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Your doctor can’t write you a prescription for this sweet relief for your clogged nose—and you certainly won’t find it on pharmacy shelves. A new study reveals that the best congestion remedy is tangled in your bed sheets.
Scientists have long-found that mild to moderate physical exercise can temporarily relieve nasal congestion. Push-ups, for example, can provide quick relief by opening your nasal passages and reducing inflammation that may be affecting them.
But current researchers tested another form of cardio.
German researchers discovered that having an orgasm clears up stuffy noses just as effectively as commercial decongestant sprays, according to a trial involving 18 brave couples willing to get intimate – strictly for science.
The only device involved during the “testing” was a handy nasal airflow instrument. Participants rated their breathing at home on a 10-point scale and measured airflow using a portable rhinomanometer. Readings were logged right before sex, immediately after orgasm, and at the 30-minute, one-hour, and three-hour marks. Data only made the cut if both partners hit peak satisfaction.
The following day, couples picked up a dose of xylometazoline—a standard over-the-counter decongestant spray—to see how nature’s remedy stacked up against the drugstore aisle.
Results showed that reaching the big finish provided sinus-opening airflow that was on par with the nasal spray for up to an hour. Average airflow surged by 214 mL/s right after an orgasm and hit 249 mL/s at 30 minutes, before beginning a gradual decline to baseline levels.
The trusty nasal spray boosted airflow by about 235 mL/s immediately and 287 mL/s at 30 minutes. This relief lasted up to three hours.
While a climax may offers a more enjoyable fix, the spray wins on staying power. Scientists also noted that bedroom therapy was only tested on everyday stuffiness—no heavy colds or severe sinus infections were fixed under the covers.
Relief also depended on how subjects initial congestion level. Those suffering from major blockage, according to their Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) questionnaire scores, enjoyed significant clearance after sex, whereas folks with mild sniffling saw barely any change.
Lead researcher Olcay Bulut suggested that a mix of excitement and physical exertion work together to open up tight airways.
The researchers acknowledged major limitations of couples self-reporting their pleasure and airflow measurements, so the team could not confirm if instructions were truly followed.
Back in 1897, physician Wilhelm Fliess—a close buddy of Sigmund Freud—first pitched a bizarre link between the nose and the genitals. While modern researchers debunked his wacky theories, this study suggested the physiological connection between sex and sinus clearance can be legit.
Previous research shows nasal airflow improves with exercise intensity rather than how long you workout—meaning in this study, ‘session’ length matters far less than simply finishing the job.
And for those flying solo, researchers are curious about if self-pleasure works just as well. The authors proposed future studies that would add comparison groups for masturbation and for intercourse without orgasm. If solo activity worked similarly, they wrote, it might offer a natural alternative to decongestants, a possibility that remains untested.