03/01/2026
The sinuses are air-filled cavities located around the facial bones, including the forehead, cheeks, nose, and behind the eyes. Their functions include humidifying the air we breathe, enhancing voice resonance, and reducing the weight of the skull. When the sinus passages become blocked due to infection, allergies, or irritation, mucus cannot drain properly. This can lead to symptoms such as nasal congestion, facial pain, headaches, pressure in the forehead or cheeks, and a heavy sensation around the eyes—a condition commonly known as sinusitis.
Massage and acupressure are gentle, non-medicated approaches that may help relieve sinus discomfort by improving blood circulation, relaxing facial muscles, and encouraging mucus drainage. Key acupressure points include LI20 (Yingxiang), located on both sides of the nostrils, which helps open nasal passages; Bitong, slightly above LI20 along the nasal bone, which is especially effective for relieving nasal congestion; and Yintang, located between the eyebrows, which helps ease forehead pressure, sinus headaches, and stress. BL2 (Zanzhu), found at the inner ends of the eyebrows, is useful for relieving pressure around the eyes, while ST2 (Sibai) on the cheekbones helps reduce cheek pain associated with maxillary sinus congestion.