This is how I sucessfully UNblocked both Eustachian tubes.
Mine started with a virus, which ran its course, but left me with a slight sinus infection, blocked eustachian tubes on both sides, and an ear infection in the inner ear on the left side. Wax had nothing to do with it as my ears were completely clear of wax. My right ear had no ear infection, but was also clogged in the inner ear.
So I went to the doctor and took the antibiotic called Augmentin. After 10 days on that, my right ear would still only clear half way, and the left was the same. Each morning I would wake up with both ears completely clogged, and it would take awhile for gravity to clear the right ear half way. At the end of another week, my ears still completely filled up every night and I was sleeping sitting upright with minimal sucess. The only thing that seemed to make any difference was to constantly swallow, and hot humid weather. That combination helped me open my left ear slightly so that I could hear better for periods of time, but it never lasted for long.
After 3 weeks in total of blocked ears, and attempting to steam, and use hot compresses on my sinuses, with very little sucess, and very little mucous coming out, I returned to the doctor. She said that my left ear still had a bit of an infection, and my left ear drum was actually sucked into a downward depression from the vacuum in the inner ear below it. Below the eardrum she could see brown fluid. She said that she was grasping at straws at this point, gave me an Rx for another antibiotic - should I need it, gave me an Rx for a steroid nasal spray - should I need it, and gave me a referral to an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist.
At this point I had exactly 10 days left before I was due to fly to Jamaica for a vacation and I was desparate, so I decided it was time to tap of my available resources, and "bring in the big guns."
AND THIS IS HOW I FINALLY CLEARED MY BLOCKED EARS IN JUST 2 DAYS.
1. THE CHIROPRACTOR:
I left the doctors office, and called the chiropractor that I usually go to and saw her that same day (Monday) and the next day (Tuesday). She focused on my upper neck, saying that if the the top vertebrae are out of alignment, they can block the nerves that communicate with the sinus passages. As I drove out of her parking lot, my left ear popped and I could hear out of it for the first time in 3 weeks. I sensed that it was still half full, but at least it was better than it was. It stayed open for the rest of the day until I went to sleep and stopped swallowing.
2. THE ACUPUNTURIST:
I called a 5th generation Chinese acupunturist that my girlfriend swears by and went to him that same Monday, and on Wednesday morning. During the 1st session with him, I felt my right ear completely drain for the first time in weeks. It stayed that way until I went to sleep and stopped swallowing.
3. THE HEALTH FOOD STORE:
I went to the health foods store and spoke to the top advisor there. He recommended 10,000 units of Vitamin C per day. He also recommended a super-supplement made from mother's milk colostrum, called 4Life Transfer Factory, which is for moments when you need super immunity boosting. I took 6 to 8 per day. He also recommended Soverign Silver Hydrosol - to be dropped into my mouth and held at the back of my throat for several minutes - to fight infection. I suggested dropping it into my nose as well, but I never got that far.
4. On Wednesday, after seeing the both Chriopractor and Acupuncturist for a 2nd time, and taking my super-supplements over a 24 hour period, I went to see an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist. At this point, my ears still filled up halfway overnight, but as long as I didn't try to blow my nose, or suck the mucus back up into my throat by sniffing, and I simply concentrated on swallowing, gravity would take its course and empty both ears out within an hour or less.
At 2:30 pm, the ENT looked in my ears and announced, "Your ears are clear, I can't see anything."
So, I never used the Rx for the antibiotic, or the steroid nasal spray. But she did suggest that, 30 minutes before I fly, I might want to use over-the-country Afrin and squirt it up my nose just to open things up really wide for the flight.
5. But I still had the mucus that would collect overnight and drain back down in the morning. The ENT said I could use the steroid nasal spray for that if I chose to. Instead, I went back to the Health Food Store. I was told to continue taking the super-supplements, particularly the Vitamin C. And I was also told to try an herbal extract that is highly beneficial for the sinuses. EYEBRIGHT NETTLE by HERB PHARM is the name of it. So, I drank one dropperful of it in orange juice in the afternoon, and a 2nd dropperful of it in OJ just before I went to bed.
And in the middle of the night, I realized that I could lie down flat for the first time in weeks, and my ears didn't fill up. When I woke up in the morning, my sinuses and ears felt more open than they had in weeks.
On the other hand, the mucus had drained down into my upper chest and I now had a high chest cough. So, I've been continuing the super-supplements, and also continuing the herbal drops, and it seems to be helping with that too. I guess this would also be a good time to go back to inhaling steam.
So, we're off on our vacation soon. I will still use Afrin for the flight though, as the ENT suggested. Just to give me that extra boost for the flight. The ENT did say that I had allergies, when she examined my nasal cavities with a scope. I think it's only because my immune system has been low recently, and so I am more susceptible at the moment, because I don't usually have a seasonal problem. But it does mean my nasal membranes may be a bit swollen, so I think the Afrin will help with that for the flight. She said it would help to even out the pressure.