Rhinitis;
Ick! Never seem to get rid of it!
Trouble with the "stuffy-head syndrome", is if not correctly diagnosed, it can compound to the point of surgery and even be life-threatening.
Many modern folks are exposed to so many environmental elements that aggravate the sinuses, and don't realize it until they 'come down with something', and Doctors treat it like cold or flu. OTC remedies can actually make it worse (rebound congestion - sometimes considered perennial rhinitis).
Here's a good Mayo Clinic Article (
http://www.bing.com/health/article/mayo ... q=rhinitis)
If your eyes, nose, and throat do not itch; it's most likely common rhinitis, from environmental exposure (work-place, home-life) or cultural elements (foods & liquids, household & cleaning products, clothing, lifestyle habits). Little things that build up over time that we don't consider important.
Mine is mostly due to swelling of the blood vessels in the frontal-lobe sinuses, just under the eyes. I can sleep on my left side fine; but roll over on my right, and I suffocate! I take a low-dose aspirin every night, but have discontinued regular aspirin use 'after dark'. Only take Tylenol if absolutely necessary (migraines and really swollen joints in my neck). See prior post for Valerian Root.
A new finding, that includes rhinitis, is inflammation (Vasomotor rhinitis (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhinitis,_ ... r_rhinitis)- typically from environmental irritants and your body's attempts to constantly rid itself of them). Inflammation is the cause of a whole lot of modern-day human 'ills'.
Here's a good article (
http://www.drbobspain.com/index.php/hea ... flammation). The web site also lists several foods to avoid in the battle against inflammation. I have stopped using coffee, soda and refined sugar, but I love milk, cheese and ICE CREAM! (My head gets "stopped up" every time, too!). I replace Sugar with Stevia crystals, which also, curiously enough, helped my GERD (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GERD).
Something Old is New again.
It has long been known to Naturopathy and Homeopaths that cactus, and it's fruits, reduced swelling from inflammation.
If you are in an area where prickly pear cactus grows (most common), try harvesting some pads and fruit to see for yourself. The fruit tastes like most berries, but really 'waxy' and chock-full of seeds. The pads are harvested for the well-know food dish "Nopales" (Mexican and Southwestern cuisine).
I grow some in my yard here in GA, just for eating.
Smoke or grill the pads to burn off the spines (needles)[or slice them off with a good fillet knife], slice them up like string beans; and boil once with plain water, pour out, boil again with a little butter/bacon grease, spice and salt.
A little 'slimey if you don't throw out the 1st water, but OK if you don't.
A new product on the market today is "Nopalea (
http://www.best-natural-health-suppleme ... palea.html)", in case you are interested, or don't have actual resources to the 'real thing'. I have not tried Nopalea, but I read it is made from 100% natural ingredients (too long a list for me though).
The link provided is one of their re-sellers, and has any info you might need.
Hope this helps your stuffy-head sleep-deprivation.
. I desperate and I want my sleep pattern to be normal. I have also tried melatonin and other herbal supplements with no luck...