it still works...

So i got a cold. more of a sinus thing, since it never had any of the other features of a cold.. but you know.. windy dampy cold - as some in Chinese medical circles would call it. sinus congestion and pressure and lack of discharge. post nasal drip (the silent killer [of the appetite]) somewhat irritated throat (secondary to the PND) and though my voice sounds like human waste cooking on a hot sidewalk, my energy level is good, and i feel largely good. it's just that face pain. so today I've gone from able to breathe freely through my nose to completely unable with variations in between. this morning was particularly bad, especially with pain in the face. so i took a hot shower and it felt much better.. but in absence of the hot water i went right back to no good.. so i came out front and jammed a large intestine 4 on one side. pain immediately gone.. i could suddenly breathe through my nose again. it was rad. so then after about 20 minutes i figured i should remove that needle and go on about my day.. by about 4:30 (after an uncomfortable trip to get the oil changed) my pressure had returned. i thought i'd steam my face. so we got out the big bowl and filled it with boiling water and put my face in the steam. that was frustrating because there was already pressure, and nothing was moving in or out of my nose. so after a few minutes Cat helpfully suggested i do the needles on the sides of my nose (called bitong) and i thought i didn't have enough needles. we found two of appropriate dimensions and i inserted them with the help of a small mirror. by the time the first one hit home i could breathe through that side, and was starting to get some air through on the other side.. so i put in the other and then my nose was totally clear feeling.. that was about 15 minutes ago.. i'm going to have to twist them again. they free up while there's sensation around the needles and then go back to blocked after awhile... but i think i'll just wear these walrus whiskers all night until i have to take them out. i like them... it's nice to know that with all my not practicing, i can still make this stuff work.