How To Make Yourself Sneeze Easily

If you are familiar with a tickling sensation in your nose with the inability to sneeze when you want to, it can make you feel frustrated. Sneezing is one of your body’s ways of getting rid of dust, pollutants, bacteria, and irritants out of your nasal passages. Since it is an involuntary reaction, it will only happen when it has to. how to make yourself sneeze in such a situation? Don’t worry, there are several ways to make yourself sneeze on command? In this article, we explore natural ways to get yourself to sneeze easily.

Did You Know?

A single sneeze can spread 100,000 germs into the air and travel approximately 100 mph.

10 Easy Ways To Make Yourself Sneeze

1. Exposure To Sunlight
2. Sniff Some Pepper
3. Use A Tissue
4. Rub The Roof Of Your Mouth
5. Eat Chocolate
6. Chew Gums
7. Pull Out A Nose Hair
8. Sniff A Strong Perfume
9. Inhale Cold Air
10. Drink Carbonated Soft Drinks

What Causes A Sneeze?

Sneezing is a natural reflex that removes air from the lungs by expelling it through the nose and mouth. It usually occurs due to irritation of the nasal lining and can be triggered by factors such as bright light, allergies, having a full stomach, or specific health issues like epilepsy, posterior inferior cerebellar artery syndrome, or psychogenic issues (1). Allergic rhinitis is the most common cause of persistent or frequent sneezing (2). Sneezing is also a part of cultural significance and superstitions across different cultures and historical periods.

Though it is an involuntary reaction, you can make yourself sneeze easily. Read on to know how to do it.

Home Remedies To Help You Sneeze

1. Exposure To Sunlight

If you are wondering “how to make myself sneeze”, get some sunlight. Yes, sunlight is known to induce sneezing in about 18-35% of the population in the U.S. This phenomenon is more commonly termed as photic sneeze reflex. And if you are already on the verge of sneezing, exposure to sunlight can solve your problem in a jiffy – as about 1 in 3 people who were about to sneeze already were found sneezing soon after being exposed to sunlight.

Why This Works

Although the exact reason sunlight exposure causes sneezing is unclear, the number of induced sneezes is observed to be mediated genetically and can be easily predicted within a family (3).

Brad, a blogger, shared his experience about dealing with photic sneeze reflex in his blog. He said, “A sunny day in the 60s (Fahrenheit) can make you feel so good after a long winter. So often I make a point of escaping my office for a moment, just to take it all in. And sure enough, if it’s so bright that I can barely keep my eyes open, I instantly feel that little tickle in my nose, and…Gesundheit! Works every time (i).”

2. Sniff Some Pepper

Sniff some ground pepper, be it black or white, to stimulate sneezing. When you inhale a small amount of this spice, it can irritate the lining of your nose, causing you to sniffle and sneeze.

Why This Works

Pepper contains a compound called piperine, which can irritate your nose by triggering the nerve endings inside the mucous membrane within. This, in turn, can cause you to sneeze as your nose tries to get rid of the foreign substance that has entered it (4),(5).

3. Use A Tissue

Wiggling anything inside your nose is another sure shot way to stimulate a sneeze. Just take a tissue and roll it into a point before inserting it into your nose and wiggling it a bit. You will sense a ticklish feeling inside your nose and start sneezing almost immediately.

Why This Works

When you wiggle a tissue in your nose, it triggers the trigeminal nerve within. This trigger is sent to the brain, and as a result, your brain prompts you to sneeze (6).

4. Rub The Roof Of Your Mouth

You can also trigger a sneeze by rubbing the roof your mouth with the tip of your tongue. All you have to do is press the tip of your tongue to the top of your mouth and slide it as far as possible until you find the exact spot that triggers a sneeze.

Why This Works

The trigeminal nerve also runs along the roof of your mouth (7). And rubbing the roof of your mouth with your tongue can stimulate this nerve and induce sneezing.

5. Eat Chocolate

This is one of the best ways to induce sneezing while enjoying it. Eat a piece of dark chocolate (or any other chocolate with extra cocoa) and watch yourself sneeze. Those who do not eat much chocolate might have more success through this method than those who eat more of it.

Why This Works

Although the exact cause of why chocolate with extra cocoa induces sneezing is unknown, it could be a natural reaction of your body to the extra foreign particles (cocoa) entering your body.

6. Chew Gums

Chewing on one or two gumsticks, which are mint-flavored, can also stimulate sneezing. Inhalation of the strong mint flavor from a gum is what induces the sneeze.

Why This Works

Sneezing induced by inhalation of a strong mint flavor is a result of the overstimulation of any of the nerves close to the trigeminal nerve. And as already discussed before, triggering the trigeminal nerve can prompt one to sneeze.

7. Pull Out A Nose Hair

The mere thought of pulling out a hair from your nose can make your nose feel itchy. So, the next time you are unable to get yourself to sneeze, just go ahead and pull a hair out of your nose.

Why This Works

Plucking a hair out of your nose stimulates the trigeminal nerve, and this is what makes you sneeze almost instantly. You can also stimulate a sneeze by plucking your eyebrows (due to the same reason) (8).

8. Sniff A Strong Perfume

Most of you might have experienced sudden waves of sneezing by being exposed to any strong perfumes or sprays. Simply spraying a strong perfume or spray around you can irritate the lining of your nose and cause you to sneeze.

Why This Works

When the droplets of a strong perfume and its overwhelming aroma come close to your nostrils, it can irritate the lining of your nose and trigger the trigeminal nerve, hence prompting you to sneeze.

Caution

Do not spray the perfume directly on your nostrils.

9. Inhale Cold Air

One tends to sneeze more when it is cold. Hence, if you want to induce a sneeze, just turn on your air conditioner and inhale some cold air.

Why This Works

Inhaling cold air, yet again, stimulates the trigeminal nerve and also irritates the lining of your nose. As a result of these, you may begin to sneeze almost instantly (9).

10. Drink Carbonated Soft Drinks

That itchy feeling inside the nose soon after opening a soft drink is something many of us can relate to. Inhaling the carbon dioxide from carbonated drinks or even drinking them can stimulate sneezing. All you have to do is get hold of your favorite carbonated soft drink and drink it as soon as you open it.

Why This Works

When you open a can of carbonated drink, the carbon dioxide in it enters your nostrils and causes you to sneeze.

Trivia

Exercise can make you sneeze. As you overexert yourself, your nose and mouth dry out. Consequently, your nose drips to deal with the dryness, making you sneeze.

Infographic: 5 Easy Ways To Make Yourself Sneeze

A tickling itch in your nose can prove to be an annoyance, especially when you want some relief in the form of a long-awaited sneeze. But the good news is that you can get that sensation out of your system through some quick, easy ways. Check out the infographic below to know more.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does sneezing feel good?

Sneezing usually feels good because it causes your body to release chemicals called endorphins. These react with the receptors in your brain and trigger a positive feeling in your body

What causes one to sneeze?

Sneezing is your body’s way to get rid of a foreign particle that has entered your nose. If the lining of your nose is irritated by something, a message is sent to your brain regarding the same, and this prompts you to sneeze.

How to make a baby sneeze?

Babies are usually made to sneeze by spraying some drops of a saline solution into their nostrils. This clears the mucus build-up in their noses and makes them sneeze. You can also tickle your baby’s nostrils using a tissue or handkerchief to induce sneezing.

Should you hold a sneeze?

Sneezing is a respiratory reflex that helps us eliminate irritants in the nasal tract, such as bacteria and viruses. Therefore, never try to hold a sneeze.

Can you sneeze in your sleep?

No, sneezing is involuntary and usually happens when you are conscious. You cannot sneeze in a deep sleep ( also called REM sleep). However, there is a possibility if you are in a light sleep.

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Dr. Zeel GandhiBAMS

Dr. Zeel Gandhi is an Ayurvedic doctor with 7 years of experience and an expert at providing holistic solutions for health problems encompassing Internal medicine, Panchakarma, Yoga, Ayurvedic Nutrition, and formulations. She graduated as a top ranker from Dr. D.Y.Patil College of Ayurveda and Research Centre , Navi Mumbai, and is a specialist in Panchakarma therapies. She believes that Ayurveda...more

Shaheen NaserHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Shaheen holds a postgraduate degree in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology from Bharathiar University. She is a Geneticist with proficiency in Biotechnology, Immunology, Medical Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Genetic Counseling. Her passion for writing and her educational background have assisted her substantially in writing quality content on topics related to health and wellness for over three years. In her free...more

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Arshiya Syeda is a senior editor at StyleCraze with 7 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer and combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care. She holds a bachelor's degree in literature and psychology from Osmania University, Hyderabad, and a post-graduate diploma in psychological...more

Dipti SharmaBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Dipti is a health and wellness writer specializing in holistic health practices. She graduated from Maharishi Dayanand University, Haryana, and has worked closely with Ayurvedic doctors, which has given her a deep understanding of traditional remedies and their applications. She writes articles that provide guidance on natural remedies for common health concerns, empowering readers to embrace the healing power of...more