For years I have taught people to manually massage the sinuses with their thumbs. A mother came in today and told me an awesome story about her 5 year old doing this at a basketball game.
So, these two mothers and some of their children are sitting in the stands and the one friend complains to the other about her cold and is blowing her nose and all. The cute little 5 year old 'trained' patient of mine, spontaneously reaches over and starts massaging her friends' sinuses to help her.
The mother of the 'massagee' asked the 'massager's' mother "What is your daughter doing to mine?" She then had to explain the sinus drainage technique and the why behind it! Great story or what? Are kids awesome or what?
Here are the basics of the sinus drain technique:
1.Using moderate pressure, use thumbs starting in the middle of the forehead (frontal sinuses) and push laterally or sideways towards the ears, repeat 2-3 times (especially if you feel a lot of 'gunk' or mucus underneath).
2.Start with thumbs on either side of the middle of the nose (maxillary sinuses) and again push sideways towards the ears as in step #1.
3.Start with thumbs under jaw and in front of big neck muscle (SCM-sternocleidomastoid) and push down towards collar bone.
This will help sinuses and eustachian tubes to drain, whether you are 1, 5, or over 50...and even a 5 year old can master it and do it on a friend!
Other sinus-mucus tips:
1.Avoid dairy (adds mucus that you don't want)
2.Do the "C" (vitamin C that is...lots of it...depending on one's size: 500-1000-2000mg at a time
2-3 times a day).
3.Use saline solution and squirt it up the nostrils (not for the faint hearted, but very helpful)
Good luck!
22 comments:
Hey - this really seems to work. I'm a 58 year old British man writing from London and I've had sinus headache problems for years. Prescribed fluticasone (flonase) last year - seemed to help for a time but now the headaches are back. I've got 58 bookmarks about headaches on my PC but Dr Bill, you might be the first person to really help. Thanks very much!
Can you explain the physiology behind this? How can massaging the outside of a bony cavity affect the mucous drainage inside the cavity? I'm interested, but more than skeptical.
There are small holes called foramen in the skull which lead to the sinuses. Fluid is pulled out by the pressure of moving the fluid already outside the skull like when something is siphoned. The fluid pushed around the skull exits through lymph. I'm kinda of guessing though. But, the foramen are a definite.
IMMEDIATE RESULTS! I am very prone to sinus infections. I've been stuffy and congested for a few days now. But today, I started googling random things because the pressue in my maxillaries was nearly unbearable; my entire face felt like I'd been wearing a huge silly grin for hours. With just a few swipes of Step 2, the fluid sitting there began to disperse, the pressure was relieved, I can breathe more easily and my face relaxed. I don't know if this is a temporary patch or if it will help me to get over this infection more quickly, but either way I am so GRATEFUL for the relief. Thank you so very much for this post!
yea it does work ! my left nostril and sinus seems to be permanently plugged Ive tried everything. I did this and it was completely clear within 10 minutes.
Amazing. Instant results
It would be nice to show a picture of just where to press and push. I'm not exactly clear on the directions.
I agree with "Diana Davis said...
It would be nice to show a picture of just where to press and push. I'm not exactly clear on the directions.
March 22, 2012 7:59 AM "
No diagram or video or anything? I must not be doing it right because all I did was irritate my sunburn trying this. Sinuses are still just as blocked as before.
Wow! Sinuses clear in 5 minutes! Thank you!
Woah, I did step 3 and could hear a sort of popping from my nasal passage as it cleared. That's incredible - I hadn't been able to breathe all day. Hats off for this tip!
Woah, I did step 3 and could hear a sort of popping from my nasal passage as it cleared. That's incredible - I hadn't been able to breathe all day. Hats off for this tip!
Woah, I did step 3 and could hear a sort of popping from my nasal passage as it cleared. That's incredible - I hadn't been able to breathe all day. Hats off for this tip!
This is great! It'd be even better with a picture of sorts, or a video, because when you're tired, it's difficult to try and find places on yourself... I have been having a sore throat from all kinds of drainage, and fighting illness with prevention. All my coworkers got flu shots, and now they have colds and stomach viruses and all sorts of ick, so I've had to keep my defenses up!
I agree with Diana too - how about a YouTube video...?
I agree with Diana too - how about a YouTube video...?
Yes, a video please especially for Step 3
Amazing!! I have been permanently blocked since January. I know that eating raw garlic (with dry bread or something!!) Is good for it and avoiding dairy.........but this is instant!! Brilliant!!
Amazing!! I have been permanently blocked since January. I know that eating raw garlic (with dry bread or something!!) Is good for it and avoiding dairy.........but this is instant!! Brilliant!!
This is crazy! I went online to find a way to relieve my discomfort and to stop waking my family with my constant nose-blowing. That was five minutes ago, and now I am breathing through both nostrils with my mouth closed! Thank you!!!
The instructions were not clear enough, I got my dick stuck in the ceiling fan.
I have had a sinus infection for a week. The pain and pressure is unbearable. I am on zpac, prednisone, mucinex, and flonase. Nothing has worked so far. I tried this technique and felt some relief with in ten minutes.
#1 this "article" is not from a doctor.
#2 massaging FLESH in FRONT of BONE on the FOREHEAD to relieve sinus pressure claiming that fluid between the flesh and foramina will siphon the snot out of there is like giving advice as to which household substances work best to jack off a unicorn; plain stupid, just illogical, a fantasy..
#3 sticking your dick in a hot light socket will yield the exact same results, but you don't see children doing this too often (at least ones who passed natural selection)
#4 advising one stay away from dairy to alleviate *sinus* problems? i'm sorry, did you get into your child's adderall when you came up with this one?
#5 i am appalled, albeit not surprised, that many of you claim this to be working; proof that housewives are prone to psychosomatic remedies.
#6 having 1-3 orgasms per day cures unnecessary menopausal bitchiness in housewives. buy a vibrator
#7 lymph nodes are not in any way connected to your sinuses. lymps don't exist to fill your facial cavities with snot, sorry.
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