The sinuses, directly or indirectly, have a tremendous impact on your personal comfort and overall health. You might need relief from a headache, or help to feel better from a cold, and learning how to massage sinuses to help make you feel better can give you some of the relief you need.
Most ailments that originate from the sinuses are ultimately caused by nasal congestion. Now, there are many reasons that cause the congestion to occur and we’ll cover a few of those topics. But you’ll find that massaging the sinuses can help relieve the congestion and pressure which is causing you discomfort or pain.
One thing to keep in mind is that, believe it or not, your body produces about 1.5 liters of mucus per day! Even though most of it is swallowed it’s still a continuous flow through your nasal passages. A sinus massage is a very good home remedy, but it’s still often a temporary relief. A sinus massage is also not a substitute for seeing a doctor, but it can help you with pain relief. You can repeat the massage throughout the day if symptoms reappear.
What Are Sinuses, Anyway?
Sinuses are a group of four paired air-filled spaces in the skull, lined with mucous membranes. They are located in the forehead, cheekbones, and behind the bridge of the nose. The four pairs of sinuses are named the frontal, maxillary, ethmoid, and sphenoid sinuses. Their main function is to produce and move mucus, which helps to moisturize the inside of the nose and trap dust, bacteria, and other particles.
Your sinuses also help to reduce the weight of the skull, make the voice sound resonant and also help to insulate the brain from blows to the head. Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses, which can cause symptoms such as nasal congestion, headache, and facial pain. Your sinuses also contribute to the strength of your skull and help the head to resist trauma. There are actually four series of sinus cavities in the human skull.
- Frontal sinus: located above the eyes within the frontal bone of the skull.
- Maxillary sinus: located beneath the eyes under the cheekbones within the maxilla bone of the face.
- Ethmoid sinus: located in the ethmoid bone separating the eyes from the nose.
- Sphenoid sinus: located in the sphenoid bone at the base of the skull.
A couple of things you can do to proactively help with nasal pressure and congestion.
- Purchase a HEPA filter to filter out allergens and toxins from the air
- Using a nasal rinse like NeilMed helps remove mucus, allergens, and toxins from the nasal cavity. It’s kind of like a car wash for the nose.
- Wear clothing made of cotton or other natural fibers instead of synthetic fabrics. Synthetic fabrics can produce an electric charge which attracts pollen or other toxins.
- Regularly vacuum your home.
A Sinus Massage Can Relieve Many Common Ailments
Once you learn how to massage your sinuses you should start noticing some pretty immediate benefits. In fact, treating your face well with massages can have many benefits to your health. But with a focus on the sinuses let’s get into how a sinus massage can make you feel better, breathe better, sleep better, and even help your partner sleep better.
Massage Away Sinus Pressure, Congestion, And Headaches
If the lining of the ducts connecting the sinuses become blocked with mucus the sinuses might not be able to drain normally. This is the start of nasal congestion. As mucus continues to build up the pressure also starts to build up within the blocked sinus. A blockage and nasal congestion can lead to pressure building up quickly! So not only does the pressure in the sinus cause pain, but that buildup is what also leads to a sinus headache.
A gentle sinus massage can help open the sinuses back up and allow the mucus to drain. As a result, the drainage allows for pressure to be released in the sinus which will relieve the headache. The massage may need to be repeated a few times a day. But if you’re feeling the effects of sinus pressure, nasal congestion, or headaches than a massage is a quick and easy solution to try.
Relieve Pain From Toothaches
I feel like most people don’t think about sinus pressure causing a toothache unless they’ve actually experienced it. As sinus pressure builds from nasal congestion the sinuses also begin to swell. The swelling of the maxillary sinus, in particular, can apply pressure to the teeth below as the sinus begins to swell. Pain is most likely to occur to the upper rear teeth.
Knowledge on how to massage sinuses, especially, the maxillary sinus will give you the most benefit for a toothache. A sinus massage may help to relieve toothache pain by increasing blood flow and draining mucus from the sinus cavities. This can help to reduce pressure and inflammation in the affected area. To perform a sinus massage, apply gentle pressure with your fingers to the areas around your cheekbones and above your eyebrows, and massage in a circular motion. Once pressure is released from the sinus you should also see some relief from your toothache.
Sinus Massages Can Help Relieve Allergies
Those dreaded allergies! So many of us have them and so many of us will try anything to get rid of them. Allergies occur when the body is overloaded with stress, toxins, or outside elements our body decides it does not like. As a result, your body releases histamine which is our natural chemical to fight off the allergen.
Unfortunately, these histamines produce more mucus as a defense mechanism against the allergen. It sounds strange that the body produces something that makes us feel worse to try and also make us feel better.
With the increase in mucus the sinus cavities aren’t always capable of handling the increased mucus production. A sinus massage may help with allergies by promoting drainage of mucus from the sinus cavities, which can reduce pressure and inflammation in the affected area. Massaging the sinuses can also increase blood flow to the area, which can help to bring in more oxygen and white blood cells to fight off the allergens. Additionally, the massage can help to reduce muscle tension and pain caused by sinus inflammation. Like other causes of nasal congestion a sinus massage can help relax and open up the sinuses to help give you relief from the sinus pressure.
Stop Snoring And Sleep Better
In order to understand how a nasal massage helps with snoring we need to understand why we snore to begin with. The direct cause of snoring is the relaxation of muscles in the neck. But the underlying reason we snore goes a little bit deeper than that. Snoring is often the result of poor air flow so your body is working and breathing harder to compensate for the poor flow of air.
Massaging the sinuses, especially the ethmoid sinuses, can help open up the airways, reduce inflamation, and improve your breathing for better airflow to reduce snoring. Additionally, massaging the sinuses can also help to reduce muscle tension and pain caused by sinus inflammation, which may contribute to snoring. Performing this massage before you go to sleep can help alleviate some of that nuissance of a noise that impacts millions of people.
How To Massage The Four Different Sinus Cavities
1. Frontal Sinus Massage
The frontal sinuses are located in the forehead, above the eyes in the bones that form the brow ridge. They are the largest of the sinus cavities and are separated from one another by a thin bony partition called the intersinus septum. They are also connected to the nasal cavities via small openings called ostia. The frontal sinuses are the first pair of sinuses to develop in the human fetus and are the last to develop in the human adult. They are also the most variable in shape and size among the sinuses. The size and shape of the frontal sinuses can have an impact on sinusitis symptoms, as well as on the risk of sinus infections or other sinus-related conditions.
How To Massage The Frontal Sinuses
- Sit or stand in a comfortable position.
- Warm your hands up by rubbing them together. This generates heat which promotes healing.
- Place your index fingers above your eyebrows and apply gentle pressure to the areas above your eyes.
- Slowly massage your forehead in a circular motion working outward from the middle of your forehead to your temples for 30 seconds.
- Move your fingers to the inner corner of your eyes, above the eyebrows and repeat the circular motion for 30 seconds.
- You’ll only need to massage each area for about 30 seconds.
2. Ethmoid and Sphenoid Sinus Massage
The ethmoid sinuses are located in the ethmoid bone, which is between the eyes, just behind the nose. They are situated between the eyes and the nasal cavity and they are divided into several small cavities called labyrinths. They are located near the nasal cavity, and open into the nasal cavity through small openings called ostia. They are one of the most complex and variable sinus cavities, and are often involved in sinus infections and sinusitis, as well as other sinus-related conditions. Because of their location and the potential for serious complications, infections of the ethmoid sinuses often require prompt medical attention.
Meanwhile, the sphenoid sinuses are located in the sphenoid bone, which is at the base of the skull, behind the ethmoid sinuses and between the eyes. They are not as well defined as other sinuses and are relatively small. They are located deep inside the head, behind the eyes and the nose, and in front of the brain. They open into the nasal cavity through small openings called ostia. The sphenoid sinuses are not as commonly affected by sinusitis as the other sinus cavities, but when they do become infected, the symptoms can be severe and the infection may spread to other areas of the head and face, such as the brain. Because of their location and the potential for serious complications, infections of the sphenoid sinuses often require prompt medical attention.
How To Massage The Sphenoid And Ethmoid Sinuses
- Warm your hands up by rubbing them together to heat which promotes healing.
- Find the area on the bridge of your nose between your nasal bone and the corner of the eyes with your index finger.
- Firmly apply pressure on that spot for about 15 seconds.
- Stroke downward along the bridge of your nose with your index finger for about 30 seconds.
3. Maxillary Sinus Massage
The maxillary sinuses are located in the maxillary bones, which are the largest of the facial bones, and form the upper jaw and the cheeks. They are the most frequently affected sinuses in sinusitis and other sinus-related conditions. They are located behind the cheeks, above the upper teeth, and below the eyes. The sinuses are connected to the nasal cavity via small openings called ostia. They are the largest of the paranasal sinuses and are situated below the eye sockets. Maxillary sinusitis is a common condition that causes pain and pressure in the cheeks, upper teeth, and around the eyes, it can be a result of a cold, flu, or allergy, and can also be caused by a structural problem, such as a deviated septum or a polyp.
How To Massage The Maxillary Sinuses
- Rub your hands together to warm them up to promote the healing process.
- Place your index and middle fingers in the area above your teeth and below your cheekbone to the side of the nose.
- Massage the area in a circular motion for about 30 seconds.
Tip: For stronger pressure you can also use your thumbs.
Final Thoughts On How To Massage Sinuses
Although a sinus massage may not be the cure-all to every ailment knowing how to massage sinuses can have a positive impact for a lot of people. In fact, there’s some debate among professionals as to how significant the benefits are. But for something that doesn’t cost anything it’s worth a shot to try a sinus massage and see if it works for you.
One of the key’s to success is to not give up if the massage doesn’t work for you the first time around. Sinus massages often need to be repeated throughout the day to have more of a lasting impact. The time investment for these massages is not very big so we suggest you stick with it for a little to see if you have benefits from the sinus massage.
If the pain is severe or you have a high fever you should skip the sinus massage and go see your doctor. These symptoms can mean that you have a sinus infection or another underlying issue so it’s best to play it safe and seek medical attention.
