Feeling Congested? Massage May Help

With allergy seasons growing longer and a big season of common cold infections, I have more and more clients struggling with sinus headaches and stubborn congestion.

Clients often wonder if massage can be helpful, or if a massage will just make them feel more stuffy.

First, please don’t come for a massage when you are actively sick. If you are feverish, sneezy, or coughing a lot, now is not the best time for a massage. Once your main symptoms have resolved and you are just dealing with residual sinus pressure and congestion, that’s the time for a massage.

Positioning

Sometimes people get a little stuffy laying face down on the massage table. I’ve got two comfortable face cradle options to use, but we can also do a massage with you laying on your side to avoid that altogether. The regular face cradle resembles a horseshoe and the newer option is called Happy Face and widens the support around the eyes.

If you come in stuffy or are concerned about congestion during the massage, we can start you face down or on your side, just to massage your back. Then we’ll quickly reposition you face up. Another option would be to work your back from the massage chair and then have you transition to the table.

Essential Oils

I can add a few drops of the right essential oil to the massage lotion, or just scent a tissue to tuck into the face cradle.

Peppermint, Spearmint, and Eucalyptus all have powerful decongestant properties, just a few drops of any one will help to gently open the sinuses.

Lemon is a natural antihistamine and the bright scent is energizing and cooling to overactive sinuses.

Beyond the Massage

There are lots of simple massage and pressure point techniques that you can do yourself between treatments.

Start with your forehead, the frontal sinuses. Put the tips of your fingers on either side of the forehead, just above the eyebrows. Massage slowly in a circular outward motion, working your way outwards, towards the temples. Use just enough pressure so the skin is moving around, not so much that you’re feeling pain. Do this a few times to cover the whole forehead.

You can find the little notch in your eyebrow, between the bridge of your nose and the inner side of your upper eyelid. Apply some gentle pressure upwards to relieve pressure there.

Next, move to the cheeks, the maxillary sinuses. Place your fingertips on the area between the cheekbones and the upper jaw, on either side of the nose. Massage this area in a circular motion, maybe gently press up into that cheekbone if it feels good.

When you’re ready, you can schedule your next appointment here http://rebeccapeters.as.me