As a person with absolutely terrible allergies, my sinus cavity is often one of the most annoying problem-causing areas in my life.

I get sinus infections almost regularly at the beginning of each summer, or even when the seasons simply change. Which is why I was ecstatic when I found this method of clearing my sinuses.

Sinuses are basically hollow cavities in the skull that are all connected to the same system. Most of them are small, if you don’t include the big ones in your cheekbones. They come in pairs, with a cavity on each side of your skull, close to the nose.

Between the eyes rests ethmoid sinuses. Inside of the nose lies Sphenoid sinuses. And Maxillary sinuses are the ones in our cheeks. Aside from the thin layer of mucus that lines each of them, these cavities remain relatively empty.

The most common reasons that they get filled up with gunk from time to time are allergies, colds, the flu, and infections in the sinuses themselves. And all of these ailments can be soothed and treated using home remedies like the one below!

The method for clearing out your sinuses fast and effectively

Alright, to begin, make sure you are seated in a comfortable manner.

1. Sit so that both your head and body rest at a 45-degree angle. Turn your head to one side and massage downward on the sternocleidomastoid muscle at least 5 times. Once you’ve finished, turn your head to the other side and do the same to the opposite muscle. This relaxes the neck.
2. With your index fingers, find the boney, bridge part of your nose. It makes up about half of the length of your nose. At the end of this boney part is a soft part where the bone ends. This soft area is where this technique is most effective. Using a comfortable amount of pressure, massage this soft area in a circular pattern for 20 to 30 seconds. Then, massage the muscles on either side of the nose, toward the cheekbones.
3. Using your index fingers again, find your upper orbit bone. This is the bone that rests above each eye. From there, locate the supraorbital notch, which is an indentation found above the middle of each eye. Once you’ve found the notch, massage the area in a circular pattern with firm, comfortable pressure for 20 to 30 seconds.
4. Lastly, using both hands, find the center of your forehead. Again with a circular motion, apply a firm and comfortable pressure, and massage outward toward your temples.

If you practice this regularly when you have sinus congestion, you should feel at least some relief in the cavities. How much relief you feel is dependant on a few things. First, how well you perform the practices above. Second, how severe the congestion in your head is. And thirdly, how receptive your body is to the techniques above.

If you’re not experiencing as much relief as you’d hoped, simply repeat the steps above, with any alterations you feel are personally necessary, until you achieve satisfactory results. If you complete the exercise at least two or three times, you should feel a noticeable difference.

The best ways to prevent severe nasal congestion include not smoking, eating healthy, exercising regularly, and making sure you’re well hydrated.