The Eustachian tubes connect your middle ear to the back of your throat. When you have a cold or allergies, these tubes can become inflamed or blocked with mucus, leading to a "plugged" sensation or muffled hearing.
She carefully lifted the bowl off the stove and sat down beside it, a towel draped over her head to trap the steam. Closing her eyes, she leaned forward, letting the warm mist envelop her face. The instant the steam hit her ears, she felt a gentle tingling sensation. It was like a mini-vacation for her poor, blocked ears. steam inhalation for blocked ears