Sneezing is one of the many reflexes we are born with that we have very little control over. As soon as we are triggered our brain tells our lungs to accumulate as much air as they can and to use your chest muscles to create a huge buildup of pressure that is then released as a sneeze. But what exactly is going on at an evolutionary level? Why do our bodies force us into these uncomfortable, often embarrassing, convulsions?
So Yes, We'll Tell You How Make Yourself Sneeze - But Why?
Like most traits and abilities that organisms inherit, sneezing has a raison d'etre that is grounded in evolution and survival. Our noses contain many, many tiny sensors called cilia that line the insides of our nostrils and detect what things we inhale.
What you may not have been aware of is that sneezing has the useful secondary benefit of clearing your nose, which is often why they accompany colds and stuffy noses. They also prime the cilia to remain on high alert for any more incoming foreign objects which can help your body ultimately defend itself.
All of this begs the question: Can we take advantage of what we know about the nose to trick our bodies into sneezing? Let's find out.
The Foreign Object
As we discussed above, sneezing is triggered when the cilia in your nose is stimulated by something foreign entering your nostril. We can replicate this in a controlled environment by choosing something that our body will deem foreign. The most common items are cotton swabs or the legendary feather.
You can use almost anything you want but make sure it is soft! Sharp or hard objects can hurt your nostrils and they press on the cilia too heavily to trigger them effectively. Using soft, subtle strokes against your nasal walls works best.
Harness The Power Of The Sun
This one seems like a joke but it's a real phenomenon. Many of us actually happen to be “sun sneezers” which means we were born with a predisposition for the “photic sneeze reflex.” In layman's terms it means that some, around close to 27%, of people can have their sneezing reflex triggered by light.
This is a result of a phenomenon where nerves that are close enough to one another can influence each other. The optic nerve which reacts to light happens to be extremely close to the nerve that is responsible for sneezing. Thus sometimes when the optic never is overloaded with information so of those electric impulses can jump ship and stimulate the trigeminal nerve (which causes us to sneeze).
To test whether you have the photic reflex, surround yourself in complete darkness until you have grown accustomed to it. It helps to close your eyes to ensure no light is entering your eyes. Then quickly turn on something bright in order to overload your now more sensitive eyes with light. If you sneeze you've got it! If you don't, you'll just have to try one of the other methods.
Did You Know?
You Might Have The Photic Reflex If You Sneeze Under Certain Conditions
Flavor Blast
Most powders that are used for seasoning pull some powerful punches in the flavor department. Try inhaling something like pepper or any other strong seasoning and you won't be able to hold back a sneeze.
If you don't want to put anything in your nose you can always try a mint. Not just any mint will do though, you need one that is as strong or stronger than Altoids-level. Chewing really minty gum works as well! You'll notice how your mouth will swell with flavor and feel some of it transfer to your nostrils. This can often result in sneezing.
| Method | Avoid | How |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Object | Hard/Sharp Objects | Cotton Swabs, feathers, any soft material gently rubbed against nose wall |
| Photic Reflex | Light entering your eyes as you grow accustomed to darkness | Overload eyes with light after being in complete darkness |
| Flavor | Weak seasonings/mints | Inhale pepper or similar seasoning/eat or chew powerful mint (gum) |
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