Allergies and a congested face
With allergy season approaching more clients are struggling with sinus headaches and stubborn congestion. Clients often wonder if massage can be helpful, or if a massage will just make them feel worse.
First, if you are sick, please do not schedule a massage. If you are feverish, sneezy, or coughing a lot, it is not the best time for a massage. Once your symptoms have resolved and you are dealing with residual sinus pressure and congestion, then schedule a session.
Positioning
Sometimes people get a little stuffy laying face down on the massage table. I’ve got a comfortable face cradle to avoid putting pressure on your face and to minimize congestion. We can also do massage with you laying on your side to avoid congestion.
If you come in with face congestion or are concerned about congestion during the massage, we can start you face down or on your side, just to massage your back. Then the remainder of the session can be done face up while on your back.
Face & Head Massage
In addition to making gravity our friend, I’ve got some great techniques for head and face massage that will help your sinuses clear so you don’t leave the office feeling stuffy or uncomfortable. I’m trained in Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) which can help alleviate facial congestion.
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.
Essential Oil Aromatherapy
Peppermint, Spearmint, and Eucalyptus all have powerful decongestant properties, just a few drops of any in a tissue will gently open the sinuses.
Lemon is a natural antihistamine and the bright scent is energizing and cooling to overactive sinuses
If seasonal allergies have you feeling out of sorts, schedule a session to support your body and clear your brain.
