It seems like everyone I know is sick right now. I, too, was sick over the holidays, first with what I suspect was the flu (although I wasn’t able to get a diagnosis), and then with Covid. I spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (my two favorite days of the year) in bed and away from my family. We had traveled to Toronto and I had waited so long to visit them. But instead of enjoying time with loved ones, I was stuck in bed and utterly miserable.
And to top off that misery, I couldn’t breathe. My nose was so stuffed up that I felt like I might suffocate. Thank God I never travel without Afrin. If you’ve ever used it before, you know it’s magic when you’re desperately struggling to breathe and it has become one of my top essentials when I travel. I always fear getting sick and being unable to breathe when I’m away from home so I make sure I have a bottle of Afrin in my toiletry bag at all times, just in case.
Afrin is a nasal spray containing oxymetazoline, a decongestant that provides almost instant relief by shrinking the blood vessels in your nasal passages. The relief is truly amazing and so fast but … there’s a catch: You can’t use Afrin for more than three days in a row. If you do, you risk developing rebound congestion, where your nasal passages become even more swollen when the medication wears off.
So, when I hit that three-day limit, I was desperate for another solution. I turned to the internet, desperately Googling tips and tricks. That’s how I found this video on YouTube that turned out to be a game-changer.
The viral YouTube video that saved me
The video is a short clip posted by Dr. Michael Rowe, who owns and operates SpineCare Decompression and Chiropractic Center in St. Joseph, Michigan. The video has 6.4 million views and I could just picture the 6,399,999 other people just like me who’d been desperate for relief, turning to Dr. Rowe to relieve their misery.
Watch his video below for the simple instructions:

I watched the video a couple of times and then tried it for myself. Truthfully, I had no expectation that it would work. But I was bored and desperate. So imagine my surprise when, not only did it work, but my clear breathing lasted for hours. When I felt congested again, I simply did the technique again. I was blown away and shared the link to the video with friends and family (and now you, dear reader).
Of course, it’s no Afrin. It didn’t clear my passages that well. But certainly well enough to breathe comfortably. And of course, the best part is that this trick is natural, free and safe to use as often as needed. It’s a fantastic alternative when you’ve hit the limit on decongestant sprays like Afrin or if you’re looking for a drug-free way to manage your congestion.
Other tips to help clear a stuffy nose
While this technique was a lifesaver, I also discovered a few other ways to help ease congestion:
- Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of fluids helps thin mucus, making it easier to drain from your sinuses.
- Steam inhalation: Breathing in steam from a bowl of hot water or a steamy shower can loosen mucus and moisturize your nasal passages.
- Use a saline spray or rinse: Saline sprays can flush out your sinuses and provide soothing relief.
- Elevate your head: Sleeping with your head slightly elevated can help mucus drain more effectively and prevent it from pooling in your sinuses.
If you’ve ever suffered from a stuffy nose, you know how miserable it can make you feel. While Afrin is a fantastic option for quick relief, it’s not a long-term solution. Thankfully, the breathing technique I found on YouTube provided me with a natural and effective way to clear my nose instantly when I needed it most.
I’ll definitely keep this trick in my back pocket for future. So, the next time you’re battling congestion, give this method a try. I think you’ll be amazed at how quickly it works.
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Thank you, thank you, thank you for the nasal passage clearing tip. I will still carry my Afrin, but hopefully now it will expire without being used.
I really hope this worked for you! I was so grateful to not only discover this method but to find that it actually worked! Like you, I still like to have Afrin on hand just in case but this is a much better option :)