What’s your problem?

PHOTO: PATRICK SABLAN

Alleviating sinus problems can be a lot more pleasurable than spraying Flonase up your nose. Open your pores and nasal passages with a sweat-inducing steam massage at Fringe ($15 extra tacked onto an $80/hour massage at 1437 N Milwaukee Ave, 773-862-1000). Here’s how it works: After the blankets and a wool heating pad warm your bod and a rub-down gets your blood flowing, the masseuse lays a dry towel, a few wet towels and a heat pack (clay wrapped in canvas to sustain the warm temp and add some nice weight) on your back, then tummy, while individually folding each foot in a just-cool-enough-for-comfort wet towel. Sinus acupressure (massaging around the eye sockets) followed by a warm towel on the face and manual lymphatic drainage (light massaging around the throat and mouth) gets everything moving before you finish up. We had a minor tickle in our throat and a nasal drip when we walked in, and by the time we arrived home, all signs of potential sickness had vanished. If you’d rather save a few bucks and still enjoy the detoxifying effect of a full-body steam, check in to Thousand Waves Spa for Women (1212 W Belmont Ave, 773-549-0700, thousandwavesspa.com). For $20, you can lounge in the buff for three hours, alternating between the dry sauna, bubbling hot tub and eucalyptus-scented steam room, soothing the throat and the mind.

FACT! The wool heating pad gets up to 155 degrees.

Got an ailment? E-mail theget@timeoutchicago.com and we’ll find the cure. You could even get a free spa or salon treatment!