If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that stuffy noses can be annoying! Your nose drips, your voice sounds funny, and worst of all, more often than not, nothing comes out when you blow your nose seeking relief from the congestion.
Many people incorrectly believe that a stuffy nose is the result of too much mucus in the nasal passages. However, the cause is actually inflamed blood vessels in the sinuses. These irritated vessels are usually triggered by a cold, the flu, allergies, or a sinus infection.
Regardless of the reason for your stuffed-up nose, there are many treatments that can help relieve your congestion ranging from OTC medicine to massage.
Here are the simplest and quickest acupressure methods that’ll provide instant relief!
1: Press Between Eyebrows and Hold Tongue to Roof of Mouth
The idea behind this technique is to reduce or remove the excessive amounts of mucus, which leads to blockage of the sinuses.
You should push the tongue flat against the roof of the mouth cavity. At the same time, press a finger against the skin between the eyebrows, and hold thus for 20 seconds.
As soon as you release the finger and the tongue, you will feel the movement towards the back part of the tongue as the accumulated mucus gets softened.
Alternate between pressing the point between the eyebrows, and pressing your tongue against the roof of the mouth.
2: Apply Pressure Across Your Eyebrows
If your forehead sinuses are blocked, you should apply pressure across the eyebrows. The popular massage therapist Amber Lynn Vitale claims that applying pressure across the eyebrows leads to mucus movement.
Place the fingers at the beginning of each eyebrow, close to the central point in between, lean the head forward, resting on elbows.
When the pressure begins to shift after a few seconds, slide the fingers to the eyebrows’ middle.
Hold until you feel relief.
Lastly, slide the fingers to the end of the eyebrows. You have the option to either hold to press for a few moments, or move in a circular motion to stimulate the mucus movement through the forehead. As soon as this happens, the pressure in the center of your head will disappear.
3: Mini-Massage
Massages trigger blood flow and enhance circulation throughout the body, thus making a mini-massage on the sinus area of the head an effective remedy for treating a stuff nose. Massage therapist Heather Wibbels suggests a couple quick rubs to help get rid of the pressure and mucus accumulated in the sinuses.
Press firmly against the notch of your collarbone with the tips of your fingers repeatedly to stimulate the flow of the mucus. You should feel like you are clearing your throat. Your ears will open up when the pressure is reduced.
Another way to clear the sinuses is to cross your hands in order to make a V shape. Pump on the sides of the neck to stimulate the movement of lymph fluid. The results are due to the suction that occurs in the lymphatic system.
Next time you or a friend gets a stuffy nose, try the above acupressure techniques and you’ll be amazed how quickly they bring relief from the congestion.
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