What Is a Sinus Massage?
A sinus massage involves using your fingers to apply light pressure to parts of your face. Depending on your symptoms, you might make small circles with your finger tips, or press gently on certain areas. These motions may help drain mucus buildup from your sinuses, relieving pain and pressure.
Sinus Massage Benefits
The sinuses are four hollow spaces on both sides of your face and head. They're connected by narrow channels that allow air and fluids to flow between your nose and throat. If you have inflammation in your sinuses, it can cause different problems because there isn't enough space for air and fluid to pass through. That's when a sinus massage may provide relief. Here are some conditions that a sinus massage can help with:
- Sinus congestion: When your sinuses become inflamed, mucus can build up, causing symptoms such as a stuffy or runny nose.
- Sinus headaches: When mucus gets trapped in the channels connecting your sinuses, bacteria and viruses can start to grow. This could lead to a sinus infection (sinusitis) or swelling in your sinuses, causing headaches.
- Postnasal drainage: Also known as postnasal drip, this happens when extra mucus gathers in your sinuses or nose. Your sinuses and nose are supposed to make mucus, but when there's too much, the buildup drips down the back of your throat.
- Stuffy nose: When blood vessels in your nose become inflamed, it can cause the tissues lining your nose to swell. This makes your nose feel stuffed up.
- Puffy eyes: Your eyes can become puffy when mucus builds up in your sinuses and the channels connecting them.
- Facial pressure: It's common to feel pressure in your face and behind your eyes when your sinuses are inflamed and congested.
Frontal Sinus Massage
Your frontal sinuses sit where your eyebrows meet, near the bottom of your forehead. A frontal sinus massage focuses on this area. Here’s how to give yourself a frontal sinus massage:
Step 1. Place your index fingers lightly on each side of your nose.
Step 2. Move your fingers up your nose until the bone begins to curve. Leave your fingers here.
Step 3. Apply very gentle pressure, then release for one second. Repeat this for 5-10 seconds. Or you could make small circles with each finger for 5-10 seconds instead.
Benefits of a frontal sinus massage
Your frontal sinuses have drainage areas, near the innermost ends of your eyebrows. But if fluid builds up at this point, you may feel pressure behind your eyes or in your forehead. A frontal sinus massage can help fluids start to flow again, relieving pressure. If you feel warmth or tingling between your eyebrows, that means the massage is working.
Sphenoid and Ethmoid Sinus Massage
Your sphenoid sinuses are behind your eyes, in your skull. Your ethmoid sinuses are behind the bridge of your nose. A sphenoid and ethmoid sinus massage can help relieve congestion in both areas. Here’s how to give yourself a sphenoid and ethmoid sinus massage:
Step 1. Place your thumbs or index fingers just under your brow bone, on each side of the bridge of your nose.
Step 2. Apply a bit of pressure while making small circles with your thumbs or index fingers for a minute or two.
Step 3. Begin making larger circles by moving your fingers toward your temples and back to the bridge of your nose. This motion can reach the entire sphenoid and ethmoid sinuses.
Benefits of a sphenoid sinus massage
When the sphenoid and ethmoid sinuses become congested, you can feel deep pain and pressure. Massaging this area encourages blood flow, helping mucus move through the channels. This can reduce pain and pressure in your eyes and head.
Maxillary Sinus Massage
A maxillary sinus massage targets the maxillary sinuses. They are located behind each of your cheekbones, just below your eyes. Here are two ways to give yourself a maxillary sinus massage:
Option 1
Step 1. Place your index fingers at the bottom of your nose, where your nostrils and cheeks connect.
Step 2. Press very lightly with both fingers, then release for one second. Or, you can make very small circles with each finger.
Step 3. Repeat these motions for 5-10 seconds or longer.
Option 2
Step 1. Start in the same position, with your index fingers pressing lightly where your nostrils meet your cheeks.
Step 2. Draw a counterclockwise circle with each finger, moving below your cheekbones to your temples, around the tops of your eyebrows, and down each side of your nose. Then, trace the same circle in a clockwise direction.
Step 3. You can stop after you draw about five circles or continue if it feels good.
Benefits of a maxillary sinus massage
When your maxillary sinuses are congested, you may feel painful pressure over your cheeks, in your upper jaw, or in your teeth. A maxillary sinus massage may help ease congestion and pressure in these areas.
Sinus Massage for Ear Congestion
Channels called eustachian tubes connect your ears and throat, helping drain fluid and preventing air pressure from building up. But a sinus infection can make your ears feel clogged. This happens because fluid can get trapped behind your eardrum.
Eustachian tube massage may create space for fluid to drain out. This can help relieve pressure and stuffiness in your ears. Here’s how to give yourself a sinus massage for ear congestion:
Step 1. Using your index finger, feel around for a bone behind your earlobe.
Step 2. Drag your finger down slowly. Feel for the space between your earlobe and jaw.
Step 3. Apply firm pressure as you slide your finger along that space, following down your neck, until you reach your collarbone.
Step 4. Repeat this motion three times on each side of your face. You can do this three times per day.
Do Sinus Massages Work?
Only a few small scientific studies show that sinus massages work. One study found that combining sinus massage with other alternative and medical treatments relieved pain and pressure more than medical treatment alone. Another study showed that facial and head massage reduced sinus headache pain. If you have chronic sinusitis, sinus massage may also help make your face feel less congested and tender, according to a different study.
Tips for Massaging the Sinuses
Before you get started, figure out where your symptoms are: your cheeks, forehead, or both. Focus on massaging the affected areas. Here’s what else to keep in mind when you massage your sinuses:
- Warm up your hands first by rubbing them together or placing them on a microwaveable heat pack.
- Use a light touch. Don't apply too much pressure while massaging your sinuses. Be extra gentle when massaging around your eyes.
- Move your fingers slowly, whether you're making small or large circles.
- Stop massaging if you feel any pain or discomfort.
When to See Your Doctor for Sinus Infections
Most sinus infections will clear up on their own. But for more serious infections, you may need a prescription medication, such as an antibiotic.
Don't hesitate to seek care if you have a very painful headache or severe facial pain. You should also call your health care provider if your symptoms improve, but then get worse again.
Other red flags are symptoms that last more than 10 days without improving, or a fever lasting more than three to four days.
If you’re getting sinus infections over and over again, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor.
Takeaways
A sinus massage is a technique that involves using your fingers to apply light pressure to different parts of your face. It can help increase blood flow and create space for mucus and air to flow, relieving pain and pressure. Sinus massage can also help improve congestion, headaches, postnasal drainage, and puffy eyes. Depending on your symptoms, you can focus on your frontal sinuses, sphenoid and ethmoid sinuses, maxillary sinuses, and eustachian tubes. See your doctor if your symptoms haven’t improved after 10 days.
Sinus Massage FAQs
Is it good to massage your sinuses?
If you have sinus congestion, massaging your sinuses may help you feel better. However, only a few scientific studies show that sinus massage works.
How to relieve sinus pain and pressure
When mucus builds up in the channels connecting your sinuses, it can cause pain and pressure in your nose and face. Sinus massage can help get the mucus flowing again, relieving sinus pain and pressure.
What is a carotid sinus massage?
Carotid sinus massage is a more serious technique than self-sinus massage. It can help slow down the heart rate in people with a very rapid heartbeat. This type of massage should only be done by a medical professional in a health care setting. Do not try to give yourself or others a carotid sinus massage.
How do I drain my sinuses?
Sinus massage can help drain your sinuses. It creates space in the passageways connecting your sinuses when they become inflamed. This allows mucus to flow out through your nose. Staying hydrated, breathing in moist air, and sleeping with your head elevated can also help drain your sinuses.
How to use sinus massage tools
You can use your fingers to give yourself a sinus massage. There are also many different tools that claim to help with sinus massage, from Gua Sha to microcurrent devices, but it's unclear if they're effective or not.
