Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Using your sense of smell to induce a sneeze
• Method 2 of 3: Stimulate your sneeze reflex with other sensory perceptions
• Method 3 of 3: Reduce the urge to sneeze
• Tips
• Warnings

Do you ever have the feeling that you have to sneeze, after which it only keeps tingling in your nostrils, after which you are left with a very unpleasant feeling? Or maybe you want to prevent a sneeze or sneeze before you have to have a chat, attend a meeting, have dinner, or greet your new love, for example. Whatever the reason, there are several ways you can make yourself sneeze.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Using your sense of smell to induce a sneeze

1. Smell some spices. Smelling certain spices can make you sneeze. Check your kitchen cupboard to see if you have spices like ground black pepper, cumin, coriander or ground red pepper. You can open the jar and smell the spices, or incorporate them into a dish and inhale through your nose as you add them.
   • Grinding the herbs or spices can also cause you to sneeze. Try grinding a few peppercorns in a mortar and pestle to induce the sneeze.
2. Sniff up some paprika or chili powder. Paprika and chili powder are naturally obtained from hot peppers and are used under the name capsicum in both medicines and pepper spray. You can buy a bottle with some capsicum extract or look for a product that already contains it. Do not apply the extract directly to the inside of your nose as it would cause a burning sensation. Instead, dip a cotton swab against the opening of a bottle of capsicum extract and then hold the cotton swab in front of your nose. Inhale the capsicum scent through your nose.
   • If you don't have a capsicum extract, you can also cut open a hot pepper, such as a jalapeño or chili pepper, and rub the inside with a cotton swab. Then inhale the pepper scent through your nose.
3. Smell a glass of lemonade. Sometimes simply sniffing a bubbly drink, especially if the drink comes from a soda fountain, is enough of an incentive for your nose to sneeze. Just drinking the lemonade might work, but you can also hold the glass right under your nose and inhale through your nose. This should make you sneeze.
   • Make sure there is still enough sting in the lemonade. When the injection is out, there may not be enough bubbles left in the drink to induce a sneeze.
4. Open a pack of peppermint-flavored gum. Some people sneeze from the smell of peppermint.If you have a roll of peppermint or a pack of gum nearby, put one in your mouth. While enjoying the gum or peppermint, inhale the scent; it might make you sneeze!
   • You can also try sniffing a bottle of peppermint oil, if you have one at home. Just open the bottle and breathe in the scent of the oil through your nose.
   • Smelling peppermint toothpaste can also work. Remove the cap from the toothpaste tube and breathe in the fragrance through your nose.

Method 2 of 3: Stimulate your sneeze reflex with other sensory perceptions

1. Tickle your nostrils. You can fool your nose's defense mechanism and trigger a sneeze by gently tickling the insides of your nostrils. The inside of your nose is extremely sensitive to irritation, so stroking your nose hairs with a tissue or tissue paper may cause you to sneeze as a result.
   • Roll a corner of a tissue or tissue paper to a small point. Stick the tip into your nostril and then twist and twirl the tissue around - it should tickle a bit.
   • In the same way you can also stroke a (fake) feather along the bottom of your nose. You don't even have to stick the feather in your nose to make it irritated. If you're just tickling the outside of your nose, you probably already have to sneeze.
   • Do not insert anything, not even a tissue or tissue paper, further into your nose than the inside of your nostrils.
   • Do not use a hair clip or other small, sharp things to stimulate your nose hairs.
2. Try it by plucking a hair from your eyebrow. Some people have to sneeze as a reflex simply by plucking out an eyebrow hair. To see if that also makes you sneeze, take a pair of tweezers and try to pluck one hair from one of your eyebrows. Sometimes this is enough to induce a sneeze.
   • Grab the eyebrow hair with the tips of the tweezers close to the root and quickly pull the hair out.
3. Suddenly look into bright light. About one third of people have a built-in "photo sneeze reflex". If you have this reflex, you probably need to sneeze when you suddenly look into bright light. To find out if you are one of those people, it is best to turn off the light and sit in the dark for a few minutes. Wait a few minutes to let your eyes adjust to the dark, then look in the direction of the light and put it on.
   • You can also close your eyes tight while out in the sun. Block the sunlight with your hand as well. After about two minutes, remove your hand from your eyes and open your eyes. You may have to sneeze because of this.
   • This works because the triplet nerve, which controls the sneezing system, runs to the right of the optic nerve. Excessive stimulation of the triplet nerve can cause you to sneeze.
   • Never look directly at the sun. Looking directly at the sun can damage your eyes.
4. Take a deep breath of cold air. Another way to initiate your sneeze reflex is to take a deep breath in the cold air. For example, if you are indoors and it is significantly colder outside, step outside and breathe in the cold air from one moment to the next.
   • If it's not cold enough outside, try opening the refrigerator's freezer compartment and keeping your face in the cold air for a few seconds.
   • Another way to do this trick is to take a warm shower and then quickly put your head out of the shower and take a deep breath of cold air.

Method 3 of 3: Reduce the urge to sneeze

1. Rub your nose if it itches. If your nose or the area around your nose itches or tingles, that could be why you feel like you need to sneeze. Give the back of your hand a quick rub over your nose. It may be that the feeling that you have to sneeze diminishes or even disappears completely. Press your tongue against your teeth; this confuses your brain and prevents you from sneezing.
   • If the itching is severe or does not go away, make an appointment with your doctor. You may be dealing with an allergic reaction.
2. Stay away from allergens and irritants. Exposure to allergens and irritating substances such as dust, mold, chemicals and smoke can make you feel like you need to sneeze. If you are in an environment where many allergens or irritants are present, do something to remove or at least reduce the amount of those substances.
   • Look for a home air freshener if you think you may be sneezing due to dust and mold.
   • Do not allow people to smoke in your home. Ask if they want to smoke outside and try to keep your distance when you are around people who smoke.
   • Always use chemicals, such as cleaning agents, in well-ventilated areas. Always open a window and turn on a fan if you have to use chemicals that make you sneeze.
3. Blow your nose or use a decongestant in the form of a nasal spray or nasal drops. A stuffy nose can make you feel like you need to sneeze. If your nose is blocked, try blowing your nose or taking a decongestant. This should ease your urge to sneeze.
4. Treat a bad cold effectively. If you have a cold, you will often have to sneeze. Treat your cold symptoms by taking cold medicine, blowing your nose regularly, and using cough drops to cool your airways.
   • If you have a bad cold and traditional cold remedies don't give you relief, call your doctor. You may need a special prescription medicine to relieve the symptoms of your cold and speed up healing.
   • You could schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss an allergy test if you think an allergy may be causing you to sneeze. Your doctor can prescribe you (with or without a prescription) to help you.

Tips

• Have a tissue or tissue paper handy that you can sneeze into. Wash your hands as soon as possible after sneezing. If you don't have a tissue on hand and can't wash your hands right away, sneeze into your elbow or on your sleeve to avoid spreading the bacteria with your hands.

Warnings

• Never use "sneeze powder". Although it was once available as a party item in many toy stores, sneeze powder often contains harmful ingredients. One specific ingredient in particular - the alkaloids from veratrum album, or white hellebore - has been shown to be unsafe. Sneeze powders containing such ingredients are still available on the Internet, but you should never use them and try to prevent others from using them.