Are you struggling with sinus pain, sinus pressure, and congestion? While many turn to medication for relief, there's a natural, holistic approach that might surprise you: Tapping for sinus relief.
Let's explore how this simple technique can help alleviate your sinus symptoms by addressing the often-overlooked emotional components of physical discomfort.
What is Tapping for sinus relief?
Tapping, also known as Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), is a powerful mind-body approach that combines elements of ancient Chinese acupressure and modern psychology.
When applied to sinus issues, Tapping involves gently tapping on specific acupoints on the face and body while focusing on the physical sensations and emotions associated with sinus discomfort.
Tapping sends calming signals to the brain, helping your brain, and body, move into a relaxed and healing state. This process can help address the underlying stress, emotions, and energy imbalances that may be contributing to or exacerbating your sinus symptoms.
How EFT Tapping for sinus relief works
To understand how Tapping can help with sinus issues, we need to look at the intricate connection between stress, emotions, and our physical health.
The brain and the body are intimately connected. The state of our mind influences the state of our body, and vice versa.
Maybe you’ve felt butterflies in your stomach when nervous about something, felt your heart pound in fear, or gotten a headache during periods of stress. These are all examples of how stress or emotional arousal can influence our bodies on a very real, physical level.
What if your sinus pain was something similar?
Emotions like stress, frustration, anger, and overwhelm can all manifest as physical symptoms, including sinus discomfort.
Chronic stress, in particular, can take a big toll on the body. It can weaken the immune system, increase inflammation, and lead to muscle tension, all of which might worsen sinus discomfort or pain.
Often, our bodies store stress and emotions without us even realizing it, so we might not be aware of what is going on at first.
But if we investigate closer, we may find that the physical symptoms we are experiencing are our body’s way of signaling to us that something is going on beneath the surface on an emotional level.
So, that sinus pressure you are experiencing? It might be mirroring the emotional pressure you're under in daily life.
And here’s where Tapping comes in.
Tapping provides a simple way for us to release any stress or strong emotions from our physical bodies. Tapping also creates positive changes in our physiology, such as reducing cortisol levels. As we tap, our body can relax, inflammation can go down, muscles tension can release, and so on.
As stress levels decrease, the body's natural healing processes can function more effectively, paving the way for healing and helping us experience relief from symptoms like sinus discomfort.
If you want to better understand the ties between emotions and physical ailments (and how Tapping can help), check out this guide on the mind-body connection.
Sinus Tapping benefits: Why give it a try?
Now that you understand how Tapping can help with sinus issues, you might be wondering, “Is it really worth trying?”
Let me tell you, the benefits can be so profound they might surprise you.
- Stress Relief: Tapping is like a reset button for your stress levels. As you tap, you're literally sending calming signals to your brain, potentially easing that sinus pressure along with easing the burden of stress in your life.
- Emotional Release: When we are dealing with something like sinus pain, we might naturally carry around a lot of feelings about it. Tapping gives you a chance to acknowledge and release those pent-up feelings that might be contributing to your physical discomfort, like frustration about the pain, annoyance about not being able to breathe properly, etc. You might be surprised how much better you feel in mind, body, and spirit after you give it a try.
- Pain Relief: Often, one of the hardest parts about sinus issues is the intensity of the sinus pain. EFT Tapping for pain (of all sorts!) is incredibly effective. Research shows it can even help with chronic pain, so if your sinus issues are ongoing, it’s well worth your while!
- Whole-Person, Long-Term Healing: Unlike popping a pill that will give you just temporary relief from your symptoms, Tapping addresses the root causes of your sinus issues, leading to long-term relief. It's like giving your whole self a tune-up so you can feel good from the inside out.
- Self-Empowerment: With Tapping, you're not relying on anyone or anything else for relief. It's a tool you can use anytime, anywhere, whether you're stuck in traffic or lying in bed unable to sleep due to sinus pain. Tapping puts the power of healing in your own hands.
- Complementary Technique: Tapping can be used alongside other treatments, potentially enhancing their effectiveness. It's like having an extra player on your healing team.
I’ve seen firsthand how effective EFT Tapping can be for sinus issues, the common cold, congestion, and other related issues.
In fact, the very first time I introduced Tapping to my sister Jessica (who was completely skeptical it would work at all), we used this technique to help her clear a sore throat and sinus headache. We were both shocked by just how well it worked to help her feel better, and fast!
So if you’re on the fence about it or feeling skeptical (like Jessica was), I highly encourage you give it a chance, and try something new.
After all, what have you got to lose? Except maybe some stress and discomfort?
Free. The best place to start.
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Join the free summitWhy stress makes sinus pressure feel worse
Before anything else: sinus pressure is a real, physical symptom, and if you're dealing with a true sinus infection or ongoing congestion, that needs a doctor's care, not just tapping. What tapping can help with is a specific, well-documented layer on top of that: how stress and tension affect the way pressure and pain feel.
When you're stressed, your body tightens. Jaw, shoulders, the muscles across your face and forehead, all of it clenches without you noticing. That tension sits right on top of an already-inflamed sinus cavity, which is part of why sinus pressure so often gets worse during a stretch of bad sleep, a big deadline, or a hard week. Tapping calms that stress response, and as the tension in your face and body eases, the pressure often feels less intense, even though the underlying congestion is unchanged. It's not draining anything. It's turning down the tension that's amplifying how the pressure feels.
Sinus pressure points people tap
When people talk about "tapping for sinus pressure," they usually mean two specific EFT points on the face, alongside the rest of the standard sequence. Here's what people are actually referring to, and what tapping there does (and doesn't do):
| Point | Location | What tapping here does |
|---|---|---|
| Under the eye | On the bone directly under the center of the eye | A pressure-and-tension release point; people often report the area around the eyes and upper cheeks feels less tight after tapping here, not because anything is being physically drained |
| Side of the nose / cheekbone | Just beside the nostril, where the nose meets the upper cheek | The other point people mean by "sinus tapping"; gentle tapping here can ease facial muscle tension, the same tension that tends to build up when you're congested and unconsciously holding your face tight |
| Under the nose | Between the base of the nose and the top of the upper lip | Standard EFT point, included in the full sequence below |
| Eyebrow | Start of the eyebrow, just above the bridge of the nose | Standard EFT point, included in the full sequence below |
Tapping these points is a pressure-and-tension relief practice, not a drainage technique. If you're looking for the physical sinus massage and drainage methods some people also call "sinus tapping," those are a different practice; this page and the round below are about the EFT version, working on the stress and tension side of things.
A 2-minute sinus-pressure round
Rate this pressure from 0 to 10 right now. Then tap through the points below, tuning in to the physical sensation, the tightness across your face, the pressure behind your eyes or cheekbones.
- Setup (repeat three times, tapping the side of your hand): "Even though I have this sinus pressure, and it's frustrating and uncomfortable, I accept myself and where I am right now."
- Eyebrow: "This pressure, right here."
- Side of Eye: "This tightness across my face."
- Under Eye: "This pressure behind my eyes and cheekbones."
- Side of Nose: "So much pressure right here."
- Under Nose: "I'm so tired of feeling stuffed up."
- Chin: "Frustrated with how heavy my face feels."
- Collarbone: "I'm allowed to be annoyed about this."
- Under Arm: "And I'm also allowing my face and body to relax, even a little."
Reassess your number. Even a small drop is your nervous system responding, and less facial tension around already-inflamed sinuses. Do another round on whatever's still there.
What our data shows
Our Pain Relief category in The Tapping Solution App, which includes our sinus session, has 30 sessions completed 957,816 times, with self-rated discomfort dropping from an average of 6.3 to 4.0, a 36% drop. Our Release Sinus Pain session specifically has been completed 18,558 times, with the average rating going from 6.3 to 4.0. Our Support Your Healing: Colds (Upper-Respiratory Illness) session, part of the Louise Hay collection, has been completed 102,364 times, with ratings dropping from 6.8 to 4.0.
In a peer-reviewed study of 270,461 App users published in JMIR mHealth and uHealth (Church & Stapleton, 2020), a single guided session reduced self-rated stress by 45% on average, the same nervous-system calming this page is built on.
This is self-report data from a single session, not a controlled trial on sinus symptoms specifically. There's no dedicated sinus research in our library yet; the numbers above are app data on stress and discomfort, not a clinical claim about sinus infections or congestion.
What people say
"This meditation hit all of the spots I needed! I feel such relief and can breathe more deeply now. Thank you!"
App user, after a session for stress and tension, rated herself an 8 before, a 4 after
"I love Jessica's calming voice. The meditation was particularly helpful today as I had a recurring muscle tension pain, and several worries about things happening in near future."
Kathy, on tapping for muscle tension and worry, rated herself an 8 before, a 2 after
Neither quote above is about sinus pressure specifically; we don't have a sinus-labeled testimonial in our library yet. They're included here because they speak to the same tension-and-stress relief this page is about.
Tap along with me
Want to follow along out loud? This short tapping session works through the same kind of physical tension and stress this page is about.
Go deeper
- Beyond allergy meds: how Tapping provides natural relief from seasonal and sinus issues, a real story from our community.
- EFT Tapping for pain relief, the pillar page for everything we know about tapping and physical pain.
- The 9 tapping points, with a printable chart.
- EFT tapping phrases and EFT tapping scripts, for more ways to word a round.
- Try Release Sinus Pain free in The Tapping Solution App.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does tapping help sinus pressure?
Many people find it does. Tapping doesn't treat a sinus infection or clear a blockage the way a decongestant or a doctor's care can; it works on the stress and muscle tension that often sit on top of sinus pressure and can make it feel worse. In our app, people using our Release Sinus Pain session rate their discomfort dropping from an average of 6.3 to 4.0.
Where do you tap for sinus relief?
The points people tap for sinus pressure are the standard EFT points on the face: under the eye, the side of the nose next to the cheekbone, and under the nose, along with the eyebrow, collarbone, and the side of the hand for the setup. These are pressure and tension points, not a way to physically drain the sinuses.
How do you do a tapping round for sinus pressure?
Rate the pressure from 0 to 10. Tap through the sequence, three rounds on the side of the hand naming the pressure while accepting yourself anyway, then eyebrow, side of eye, under eye, side of nose, under nose, chin, collarbone, and under arm, staying with the physical sensation as you go. Check your number again when you're done.
How often should I tap for sinus pressure?
As often as you need to. Many people do a short round whenever the pressure spikes, plus a few minutes in the morning or evening during allergy season, when stress and sinus symptoms tend to compound each other.
Does tapping help with allergies?
Tapping doesn't treat an allergic reaction. What it can help with is the stress, fear, and frustration that often ride along with allergy symptoms, and stress is known to make physical symptoms, sinus pressure included, feel more intense. Joanne's story is a good example of how the emotional layer around a physical symptom can shift when it's addressed directly.
When should I see a doctor about sinus pain?
See a doctor for a fever, facial swelling, or sinus symptoms that last more than 10 days, get worse instead of better, or come with thick discolored discharge. Tapping is a tool for the stress and tension layered on top of sinus discomfort, not a substitute for medical care.
Get started with EFT Tapping for sinus relief
Ready to try Tapping to relieve sinus pressure or discomfort?
The Tapping Solution App offers guided meditations specifically designed to help with sinus relief.
Here are a few you can try right now to start feeling better:
Tip: Click the images above using your mobile device, or type the name of the meditation into the search function in the app. 🔍
These guided Tapping meditations will walk you through the process, helping you address both the physical sensations and emotional aspects of your current symptoms.
I highly suggest you explore the Heal Your Body Category in the app as well, which features the powerful work of the late and great Louise Hay.
Remember, sometimes our bodies need us to slow down and pay attention.
By using Tapping to address the stress, pressure, and emotional burdens in your life, you may find that your sinus symptoms begin to lift, allowing you to breathe easier and feel more comfortable.
Give Tapping for sinus relief a try, your sinuses (and your whole self) will thank you!
Download the app now to be guided through the entire process, start to finish.
- Instantly reduce anxiety and stress
- Fall asleep faster and sleep better
- Boost productivity, stay motivated
- Relieve chronic or occasional pain
- Release anger, find peace
If you want a broader guide to working with pain in the body, my book The Tapping Solution for Pain Relief is a good next step.
Until next time… Keep Tapping!
Nick Ortner
