Sinus Massage: 3 Techniques for Pain Relief

Do you have a bad headache near your eyes and nose? Or do you have allergies? Consider using a facial massage for sinuses to help your symptoms.

While a massage isn’t a cure-all, it can help. You don’t need a ton of time, and you can do the massage anywhere. So, keep reading to learn about the different types of sinus massages and how they can help your sinus pain.

3 Different Techniques of Sinus Massage

1. Maxillary Sinus Massage

The first type of facial massage for sinuses focuses on your maxillary sinuses, which are on both sides of your nose. You can find these sinuses between your cheeks and teeth.

• Maxillary sinuses are the largest type of sinus, and infections here can cause problems. Fortunately, these sinuses are easy to massage for natural sinus pain relief.
• First, use your index and middle fingers and put them on the area between your jaw and cheeks. Move your fingers in a circle to lightly massage these sinuses.
• If you need more relief, you can use your thumbs to provide a bit more pressure.
• You can massage the maxillary sinuses for about 30 seconds at a time, and you can do the massage throughout the day. It can help open up your sinuses and relieve pressure and pain.

2. Frontal Sinus Massage

If you feel pain above your eyes, you can try massaging your frontal sinuses. You will find these sinuses above your eyes, in the middle of your forehead.

• Viral and bacterial infections can cause problems that keep these sinuses from draining normally. Fortunately, you can massage this area to help with your symptoms.
• If your hands are cold, you can warm them up by rubbing your hands together. Next, place your index and middle fingers above your eyebrows.
• Start from the middle of your forehead and work outwards.
• You can move your fingers in a circle as you move toward your temples. When you use this massage, continue it for 30 seconds at a time.
• This can be especially helpful if you get sinus headaches.

3. Sphenoid and Ethmoid Sinus Massage

You have 6 to 12 ethmoid sinuses, and they’re between your eyes on each side of your nose. Behind those, you have a pair of sphenoid sinuses. It can be hard to differentiate which needs relief, but the same massages can help both types of sinuses.

• If you wear glasses, you should remove them to make the massage easier. Now, you can use your index fingers and put them on either side of your nose near the bridge.
• Next, find the area between the corner of your eye and your nasal bone. Apply firm pressure to the area with your fingers for 15 seconds.
• After that, you can move your index fingers down the sides of your nose.
• You can repeat that motion for about 30 seconds.
• Feel free to do the massage multiple times if you don’t find relief the first time.

When Should You Do a Facial Massage?

If you want to use a facial massage for sinuses even when your sinuses don’t hurt, you can do the massage before bed. Make sure you wash your hands and face so that you don’t transfer any bacteria. Then, you can massage all of your sinuses to ensure they feel good and that you can breathe easily.

You can also do a facial massage for sinuses when they cause pain or other symptoms. Consider where the pain is coming from, and you can massage the sinuses that are the issue. Because you don’t need any special tools, you can do these massages anywhere. Whether you start to feel pain or congestion at home or in public, you can take a minute or so to relieve the pain.

Sinus Massage Benefits

Sinus massages can help multiple issues with your sinuses. Whether you have allergies or an infection, massaging the sinuses can offer some relief without the need for medication.

Now, you should talk to a doctor if you have frequent sinus problems. While a massage may help initially, your doctor can help you find a treatment plan that works for you.

Consider a few specific symptoms and conditions that may benefit from regular sinus massages.

1. Seasonal Allergies

Many people have seasonal allergies, and those allergies can affect your sinuses. Whether you live in an area with high pollen counts or you like to spend time outside, your allergies may make you miserable.

Of course, you can relieve pain by staying inside and only going outside when necessary. However, that isn’t always practical or enjoyable.

Luckily, you can use sinus massages to relieve the pain that comes from seasonal allergies. You can do the massages whenever you experience pain or other symptoms. And you can incorporate the massages into your daily routine when you don’t have symptoms.

You can also use sinus massages for other allergies. While you should also use medications, a massage may help at the moment.

2. Treat Facial Pain with a Sinus Massage

Whether you have allergies or a sinus infection, your face may feel pain around the sinuses. When that happens, a facial massage may help relieve some of the discomforts.

If the irritation continues, you can try the massage again. However, you may also want to use other treatments.

But a massage can help with minor facial pain near your sinuses. You can do it almost anywhere, so you don’t have to worry about getting home or bringing special tools.

If your pain continues, be sure to talk to your doctor. You may have a serious infection, so you should get the medication you need.

3. Postnasal Drip

You can experience postnasal drip when you have a runny nose. If the mucus drains down your throat, you may cough or have a hoarse voice.

Massaging your sinuses can help relieve some pressure that can cause postnasal drip. While it won’t get rid of the mucus already in your throat, it may help prevent more from getting out.

A massage can help relieve the pressure in your sinuses, so it can also help with any blockages. Then, you can start to breathe more easily.

4. Treat a Sinus Headache with a Massage

If you get a lot of headaches around your eyes, they may be sinus headaches. And as with other sinus problems, a massage may help relieve your symptoms.

When your headache affects your eyes, you can try massaging your frontal sinuses first. If your headache affects your entire forehead, you can cover the entire area, or you can focus on where the most pain is.

You may also want to try massaging your sphenoid and ethmoid sinuses around your nose. While you can also massage your maxillary sinuses, they may not be the cause of your headache.

However, it can be worth massaging all of your sinuses. You never know where you might have inflammation or other issues.

5. Sinus Massage Against Runny or Stuffy Nose

Perhaps you don’t have any pain and no signs of a headache. If your nose is runny or stuffy, you can also use a facial massage for your sinuses.

Sinus problems can affect your nose since your sinuses drain through your nose. Even if you don’t notice any issue with your sinuses, it could be causing issues elsewhere.

By massaging your sinuses, you may be able to relieve your stuffy or runny nose. If this is the case, you can continue sinus massages after your nose feels better so that you can make sure the problem won’t return.

Is Sinus Massage Recommended for Kids?

Adults and children can benefit from sinus massages. You can do the massage on yourself or someone else if they need help.

If you have young kids, you may want to massage their sinuses. However, you can teach older kids and teens the different massages. That way, they can relieve pain and pressure without your help.

Whoever does the massage should use the right amount of pressure. That way, you can loosen the sinuses to relieve the symptoms someone is experiencing.

Does Sinus Massage Really Work?

Doing a facial massage for sinuses can provide some relief from pain and symptoms. However, it might not offer long-lasting results.

If your symptoms come back, you can do another massage to help. But if the message doesn’t help for long, you should consult your doctor.

A facial massage can be an excellent option for natural sinus pain relief. If it doesn’t give you the relief you want, you do have other options.

Can It Replace Other Treatment Options?

In minor cases, a facial massage of the sinuses may be more than enough to relieve pain. But if the pain is severe or if your symptoms come back after the massage, you may need to use other treatments.

You should talk to your doctor about other treatments, especially if you also have a fever. Your doctor can determine the cause of your symptoms, and they can provide the best solution for you.

Consider a few other treatments you can use for sinuses besides a facial massage.

1. Steam

If you don’t want or need to use a medicine, a good option is to try inhaling steam. You can do this in a hot shower, or you can boil water and hold your face over the steam.

Steam is warm, and the hot water can help relieve pressure in your sinuses. It can then open your nasal cavities to allow for drainage, which can also help with the pain.

Inhaling steam is a great at-home remedy for sinus issues. All you need is access to hot water, but you do need to be safe when using steam.

2. Humidifier

While steam can help, you need to prepare ahead of time. And you can’t keep using it throughout the day or night. That’s where a humidifier comes in.

You can buy a humidifier from almost any department store or online. After you fill it with water, you can let the humidifier run during the day or night to help open your sinuses.

A humidifier can be an excellent choice if multiple people in your house have sinus issues at the same time. Consider including a humidifier in your emergency kit for the next time you get sick or have allergies.

Recommended Read: 10 Emergency Preparedness Gift Ideas for Kids that Won’t Break the Bank

3. Nasal spray

Another product you can use does have a bit of medication, and that’s a nasal spray. You can use nasal sprays to help open your sinuses to improve your symptoms.

Depending on the kind you get, the spray may contain a corticosteroid to help with inflammation. But you can also find sprays without steroids or other drugs, which can be great for kids.

A nasal spray can be uncomfortable to use at first. Once you get used to it, it can be an easy way to relieve pain at home. However, make sure you don’t share nasal sprays so that you don’t pass on bacteria or viruses.

4. Decongestants

If nothing else works, you may need to use a medication for sinus relief. You can find decongestants at your local pharmacy or online, and you can keep a stash on hand for when you need them.

Look for a decongestant that also offers pain relief for your sinuses. That way, you can treat the entire area to help you feel better.

You don’t usually need a prescription for a decongestant, so you can get one without going to the doctor. However, you may need something with a prescription if over-the-counter options don’t work.

5. Antibiotics

If your symptoms persist, you should visit your doctor. Your doctor can determine if you have a sinus infection from a bacterial or viral infection.

In the case of a bacterial infection, your doctor may prescribe you antibiotics. As with any medication, always follow the directions and take the entire course of medicine.

Then, your body can get rid of the infection, which can clear your sinuses. You can also use facial massages and steam or humidifiers, but the antibiotics can kill the source of your issues.

Final Thoughts

Whether you have a sinus headache or allergies, a facial massage for the sinuses can offer the relief you want. You don’t need any special tools or a visit to the doctor.

But if messages don’t help, don’t be afraid to try other treatment options. That way, you can start to breathe more easily.

Last update on 2024-05-09 at 08:46 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API