Drain Sinuses and Clear a Stuffy Nose with This Technique

Dealing with sinus issues can be incredibly frustrating. Constant pressure, stuffiness, or headaches can disrupt your daily life.

Acupressure may offer a drug-free way to address sinus discomfort and promote relief.

Understanding Acupressure

Acupressure, rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is similar to acupuncture. It involves stimulating specific points on the body, known as acupoints.

This stimulation promotes energy flow and alleviates various ailments. Unlike acupuncture, which uses needles, acupressure applies physical pressure.

This pressure is applied using fingers, thumbs, or specialized tools to help with sinus pressure points.

How Acupressure Can Provide Sinus Relief

TCM suggests sinus issues arise from blockages in energy pathways. Applying pressure to specific acupoints may clear these blockages.

This can allow the body's natural healing processes to help open up the sinuses. Some believe this pressure can regulate energy flow and modulate pain signals.

More scientific research is needed to validate these mechanisms. Consult a healthcare professional before using acupressure as a primary treatment for chronic sinus conditions.

This is especially important if you are pregnant, nursing or have bleeding disorders. Do not use acupressure over bruised or broken skin areas, or areas affected by a rash.

Acupressure for Sinuses: Targeting Key Points

Several acupoints are thought to provide sinus relief when stimulated. Here are some commonly used points for acupressure for sinus pain, pressure, and congestion.

LI20 (Welcome Fragrance)

This point is on either side of your nostrils, where your cheek meets your nose. Applying pressure here may reduce sinus pressure and improve airflow.

Using your index fingers, gently press these points for one to two minutes. Repeat as needed. Dr. Chan also recommends this point for potential sinus relief.

Yintang (Third Eye Point)

Located between your eyebrows, this point is believed to relieve frontal sinus pressure. Place your middle finger between your eyebrows.

Gently massage or apply pressure for about one to two minutes. This may help with issues like sinus headaches and congestion.

BL2 (Drilling Bamboo)

This point lies beneath the inner ridge of each eyebrow, closest to the nose bridge, on either side. It is often stimulated to target headache pain caused by sinus issues.

Stimulating BL2 is especially good if your congestion pain starts near your eyebrows, forehead and radiates to your cheeks or back of your head.

Gentle consistent pressure or a tiny circular massage could help release congestion or pressure from these facial sinuses.

GB20 (Gates of Consciousness)

These two GB20 acupoints lie at the base of the skull, between the large vertical neck muscles, on either side of where your head joins your neck.

Acupressure here is typically performed lying on your back or relaxing face-up in a recliner. Dr. Berg demonstrates using a tool to apply acupressure to this spot.

Relieving tension in your neck may improve circulation throughout your head and improve sinus pain or headache symptoms.

Use this acupressure technique with caution if you have limited range of motion, pain or tightness in your neck.

Additional Points for Holistic Sinus Relief

In addition to the points mentioned above, stimulating other acupoints may offer holistic relief from nasal congestion, sinus pressure and headaches. It can help promote overall sinus health.

SI18 (Bitong or Upper Palace)

• Location: One finger-width lateral to the nostrils.

• Benefits: Targets facial pain, runny nose, swelling, and eye issues.

LI4 (Hegu or Joining Valley)

• Location: On the back of the hand, between the thumb and index finger.

• Benefits: Can provide whole-body pain relief and is commonly used for head congestion.

Maximizing the Benefits of Acupressure

Acupressure can be a useful tool for sinus relief. It’s important to approach it with a balanced perspective and realistic expectations.

These self-acupressure sinus relief remedies may also help treat sinus infection related issues.

Consistency is Key

Acupressure often requires regular practice to potentially yield noticeable results. Incorporate it into your daily routine for a period to assess its effectiveness.

Doing acupressure on a regular basis can allow you to better understand how your body responds. With consistent practice, you may see an increased benefit from the acupressure techniques.

Combining With Other Remedies

Acupressure can work alongside other natural remedies for synergistic effects. Hydration is vital for thinning mucus and relieving congestion.

Nasal irrigation, like using a neti pot, can clear nasal passages. Dr. Berg discusses both of these remedies.

Staying well hydrated keeps the sinus passage moist and may make acupressure easier to do.

Seek Professional Guidance When Needed

Chronic or severe sinus issues may require care from an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist. Discuss any medical considerations and additional treatments with them.

Medical considerations such as managing underlying infections, identifying allergy triggers, or checking sinus passage blockages are some examples that your ENT can advise you on.

Conclusion

Acupressure may be a valuable addition to your self-care routine for sinus relief. By understanding the key acupoints and practicing regularly, you might find natural relief from sinus symptoms.

Consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice. They can help you address your specific needs and guide you on additional steps for managing chronic conditions or pain related to sinus issues.

FAQs about acupressure for sinuses

What pressure points drain sinuses?

Several pressure points are believed to help drain sinuses, including LI20 (Welcome Fragrance), Yintang (Third Eye Point), and BL2 (Drilling Bamboo).

These points are located near the nose, between the eyebrows, and at the inner edge of the eyebrows, respectively.

They may help to naturally clear sinus passages and offer sinus headache relief.

Where do you press to clear your sinuses?

Applying pressure to points like LI20, Yintang, BL2, and others described above may help clear sinuses and promote relief from congestion.

These points are strategically located to potentially target sinus blockages and encourage drainage.

They also help to support proper functioning of the nasal passage. Experimenting with these acupressure techniques can also help understand if your pain relief is caused by allergies or congestion issues.

How do I massage my sinuses to drain?

Gentle massage or pressure on the specified acupoints can potentially stimulate sinus drainage. Combining this with essential oils like peppermint or eucalyptus might also improve sinus comfort.

Always check for skin allergies with new essential oils beforehand. Avoid using too much pressure or acupressure if you have sensitive skin or if the areas are sore.

Essential oils and herbs may contain natural anti-inflammatory ingredients. Check with your healthcare provider before mixing and matching natural remedies with prescription medication.

Does pressing on your sinuses help?

Pressing directly on the sinuses might not always be effective. However, targeting nearby acupoints with massage may offer relief from sinus and allergy symptoms.

This practice is thought to promote energy flow and potentially alleviate congestion. Try using a gentle massage starting on the sides of your face or behind the ears first.

Then follow acupressure guidelines after you determine any sore spots or trigger points for facial sinus pain.