Sneezing is a protective reaction of the body that arises, if something irritates the endings of the trigeminal nerve in the nose. They transmit a signal to the brain, and the latter decides to get rid of the stimulus. Therefore, the muscles of the diaphragm, chest, abdomen, vocal cords, and even the muscles of the face and eyelids are immediately brought into action. They contract sharply, the tongue presses against the palate, the eyes close, and the person sneezes.
The process can be started independently in different ways. To do this, you need to influence the areas of the face to which fits trigeminal nerve.
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1. Look at the light
One of the branches of the trigeminal nerve extends to the eyes. Bright light irritates the endings that transmit a signal to the brain, and the person sneezes.
In response to bright light starts sneezing every fourth. In some, this reaction is associated with a harmless genetic defect: it causes increased excitability of the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve.
2. Rub your nose
If you want to sneeze, rub your nostrils and the tip of your nose with your fingers. This action usually helps because by touching our nose we influence to the trigeminal nerve.
Try not to get carried away by rubbing your nostrils, because this will make your nose very red. If it doesn’t work right away, move on to another method.
3. Massage the bridge of your nose
Branches of the trigeminal nerve are located and on the bridge of the nose, they respond to touch. To sneeze specifically, massage the area in a downward motion. If that doesn’t work, try pinching or tickling.
Massaging the bridge of the nose also helps drain nasal mucus. This will help people with a cold breathe normally again, albeit briefly. But if you rub your nose too enthusiastically, you can damage the blood vessels. Therefore, the massage should be stopped in time.
4. Tickle the palate with your tongue
Move the tip of your tongue across the roof of your mouth. The task is to find a place where a tickle is felt at the slightest touch. A branch of the trigeminal nerve passes through this area. If you massage the area, you may feel like sneezing.
5. Drink soda
The carbon dioxide bubbles burst and cause sensations that annoying trigeminal nerve. This causes a tickling sensation in the nose, and the person may sneeze.
6. Tickle your nose with something
You can use the tip of a napkin as an irritant. The body will try get rid of from an object by sneezing. Just don’t push the item too far. Otherwise, when you finally sneeze, you’ll still get to their brains, no good.
7. Take a breath of cold air
Cold air too affects on receptors in the nose and stimulates a response in the brain. To sneeze on purpose, you can try inhaling air from the freezer or turning on the air conditioner.
This method should also be treated with caution. Along with sneezing, a runny nose may appear, which called cold rhinitis.
8. Smell the pepper
In black and white pepper contains piperine, and in red – capsaicin. These substances cause irritation when it gets into the nose, so the person sneezes.
If you decide to breathe over the pepper shaker, be careful. Spices can cause stinging pain.
9. Eat spicy food
If just smelling the pepper isn’t enough, you can eat something spicy. Such food can also make you want to sneeze. This is a phenomenon called gustatory rhinitis.
This method should also be treated with caution. Instead of or along with sneezing, you can get runny nose, nasal congestion, decreased sense of smell.
10. Smell a flower or animal fur
Sneezing may provoke allergens. This is usually plant pollen or squirrels on animal fur. If you want to sneeze on purpose, you can try inhaling the scent of a flower or running your nose over a cat or dog.
If you know for sure that you suffer from allergies, do not use this method. In addition to sneezing, you can get with skin redness, itching, cough and nasal congestion.
11. Rub or pluck your eyebrows
One of the divisions of the trigeminal nerve, the orbital, gets irritated while plucking eyebrows, and some people sneeze. For some it is enough to remove one hair, for others it is enough to remove several. But before you take out the tweezers, try just wiping your eyebrows.
12. Smell a strong perfume
Some people are sensitive to fragrances. That’s why force The smell of perfume and cologne can make a person sneeze. Try spraying perfume in the air.
Be careful and never spray perfume into your nostrils or onto your face. Because of this, the mucous membranes may suffer. And remember that this method is not safe if you suffer from allergies or asthma.
13. Chew mint gum
Chewing gum with a strong mint flavor sometimes help sneeze. The reason is menthol works as an irritant. Therefore, neutral and fruity gum will not work.
Instead of chewing gum, you can try mints. There will also be an effect if you inhale the smell of mint oil. But you have to be careful here. If it gets on mucous membranes, you can get chemical burn.
14. Have an orgasm
Some people sneeze after orgasm. There is little research on this phenomenon yet. And it’s not clear how exactly connected processes.
This material was first published in August 2021. In May 2024, we updated the text.
Take care of your nose 🤧👃🏻💦