Sometimes you feel like the sneeze is getting closer but only remains at the tip of your nose. Maybe you want to sneeze out of your system before giving a talk, attending a meeting, a meal, or greeting your date. Since sneezing is a natural reaction, it can be triggered if the right stimulus is provided. You will have to experiment a bit since sneeze triggers are as personal as DNA, but in this article we are going to give you a series of tips so that you know how to cause a sneeze.
Tickling the nose
Since the purpose of the sneeze is to release foreign substances from your body into the nose, you can set up a hoax by tickling the nose with a tissue, cotton swab, or even a lock of hair – but nothing sharp or hard.
- Take a tissue
- Roll the corner into a small point
- Place the tip in your nostril
- Turn and shake the tissue – it should tickle you a bit
Sensitivity changes
Place your hand on a relatively cool surface, such as metal, stone, or a window. Move your hand in and out of the surface a couple of times.
These changes in sensation can cause a sneeze.
A mouthful of seasonings
Pour some pepper, cumin, coriander, or other seasonings onto a piece of paper or other surface. Grind well with a mortar, if you can. Put a few layers of cheesecloth (or any other fine filter) over the seasonings; bring your nose close to the gauze and inhale gently.
Keep in mind that if a few large pieces of ground pepper pass through the cheesecloth and into your nose, it will probably burn you. Keep a tissue nearby so you can blow your nose if this happens.
Look into a bright light
17% to 35% of people have “sun sneezing” and have genetically inherited the photic sneeze reflex. You may be one of them.
Limit your exposure to light and close your eyes. After your eyes have acclimatized to the dark, open your eyes and quickly turn on a bright light, enter a bright room, or look at a beam of light outside (but not directly at the sun, as it can damage your eyes).
If you have the bright light sneeze reflex, you likely sneeze, and perhaps several times in a row. Why does this happen? The trigeminal nerve, which controls sneezing, is located right next to the optic nerve. In some people, the high optic nerve stimulation “diffuses” into the trigeminal nerve (in the same way that the wires can “cross” or interfere) and the body mistakenly responds by sneezing.
A deep breath of cold air
If you are inside, and it is quite cold outside, try to get out and suddenly inhale cold air. This can also trigger the sneeze reflex.
Another way to do this is to take a hot shower, then quickly stick your head out and take a deep breath of fresh air. Or, stick your head in the freezer and breathe!
Chew strong mint
The sudden arrival of a strong taste can cause a sneeze. Peppermint candies and strong peppermint-flavored toothpaste can even induce a sneezing attack in some people.
