Home Remedies For Sinus Pressure
1. Place a cold, wet cloth on your forehead and leave it there until the pain goes away.
2. Drink lots of fluids- this will help wash the mucus from your nasal passages and soothe your throat.
3. Try using a humidifier- this will keep the air moist and may help relieve some symptoms of sinusitis.
4. If you are suffering from a headache, drink extra water to help flush out any remaining toxins in your system that may be causing it.
5. Make sure you are sleeping enough and trying to avoid stress or anxiety, which can increase pressure in the sinuses as well as cause sinus headaches
6. Take an over-the-counter med for relief of headaches, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen , which can also help prevent sinus related migraines
7. Try taking a hot bath with eucalyptus oil added to it, which has anti-inflammatory properties
Nicole Cutler Lac Mtcm Dipl Ac
Nicole Cutler, L.Ac., MTCM is a long time advocate of integrating perspectives on health. With a Bachelors degree in Neuroscience from the University of Rochester and a Masters degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Five Branches Institute, Nicole has been a licensed acupuncturist since 2000. She has gathered acupuncture licenses in the states of California and New York, is a certified specialist with the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association, has earned diplomat status with the National Commission of Chinese and Oriental Medicine in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology and is a member of the Society for Integrative Oncology. In addition to her acupuncture practice that focuses on stress and pain relief, digestion, immunity and oncology, Nicole contributes to the integration of healthcare by writing articles for professional massage therapists and people living with liver disease.
Sphenoid Or Ethmoid Sinus Massage
Warm the hands and apply some oil. Then, with the middle finger, massage the nose along the side of the bridge. Move the fingers downwards to boost healthy drainage. Continue massaging the nose upwards all the way to the bridge. When you reach the top of the bridge, do a small circle and massage the corner of the eyes.
But dont touch the eyes. Simply move along the nose bridge to massage the sinuses. Repeat the same technique around ten times.
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Can You Use Acupressure For Kids
Acupressure offers an easy way to help kids with their health issues without having them take drugs or going through traditional medicine. Acupressure is safe, noninvasive, and effective. It can be performed at almost any time, including while massaging, bathing, or nursing. When applying pressure on kids, be sure that you are gentle, and avoid pressing and massaging too hard.
Sinus Drainage Massage: How To Get Rid Of Sinus Congestion
Sinus drainage massage is one of the best ways to get rid of sinus congestion. Sinuses are air-filled cavities in the skull that help us breathe. When they become congested, it cannot be easy to breathe and sleep. Sinus drainage massage helps clear the mucus and debris that can clog the sinuses. In this blog post, we will discuss how to do a sinus drainage massage and some of its benefits!
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What Else Can I Do For Sinus Headache
In addition to massage, there are a few other things that you can do to help relieve sinus headaches. Those things include: taking over-the-counter pain medication, using a neti pot or saline spray to flush out the sinuses, and applying pressure to the areas around your eyes, nose, and forehead using the facial release technique.
Sinus Pain And Pressure Causes
There are different types of sinuses, each of which can cause different sinus pain symptoms. The images below show what causes sinus pressure in different areas of your face, neck and head and can be helpful to pinpoint relief or discuss with your doctor.
Frontal
Maxillary sinuses causes pain in the cheeks, upper jaw or teeth.
Sphenoid
Sphenoid sinuses causes pain behind the eyes, on the top of the scalp or along the back of the head.
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Migraines And Tension Headaches
Tension and migraine headaches are two types of headaches that can induce a sense of pressure behind the eyes.
Tension headaches are the most frequent type of headache, with over 80% of people suffering from them.
Migraine headaches are a form of severe headache that are often accompanied by visual irregularities, such as zig ag or colorful lines. You may experience migraine headaches randomly or due a trigger such as stress or certain foods or medications.
A headache can cause a variety of symptoms in addition to pressure behind the eyes, such as:
- Red, teary eyes
- Neck and shoulder muscle pain
- Swelling on one side of your face
- Sweating or redness of your face
- Pain in your head that feels aching, tight or intense
Increase Your Fluid Intake
Drinking more fluids, specifically water, may help to thin out mucus. This may reduce the stuffed or clogged feeling in your nose and sinuses. It may also be helpful to limit alcohol, which can dehydrate you and dry you out even more.
Try to drink more water during the summertime, when temperatures rise, and when you engage in physical activity. If plain water isnt appealing to you, try adding a lemon to your water, drink flavored water, or try an electrolyte beverage.
Sleeping with a humidifier, a machine that adds moisture to the air, may help:
- Keep your mucous membranes moist
- Ease some breathing issues
Most humidifiers need distilled water or frequent cleaning in order to keep bacteria from growing in the system. You can also consider purchasing a more expensive self-cleaning humidifier.
Humidifiers can be added to your heating/cooling system. This is the most expensive option, but it allows you to control the humidity levels in your home year round.
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How To Perform A Sinus Massage
As the name suggests, sinus massages are a type of massage intended to alleviate pain and help drain the mucus out of sinuses. You can perform it yourself or someone else can do it, explained licensed massage therapist James Moore.
Moore said his preferred way to perform a sinus massage is to grab the nose with one hand and push it to the side, and then use your other thumb to push under the cheekbone, up and back to compress the muscle and increase blood flow in seconds.
Sinus massages can also be administered by licensed massage therapists, Moore said.
A recent, popular TikTok by wellness influencer Katie Sharp, whos training to be a nurse, provides another strategy, which involves massaging either side of the nose, below the cheek bones, the forehead, on either side of the ear, and the back of the neck.
And How To Relieve It
A massage is meant to be a relaxing and rejuvenating experience. It can ease sore muscles, clear the toxins from your lymphatic system and generally result in you feeling great!
Buthave you ever been in the midst of your massage bliss when suddenly your nose becomes stuffed up and then starts running? This is completely normal, but it can be embarrassing, uncomfortable, and really put a damper on the experience.
So, lets take a look at why this occurs and what you can do to ease that discomfort!
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How To Relieve Sinus Pressure: Sinus Massage
by Lexi Boddy | Jul 20, 2020 | Health, Massage, Wellness |
HOW TO RELIEVE SINUS PRESSURE: SINUS MASSAGE
Feeling a bit congested in the head? Pain or pressure in your forehead, behind your eyes and/or nose? Do you have ear pain or aching in your upper jaw and teeth? These can be labeled as sinus pain symptoms.
What are your Sinuses?
Your sinuses are hollow cavities in your skull that can become inflamed and produce mucus due to a cold, allergies, another illness, long flights, or even the changing seasons.
Where are your Sinuses?
The sinuses are located in the frontal lobe right above the eyebrows called the frontal sinus, along the nose called the ethmoid sinus, and on both sides of the nose between the maxillary bone and zygomatic bone called the maxillary sinus.
Sinus Massage as an Alternative
Although many may find themselves at the pharmacy buying over the counter medication to relieve sinus discomfort, an alternative option worth considering is sinus massage. The goal of sinus massage is to help drain the congestion in the sinuses with the use of pressure and massage strokes.
4 Massage Techniques for Sinus Pressure Relief
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Can Sinus Massages Relieve Congestion
Sinus massages have become a recent health trend promoted by some health and wellness figures as a fast and easy way to relieve nasal congestion. With cases of respiratory illnesses including the flu and COVID-19 increasing in San Diego County, its a tempting one to get behind.
According to Dr. Ronald Mathiasen, an otolaryngologist with Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group, a stuffy nose accompanied by uncomfortable sinus pressure is a common symptom of respiratory illnesses. But the cause of nasal congestion may not be what you think. And when it comes to sinus massages, he recommends you also consider some other ways to help clear your sinuses.
That stuffed-up feelingMany people think a stuffy nose is just the result of too much mucus clogging your nose. A viral infection can put your mucus production into overdrive, but it is the swelling of your nasal passages that creates a stuffy or blocked feeling.
Viruses can infect the lining of your nose and sinuses, Dr. Mathiasen says. When this area becomes inflamed, your mucosa, which is the lining of the inner nose, swells and can cause congestion.
When you catch a cold or the flu, the virus gets inside your sinuses a series of small, interconnected cavities behind your nose, eyes and cheeks and irritates them. As a result, your immune system is signaled to produce more mucus to expel the virus and blood vessels in the nose swell, which leads to inflammation.
These devices all work in basically the same way:
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Do Sinus Massages Work
Schaberg said she doesnt believe sinus massages dont work but because theres a bone between the face and the sinuses, she said shes not sure how a massage would actually drain the sinuses.
I think theres a 30% placebo effect where, if I tell you … This is going to drain your sinuses, 30% of the time it will work just because your brain willed it to, she said.
Manes also said hes not sure the massages actually drain the sinuses due to the bone, but he believes sinus massage can provide some relief.
I liken it to when people are having a headache or a migraine or pain in their face. A lot of times, what do we do is we rub our face, and youre applying pressure to that, almost as a … distraction from the pressure thats going on elsewhere, he said. I dont want to say that dont work because they may provide some symptomatic relief, but its unlikely that theyre actually going to drain out mucus.
Moore said hes seen his clients respond well to sinus massages, especially those with seasonal allergies and asthma, and he also recommends doing massages elsewhere on the face like the forehead and jaw for even more relief.
It just feels good, he said. It is the least invasive, cheapest, easiest way that you can self-help your sinuses, just by touching your face. How cool is that?
Is There A Way To Lower Eye Pressure Naturally
Although some of the risk factors above are unavoidable, it is possible to reduce your eye pressure naturally. These are simple, common sense, suggestions that can make a big difference in the way your eyes age. The first step on the path to lowering your eye pressure naturally is to lower your insulin levels.
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Benefits Of Sinus Massage
There are many benefits associated with sinus drainage massage. Some of these include:
Relief from sinus congestion: Sinus drainage massage can help clear out any mucus or debris that may be clogging up the sinuses. This can provide relief from congestion and allow you to breathe more easily.
Pain relief: Sinus massage can also help to relieve any pain or pressure that may be associated with sinus congestion.
Improved sleep: Sinus congestion can often lead to difficulty sleeping. Sinus drainage massage can help to improve sleep by clearing out the congestion and allowing you to breathe more easily.
Differentiate Between Sinus Headache And Migraine Headache
Many people who assume they are having sinus pain due to sinus pressure are actually having a migraine headache. Migraine pain can involve the same nerves as the sinus cavities and is frequently accompanied by nasal congestion, nausea, and aggravation by bright light. If sinus pain is caused by a migraine, the best natural treatment is lying down in a dark, quiet room, advises Das.
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Is Heat Or Cold Better For Sinus Pressure
Heat is better for sinus pressure and opening up the sinuses. You will often feel better after taking a hot shower due to the steam and increased humidity. Steam helps open up blocked sinuses and clear out mucus. You can also use a warm compress or heating pad to open up the sinuses, relieve sinus pain and pressure, and ease swelling.
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Optional Sinus Massage Tips
For any of the sinus massages you try, if you dont feel like your sinuses are clear, feel free to repeat the massages every hour or so. Additionally, try out these optional tips for an even more soothing, relaxing, and effective sinus massage.
- Place your hands on a heated-up microwavable hot pack or rub your hands together to warm them up a bit before massaging.
- Lay down and place a microwavable hot pack on your forehead or under the back of your neck while you give yourself the sinus massages.
- Add a drop of your favorite essential oils to your fingertips before massaging. Alternatively, try rubbing a drop of your favorite essential oil just below your nose for a calming effect. Menthol-based oils like peppermint, eucalyptus, and spearmint work wonders for opening up your sinuses as their smell is a natural nasal decongestant.
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On Either Side Of The Nostrils
Use your fingers to apply gentle pressure to both sides of your nostrils. Your fingers should be at right angles to these points. Keep pressing for a minute to allow the sinuses to drain out this can help prevent inflammation and bring some sinus pressure relief. This pressure point is also good for pain behind the cheeks and helps prevent respiratory illnesses.
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Does Sinus Pressure Point Stimulation Work
There is limited scientific research on the effectiveness of acupressure for sinus symptoms. One review of four different studies showed inconclusive results when it came to acupressure relieving symptoms of nasal inflammation and stuffiness.
A small acupuncture study in 2009 found significant improvements in nasal congestion and symptoms compared to the placebo control group.
There are also many anecdotes about people who swear by the benefits of acupressure. But there have not been many large studies of acupressure’s efficacy.
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How To Massage Your Sinuses To Relieve Congestion
Facial sinus massage involves gentle pressure applied with the hands to the skin on the forehead, nose and cheeks. Sinusitis is the most common chronic illness in the United States with more than 35 million people suffering daily symptoms. Few people find significant relief from the medications prescribed by family care physicians. A few moments each day invested in gentle sinus massage has provided noticeable relief from nasal congestion, facial pain and headache pain. With some practice, the sinusitis sufferer will develop a personalized routine that addresses specific sinus areas and relieves symptoms.
What Pressure Point Relieves Sinus Headaches
There are a few pressure points that can help to relieve sinus headaches. One of those pressure points is located between your eyebrows. Another one is located on each side of your nose. The last pressure point is located on the back of your head, near the base of your skull.
Sinus headaches can be excruciating and debilitating. If you suffer from them, you know how important it is to find relief. Sinus headache massage is a great way to relieve the pressure and pain associated with sinus headaches.
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Sinus Massage: Techniques To Relieve Pain
If you are suffering from sinus congestion, several sinus massage techniques can help to provide relief. Sinus drainage massage is one of the most effective ways to clear out the mucus and debris that can clog up the sinuses. In this blog post, we will discuss how to do a sinus drainage massage and some of the benefits associated with it.
When To See A Doctor
Acupressure can offer temporary relief for milder sinus and nasal symptoms, but more severe and longer-lasting conditions should be seen by a doctor.
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, see your doctor:
- High fever, swelling, or other signs of an infection.
- Constant pain around the eyes, nose, or forehead.
- Stuffy nose and difficulty breathing.
- Sinus problems that last more than four weeks.
- A cough that lasts more than a couple of weeks.
If you have significant trouble breathing, seek medical attention immediately. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your physician right away or head to the emergency room.
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