Hacker News Reader

Comment by ada1981 | Hacker News Reader

ada1981

My initial thought was vibration, so I was happy to see that was the solution!

I’ve been in bed sick all day with a terrible cold and my sinuses are packed solid.

I had a headache and so out of bordeum tried using my black and decker buffer to massage my head and relieve my headache (I use the buffer as an awesome massager and modded it with a variable speed switch).

To my surprise it worked on the headache and also liquified my sinuses.

A quick google search turned up a few other people playing with vibrators for congestion and at least one patent.

Funny to come across this after experimenting with getting solids to behave at liquids via vibration all day.

View on HN

Another thing to try is running up and down stairs, while holding a tissue.

Don't give in to temptation and stop too early and blow your nose! Keep going till you have full air flow, only then blow your nose (otherwise the pressure of blowing your nose closes things up again).

After that, consciously keep the nostril on the same side as your headache open, and let the other side close.

The closure is blood vessels in your nose swelling, it's not compacted material. When you exercise your body recognizes the need for more air and reverses the swelling. You don't usually notice, but it's normal to breathe with only one nostril at a time (and the body opens both when there is great demand for air). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasal_cycle

Anyway, since there is no actual material compaction, your vibration did not work for the reason you think, rather it acted as a massage for the swollen (irritated) blood vessels.

>I had a headache and so out of bordeum tried using my black and decker buffer to massage my head and relieve my headache

I think the logical next step is to put a boxing glove on a sawzall.

I would pay for this in Nerf form, but only if I can use it on my brother.

Oh god, you just reminded me of this: http://www.thebaynet.com/articles/0309/update-bloody-tragedy...

DIY Fucking Machines gone wrong.

Grand idea.

Saw this thing in a sappy movie that had a character with cystic fibrosis:

https://www.afflovest.com/

They make it sound fancier than just vibrations though

Since I had a chest cold I also tried it on my lungs thinking it might help loosen things up. Less sure that worked (it felt nice), but I do feel much better today.

I just bought one... What did you use as a variable speed switch? Something like a Lutron Credenza Plug-In Dimmer? I don't know if the buffer is 2 or 3 prong and I'm having trouble finding a 3 prong dimmer that is not remote controlled.

I have the Black & Decker Buffer from Amazon that is about $30. It’s fine on it’s own.

But then I found an old Lutron floor dimmer switch in a drawer and it worked perfectly.

The black and decker is a 2 prong plug.

This is seriously an awesome tool / toy.

I’ve seen other massagers for like $700 that are basically the same thing rebranded.

I just double checked for you.

Black & Decker WP900 Buffer

Lutron Credenza Dimmer TT-300

I was thinking about doing the same the other day but eventually settled for raw garlic instead.

Painful, but effective.

I am intrigued by your ideas and look forward to your product crowdfunding.

It did cross my mind!

Reply on news.ycombinator.com