink without it. It was my fault that I overused it but it's just so easy to do and before you know it your hooked. The stuff can be helpful in the short term if you are careful, but it certainly not anything I'm ever going to take a chance on again. STAY AWAY FROM AFRIN!!!

Is that really fair to condemn Afrin since you admittedly overused it? It's not coffee's fault when I overdrink it? Right?

I have sinus issues during these wet cold weeks in SF...as mentioned, I steam as much as possible, and try to make sure to stay out of underventilated rooms...i'm the guy who opens the windows on the bus the second I get on no matter how cold it is...i hate overheated rooms and offices which really can contribute to the problem..