How To Make Yourself Sneeze: 12 Tested Methods

A sneeze is an involuntary physical reaction. It is the result of a veritable symphony of bodily systems and organs all functioning together to bring about a convulsive expulsion of air from the nose and mouth. A special part of our brain is in charge of sneezing — I like to call it “Sneeze Central.” In order to sneeze, your brain must get involved, along with your diaphragm, your abdominal muscles, your chest, your throat, and even your eyes.

What Happens When You Sneeze?

First, according to WebMD, something triggers the nerve that runs to your nose, irritating it and indicating that there is something that needs removing. This nerve communicates with Sneeze Central in your brain, located in your lower brain stem. It essentially says that a sneeze is necessary.

After that, it is all hands on deck: signals are rapidly fired to close your throat, eyes, and mouth in preparation. Almost simultaneously, your chest muscles contract and your throat muscles relax, causing air and — hopefully — the offending particle to be expelled forcibly from the nose and into the atmosphere for someone else to suck down! Ha, ha, only kidding! Because you covered your nose and mouth when you sneezed, just like your mother taught you — right?

Why Do We Sneeze?

What causes sneezing? The simple reason why we sneeze is because our nervous system tells our brain to. The brain, in turn, tells our bodies something is in our noses that needs to be removed. Another reason why we sneeze is because occasionally our noses require a reboot; they can get overwhelmed by dust, particles, or other irritation. A good sneeze will reset your nose so that it can properly do its job.

Is Sneezing Good?

Sneezing is good, although you may not think so if you have been sneezing for days on end with a nasty cold. Sneezing helps clear the nasal passages of dust and debris and is an important part of the immune system, helping to keep us healthy. A good, hearty sneeze can also clear our bacteria and viruses before they have a chance to make you sick.

Why Does It Feel Good To Sneeze?

We all have experienced the sweet release that occurs after a particularly robust sneeze has just let loose. One of the reasons why it feels so good to sneeze is the sudden release of pent-up pressure, which always feels nice. There is also research to suggest that when we sneeze there may be a release of endorphins, the hormone which stimulates your body’s pleasure center. Whatever the truth is, we know that a good sneeze can feel nice.

So, how do you make yourself sneeze? What works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another, so experiment with what triggers your Sneeze Center!

Twist a tissue into a spear and insert it into one nostril. Gently tease it about a bit to produce a tickling sensation. Close your mouth and hum at the same time.

There is a nerve running underneath your eyebrow that is connected to your nose, so grab your tweezers and snatch out a stray eyebrow or two!

Same concept as above, but you're tweezing right at the source!

Looking at bright light can sometimes bring on a sneeze, especially if one is right on the cusp of forming. Approximately 17 to 35% of people are genetically prone to sneezing when looking at a bright light. If you are within this percentage, chances are this will work for you.

If you can avoid gagging, then tickle the roof of your mouth gently to trigger a sneeze.

Sometimes sniffing pepper, peppermint oil, or another strongly scented spice can have you going "achoo," so give it a try! There are some people who sneeze every time they fold a piece of strong peppermint gum into their mouths.

Pour a very carbonated beverage into a glass, lean in, and let the bubbles tickle your nose. Taking a bubbly sip and holding it in your mouth might work for you, too!

For some people, taking in a big breath of cold air can trigger a sneeze. If it’s winter, try sticking your head outside and breathing in deeply, or try standing in front of an open freezer door and doing the same.

Eating chocolate that has a high cocoa content (think: dark chocolate) can trigger a sneeze for some people. Note: this one didn’t work for me, but I really enjoyed trying.

Faking a sneeze can bring on a real sneeze.

Just the motion of tilting your head back can sometimes bring on a sneeze, especially if you are right on the verge of one.

This is a weird one, but give it a try. Take a shallow bowl of warm water and dip the tip of your nose into it. Breathe in just a little bit of the water, stand upright, and throw your head back. If there are a few droplets of water in your nose, they could trigger a sneeze.

We hope that this article answered some of your sneeze-related questions, and that we were able to help you let loose with your own satisfying sneeze! If you found this article helpful, please SHARE it with a friend who could use a sneeze of their own!