Sneezing is our body’s mechanism of clearing the nose of dirt, smoke, pollen, dust or other foreign materials. You can even sneeze without having an underlying disease. For example, being exposed to cold temperatures, bright lights, or peppers can also make you sneeze.
So sneezing is quite normal. But if you have been asking yourself- ‘why am I sneezing so much all of a sudden?’ then it might be time to look into the matter.
How to Stop Sneezing?
If you have been experiencing uncontrollable sneezing, there are a few things you can do to keep it in check, including the following:
1. Identify Your Triggers
A lot of things have the potential to irritate your nose. Identifying your trigger would allow you to avoid the trigger, thereby reducing the chances of your sneezing. It will also help you get the right treatment. Common triggers include
- Dust
- Mould
- Pollen
- Pet dander
- Perfume
- Black pepper
- Spicy foods
- Bright lights
- Common cold viruses
It’s alright if you can’t identify the trigger yourself. You can go to a doctor who will recommend an allergy test if required. Once you identify your triggers, you can choose the appropriate treatment.
2. Steam
A common treatment for sneezing is steam inhalation. You can put hot water in a bowl, bend over the bowl, cover your head with a towel, and breathe in the steam. Alternatively, you can buy a steaming machine and sit in front of it.
Steam will clear your nasal passage and treat a runny nose. It is commonly used for colds and cases of flu.
3. Avoid Large Meals
Snatiation refers to an uncontrollable bout of sneezing after consuming a large meal. It was originally termed ‘stomach sneeze reflex’. Experts are yet to find the cause of this phenomenon, but if you have noticed you only sneeze after a big meal, it might be time to change your diet pattern.
4. Tickling the Roof of the Mouth
Anecdotally, some believe that tickling the roof of the mouth can also help stop incessant sneezing. People believe that stimulating the top of the mouth will help stifle the sneeze. You can try doing this for a few seconds before sneezing. It could potentially make you stop sneezing.
5. Don't Look Directly into the Light
Photic sneeze reflex refers to the onset of sneezing upon exposure to bright light. Many people experience this condition. It is also usually passed on through generations of family members. It could be beneficial to wear polarised sunglasses if you are stepping out in bright daylight.
6. Blow Your Nose
The easiest thing you could do is blow your nose so that the irritant comes out. Especially if you feel the particles, blowing your nose should be beneficial. If your nose is sore from continuous nose-blowing, you can apply some lotion or petroleum jelly to the sore areas.
7. Pinch Your Nose
Sometimes you can stop a sneeze by pinching your nose right before it happens. You can either pinch your nose just below your eyebrows or at the base of your nose.
8. Take Vitamin C
Citrus fruits happen to have flavonoids, an antioxidant that helps build immunity and fight unwanted bacteria. This can help you fight off allergies and colds. Add some citrus fruits to your diet.
While this may not offer immediate relief, it does build your immunity so that you sneeze less in the long run. Citrus fruits you can include in your diet are
- Oranges
- Limes
- Amla
- Indian gooseberry
Also Read: Top 20 Foods that are High in Vitamin C
9. Use a Nasal Spray
A capsaicin nasal spray helps clear out congested sinuses and helps prevent irritants from entering your nose. Capsaicin is also present in chilli peppers. It may cause instant sneezing and a running nose, but your sinuses will be clear within a minute. This is because capsaicin cuts off the sensitivity to any nose irritant.
Home Remedies for Sneezing
Understandably, not everyone is keen to rely on medication for sneezing. Are you wondering how to stop sneezing home remedy-wise? Let’s look at a few options:
1. Eucalyptus Oil
If you have a dust allergy, sniffing eucalyptus oil will come to the rescue. This essential oil contains a compound called citronella, which acts as an expectorant. Moreover, it has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.
You need to add a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil to your handkerchief and sniff it through the day. This will clear your nasal passage and remove unwanted dust particles.
2. Honey
There are studies that have shown how honey helps to prevent sneezing related to cold and flu. However, this might not be the best solution if you have an allergic reaction. However, there is no harm in trying it as honey is good for you. It is said that honey helps our bodies adapt to any allergen in the environment.
You can consume one teaspoon of honey daily to reduce inflammation and experience instant relief from sneezing. It is also a versatile remedy. You can topically apply it on allergic rashes for instant relief.
3. Ginger and Tulsi
Ginger and tulsi help to fight against colds and allergies. As per Ayurveda, tulsi is the ‘Mother Medicine of Nature’ and the ‘Queen of Herbs’. Both tulsi and ginger are rich in antioxidants, which help fight off infections and allergies. The best way to implement it into your diet is by adding it to your tea. It is a highly effective natural remedy for sneezing.
4. Amla
Amla has great antioxidant and antibacterial properties that help to build immunity. You can either have 3-4 amlas a day or drink a glass of amla juice daily. It is sure to help you stop incessant sneezing.
Also Read: Surprising Amla Benefits for Your Health and Wellness
5. Black Cardamom
Black cardamom helps you stop sneezing because of its strong aroma and the essential oils present in it that repair the mucous flow and flush out irritants from your nose. You can chew a black cardamom couple of times a day.
How to Stop Sneezing and Runny Nose?
Do you want to know how to stop sneezing and runny nose issues? Try these simple tricks for effective results:
1. Bed Rest
If you are fighting off an infection, it is vital that you allow your body to rest and heal itself.
2. Plenty of Fluids
Colds and fevers cause dehydration. Hence, you should drink plenty of fluids like water, soup, and tea to hydrate yourself.
3. Humidifier
You can place a humidifier in your room as it will loosen the phlegm caught in your nose and airways.
4. Steam Inhalation
This is one of the most effective ways to clear your sinuses and nasal passage.
5. Avoid Irritants
There are certain irritants like dust, pollen, cigarette smoke, etc., that may trigger sneezing. Avoid them if you can.
How to Stop Sneezing Immediately?
If you want to know how to stop sneezing immediately, read on. Bear in mind that it is not always easy to stop sneezing immediately. The first step would be to avoid exposure to whatever is setting off your sneezing. You can do the following things to avoid sneezing:
- Don’t keep pets if you are allergic to animal dander
- Don’t go to places with high pollen counts
- Wash your linens regularly. Use hot water to kill dust mites
- Clean your house regularly
The best bet to stop sneezing immediately would be to take an antihistamine tablet. This should give you some relief.
Continuous Sneezing Causes
Sneezing is annoying, but it is usually not of much concern. However, if you haven’t been able to stop sneezing, let’s look at some continuous sneezing causes:
- Hay fever
- Breathing in corticosteroids from certain nose sprays
- Allergy to mould, dander, or dust
- Cold or flu
- Drug withdrawal
- Air pollution
- Spicy food
- Powders
- Certain medicines
- Peppers or spices
Summing Up on How to Stop Sneezing
Sneezing is completely natural. It is our body’s mechanism of clearing out irritants from our airways. If you have been experiencing incessant sneezing, it would be best to get it checked by a doctor. However, you can try these simple home remedies for relief in the meantime.
FAQs
Why Am I Sneezing So Much All of a Sudden?
Have you been asking yourself why am I sneezing so much all of a sudden? Well, anything that can irritate your nose can make you sneeze. It can be triggered by a host of things such as dust, pollen, dander, peppers, etc. It is a way for your body to expel unwanted germs and foreign elements from your nasal passages. You might be sneezing a lot to dispel such irritants from your body.
Is It Normal to Sneeze Everyday?
If you’re wondering, is it normal to sneeze everyday, yes, it is quite normal to sneeze around 4 times a day. If you have rhinitis, you might sneeze more. This might require medical attention.
Is Sneezing a Lot a Symptom of Covid?
No, sneezing is not a normal symptom of Covid. It is more likely to be a cold or allergy. However, if you have reason to believe that you have Covid, get tested immediately and quarantine yourself.
What to Drink to Stop Sneezing?
Chamomile has great antihistamine effects. Hence, drinking a cup of chamomile tea a day can help reduce the total amount of histamine in the body. This will ensure that you sneeze less.
References
- Zamzil Amin Asha’ari, September 2013; Ingestion of honey improves the symptoms of allergic rhinitis: evidence from a randomized placebo-controlled trial in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6074882/
- Mahendra Parkash Kapoor, March 2020; Clinical evaluation of Emblica Officinalis Gatertn (Amla) in healthy human subjects: Health benefits and safety results from a randomized, double-blind, crossover placebo-controlled study - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6926135/
- Paul Little, September 2016; Effectiveness of steam inhalation and nasal irrigation for chronic or recurrent sinus symptoms in primary care: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27431306/
