Nasal congestion, stuffy nose, runny nose – these are common problems experienced by everyone, usually many times a year. We generally disregard it if it’s on moderate levels but can get very annoyed when they are strong and require our attention.
Yes, you could use a nasal spray to depress it for a while. But there are some problems with the sprays:
- First, they are drugs (chemicals), might have side effects and are somewhat addictive.
- Second, they cost money.
- Third, you should have it with you whenever your nose drives you mad. This might not be the case every time, since you have to buy it first, and then carry it with you whenever you go (work, for example).
When I was little, my grandmother taught my father and me a very simple point massage technique that relieves nasal congestion fast and effectively, without leaving the bitter taste in your mouth. I wanted to share it with you.
Please look at the comments below the article to read about the many successes of this technique. Write about your results in the comments as well.
I believe that the massage is based on Chinese acupressure but I can’t be sure since at that time neither of us knew anything about it, and secondly, I’m not an expert at this now. There are only 4 easy points to massage, so it’s very easy to remember and always have it with you (in your head). Here how it goes:
How to quickly decongest nose naturally:
- Perform the below routine 3 times:
- Perform 10 pressures on a cavity at the corner of the nostrils (point 1). You should almost close and open the nostrils when you do the round movement.
- Perform 10 pressures on a cavity just below the corner of the eyes near the nose (point 2)
- Perform 10 pressures on a cavity just below the ear, behind the earlobe (point 3)
- Massage the earlobe 10 times (point 4)
- After performing the above 3 times, you should feel immediate relief of your nasal congestion. It is advised to repeat the above procedure again in about 10 minutes to make it more permanent or the congestion could return.
Additional nose massage instructions:
The pressures are actually round movement. Look at the pictures for exact motion.

Stuffy nose massage points
- Do it with a very mild pressure. Just place your fingertips on the points and rotate with a little pressure. Nothing should hurt at all.
- You should not push the cartilage of the nose and definitely not the ears. In the nose, only the bottom part of the nostrils are being pushed. In the ears (point 3), it’s the cavity just below the cartilage and the rotation is not wide, so you’re actually more pushing and releasing the point when you do the round movements.
- Point 2 is just below the corner of the eyes where the tears come out (where you take the stuff out of your eyes when you wake up in the morning). The rotation is done without lifting the finger but by moving the skin. Again, it’s more of a pushing-releasing kind of rotation and you should feel the corner of the eye when you apply the pressure.
I hope these instructions will make you feel better next time you’ve got a stuffy nose. Tell me if it helps you as much as it helps me and my family.
I will be happy to use this approach to my sinus problems. I opened up a nostril that had been blocked for a week. Thank you!!
I am so grateful I found this advice! I could not breathe, could not even attempt to go to sleep. I noticed a difference in my sinus pressure with the very first pressure point. After completing all pressure points, all three rounds, I’m almost at 100%. Thank you
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Its a nice one, I thinl I’m contented with this. Thanks.
It cleared one nostril up nicely so might get some sleep. Thanks for advice
The acupressure technique that you explained in the above post really works. Few years backs I used to have a terrible congestion at night times, I took many treatments including antihistamines, nasal decongestants but noting worked. Finally a friend told me to do this and the results were amazing.
Didn’t work. >:-( I’m really tired of my nose. I was taking ISTEP+ earlier and I kept sniffling REALLY LOUD and it was very embarrassing. I’m tired of having my nose stuffy because I can’t breathe through my mouth.
It worked! Simply brilliant. I did some quick research and found out they are accupressure points. Thanks!
Wow…it works!!
This is truly amazing! I work in an office where it stays dead silent all day long – making it very difficult to have a runny or stuffy nose. I used this trick on my first break this morning, then once more when I got back to my desk – I’ve been able to breathe for a whole hour! When you have a cold, free nose breathing for an hour is like heaven. Thank you SO much for posting this. I’ve shared on Pinterest!
Simply amazing, thanks for this- will remember it forever
this helped get rid of my ruuny nose but i still have a stuffy nose
Wow. This really helped. I mean it comes back, but this is so simple to do and its relaxing. Its 5 AM & I am just willimg to try anything so I can sleep. Looks as if I will tonight. Thank you very much!!
It didnt work for me (im12).But thank you for using your time to help other people.Any other suggestions?
Wow thank you so much!! This actually helped like instantly!
Thank you for sharing!!!
I would have never thought this would work , but to my surprise it did. I looked on YouTube for this but nothing worked so big thank you !
wow i can’t believe it worked just wow
OMG it actually worked!! I feel zAlot Better
I would just like to thank you for posting this it helped a lot!!!! The only thing I didn’t like about this is that my nose would get all stoped up again. Other than that this is awesome!!!!
It also helps to put vicks on your nose and then put a hot towl over your face . But we all know how this fall can be . But what I find myself doing every year even when I say i’m going to stop is I carry around a hankerchif like a dork . But thank you because this helped a lot!!!! hat off to you dude.
This really works! Its so easy to do and doesn’t require any extra equipment. I didn’t think this would work but I was like “what the heck do I have to lose by trying it?” I had really bad mucus production and a stuffy/running nose. I drank hot teas and used other natural remedies which helped somewhat with chest congestion but I still had a very stuffy nose.
So I’ve tried this 2x and it worked! The first time, only my left nostril was open/clear and the right one stuffed up. The second time (after 10 min past with a light blowing of my nose), it switched to the right nostril opening up and the left one slightly stuffed at first but eventually (like 10-15 seconds later) both nostrils opened up. I will make this a definite part of my cold/flu stuffy nose remedy regimen! Thanks!
I have a terrible head cold and the sinus pressure was KILLING me and making it impossible to sleep, even though I’m exhausted. I tried the first round of 3 and it barely worked to open up my sinuses.
I told myself to be patient, waited the 10 mins, then did the 2nd round of 3. I still can’t breathe through my nose but the pressure is greatly lessened, enough to sleep. So thank you! I’ll keep trying this tomorrow.
thank you 🙂
Thank you! It worked for me! Not super long lasting, but hey, it still works.
goodness im 12 yrs old too and i had such a stuffy nose all day. this helped me for about 10 minutes but i can finally breathe again. nasal sprays can be addicting, but im already addicted to this!
Your body actually takes turns between nostrils throughout the day and it doesn’t usually breathe through both so I would say this trick works except i have to repeat it every 2 minutes.
Hahaha, I did not think it would work, Not 100% but i can breath Correctly from one Side after it so am greatful :D, Who thought massaging your nose works :p
Okay do i literally thought this wasn’t going to work. But, it DID!! I’m still a little congested but i can breathe! I’ve only done it once so in about 10 minutes I’ll do it again! Thank you so much!
Thank you. I’m able to breath out my nose again. I may have to repeat this method, but I care not because I can breath for once.
Thank you SO MUCH! I was really surprised that this worked! I’m 12 years old and I have had a stuffy nose and haven’t known what to do for it but this is perfect! Yay!
A little bit hard if you have earrings though lol!
I totally agree Miah. I Kind of like this guy and I think he likes me to so I would like to breathe when I see him even though he just takes my breath away anyway… I think he likes me SQUEEEEEEE!!!
-A lovesick Girl
this actually does work im very surprised i hate having a stuffed up nose and i just found the solution that solved my problem im going to do this new method everyday before i go to bed and im going to recomend it to my friends and family who also suffer from allergies THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I found this amazingly effective. Thank you for sharing it. I was so stuffed up but after doing the pressures twice have had amazing relief. It is now almost 2 hours since I did them, and the result has been amazing. Thank you.