Sounds like your on the right track, but search me + salt, and you'll find quite a lot over the last years. Recently saved my bacon See "Putting my money where my nose is"
I have never in 40+ years, equalized naturally. Always had to blown on the way down and occasionally even sniff hard on the way up.
Warm sterile water with salt, while hanging upside down, while holding your nose, while blowing. Don't be surprised if some comes out of your tear drain ducts.
The point is, you have to get it traveling up the tubes, therefore there must be a pool of water at their base.
Gently...one step at a time. Listen for the squelching and ticking noises.