
And all it involves is an empty plastic bottle and your armpit.
Getting a stuffy nose can be annoying and particularly dreadful when trying to sleep. Natural remedies can help, but short of buying decongestants from the nearest drugstore there seems to be little one can do to immediately alleviate blocked sinuses.
Japanese Twitter user @dobu_p tried out various methods he saw on social media, and has sworn that one particular technique works for even the most stubborn of sinuses.
▼ All you need is a plastic bottle.
(Translation below)
Twitterで得た知見の中でも、「鼻が詰まっているときは、つまっている穴と反対側の脇に空のペットボトルを挟むと、副交感神経の働きで解消される」はトップレベルに役立っています…ありがとう…
— おいでよ どぶろくの森 (@dobu_p) November 8, 2017
“Among all the findings I’ve gleaned from Twitter, I’ve found the best method to be the one where you take an empty plastic bottle and squeeze it in the armpit of the opposite side of your blocked nostril, which allows the parasympathetic nervous system to clear the sinus… thank you….”
So if your left nostril is congested, all you have to do is sandwich a bottle in your right armpit (or vice versa) and it’s all fixed! @dobu_p also found that using 500 milliliter bottles achieved the best relief, though this may be different for other people.
▼ Plastic bottles solving human problems since time immemorial.
Encouraged by his discovery, Japanese netizens also chimed in with their own ways of unblocking stuffy noses:
“Sit-ups also work wonders, and it’ll come into effect shortly after you begin doing it. In general, anything that directs blood flow away from your nose works!”
“You can also try another technique. If your right nostril is blocked, just lie down on the bed on your left side and extend your arm out a little. It’ll clear immediately.”
“Hold some water or tea in your mouth and wait for it to unblock in no time. You can do this at work too!”
Say goodbye to blocked sinuses forever! Although some netizens have a few remedies of their own, the bottle technique seems to be the most popular, giving us even more reason to keep one of them lying around the house. With a little modification, they’ll even turn into a bunch of other useful household items.
Source: Twitter/@dobu_p via Hachima Kiko
Top image: GAHAG
Insert image: ©SoraNews24


“The revolutionary way to pick your nose!” We try out the Nose Picker
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
Peanuts and Coke becomes a viral hit in Japan, but is it a trend worth joining?
7-Eleven Japan’s new baked-in-store sweet treat is only available in three parts of the country
What happens when our reporters show up to work dressed like their fathers?
Starbucks Japan opens new Kyoto store in Place of Scenic Beauty
Japanese green tea vending machine has a puppet show that tells the story behind the drink
Japan’s new difficult-to-drink-from beer glass protects your liver, but it’s a brutal experience
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
From cameos to creepy-crawlies: 15 little-known facts about Studio Ghibli movies
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations
Two food hacks take Japan’s convenience store fried chicken to amazing new sandwich heights
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
Fading Tokyo – Searching for signs of the Showa era as local neighborhoods evolve[Photos]
Pokémon lacquerware series expands for Year of the Horse with new handcrafted design[Video]
Tokyo turns its phone booths into free Wi-Fi hotspots, and here’s how to use them
Tokyo teahouse serves up a sakura matcha dessert you won’t find anywhere else
Totoro Fund line of beautiful artwork and apparel lets you help the real-world Totoro Forest
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says