Try This 9 Minute Self-Acupressure to Relieve Sinus Pressure and Congestion

As we head into the height of cold and flu season, I find myself getting creative (desperate?!) to navigate itchy throats and stuffy noses with my deviated septum (which I’m getting fixed this year, thank God).

Since it feels like I’m breathing through pinched straws even when my nose isn’t stuffy, and neti pots don’t work for me since everything is crooked AF behind the scenes of my sinuses, I’ve learned some off the wall (but equally effective!) ways to make breathing just a little easier when colds come around.

Here’s a blast from my past… when I was a teenager / young adult, I used to be a massage therapist, and I spent a summer studying reflexology and acupressure. While I discovered early on that full time massage therapy was not for me, I still have a special place in my heart for the holistic healing arts of alternative healing practices that encompass the world of massage.

Acupressure is a great way to help relieve sinus pressure and congestion. Acupressure, which uses surface pressure on the skin (not to be confused with acupuncture, which uses needles) is a traditional treatment that is based on the same methods as acupuncture, using the same points.

Research from 2006 found that about 99 percent of acupuncturists and acupressurists in the United States treat sinus problems. Similarly, the Cleveland Clinic recommends using acupressure to relieve sinus pressure due to allergies. While more research is needed on using acupressure to treat sinus symptoms, this practice has been proven to help improve blood flow, relax muscles, and help mucus drain from the sinuses.

The following is a short 9-minute routine to help clear your sinuses and decongest. You will want to apply firm but gentle pressure on the points for at least 3 minutes each. You can use your fingers, thumbs, or a thin, blunt object, like the eraser tip of a pencil.

Large Intestine 20 (LI20) Acupressure Points

The large intestine 20 (LI20) acupressure points are found on the face, on both sides of the base of your nose. Find the area where your nose joins your cheeks. Place one finger on your face at either side of your nostrils and press.

Bladder 2 (BL2) Pressure Points

The bladder 2 (BL2) pressure points are located between the bridge of your nose and the inner side of your upper eyelid. Using both hands, place your index fingers above the bridge of your nose. Slide your fingers into the tiny hollows between your eyebrows and nose. Rest your fingers here. You should be able to feel the firmness of your brow bone.

Small Intestine 18 (SI18) Points

The small intestine 18 (SI18) points are on both sides of your nose, just below the cheekbones. To locate them place your index finger from both hands at the outer edge of each eye. Slide your fingers down until you can feel the bottom of your cheekbones. This area should be about level with the lower edge of your nose. Press on these points at the same time or one at a time.

Press each section for 3 minutes and release. If the pressure is applied properly the mucus will clear and you’ll feel relief from the pain and congestion fairly quickly.

I find that this works for me, and while it isn’t a lasting remedy (I usually find myself congested again within a few hours, just being honest here, lol) but if you are miserable, this does offer relief, if only for an hour. Try it and let me know if it works for you!