On Sun, 04 Sep 2016 20:57:48 +0100, pinnerite wrote:

At the beginning of last year, I had mild flu' but serious sinus
blocking. My daughter in Australia suggested the traditional steaming
bowl of boiled water and the towel over the head. I remember my parents
doing the same with Beecham's powders.

Beecham's Powders? Vicks surely. That IIRC was the usual addition.
Camphor supposedly opens up your airways.