# rubbing tip of nose: really working against gag reflex? How? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 18, 2005, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-tip-of-nose-really-working-against-gag-reflex-how/304479 "2005-05-18T21:14:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-tip-of-nose-really-working-against-gag-reflex-how/304479/1 "2005-05-18T21:14:34Z")
As I have a strong gag reflex there is a problem with some dental procedures. When my dentist took a cast some time ago his assistant rubbed the tip of my nose while the cast hardened, and my subjective impression was that it helped. Are there studies showing that rubbing the tip of one’s nose helps? If so, is it only a psychological effect (distraction) or a neurological one? Is the effect the same when the rubbee is also the rubber? (With tickling it’s not the same as we all know.) ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-tip-of-nose-really-working-against-gag-reflex-how/304479/2 "2005-05-18T22:11:19Z")
It’s an evolved trait. Extranasal contact is how your nervous system tells the difference between deep fellatio and errant fruit. [/got nothing] ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-tip-of-nose-really-working-against-gag-reflex-how/304479/3 "2005-05-18T22:11:26Z")
There was a discussion awhile ago on a similar phenomenon, only it was the rubbing of the temples: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=285254&highlight=rubbing+temples](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=285254&highlight=rubbing+temples) ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-tip-of-nose-really-working-against-gag-reflex-how/304479/4 "2005-05-19T00:10:22Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > It’s an evolved trait. Extranasal contact is how your nervous system tells the difference between deep fellatio and errant fruit. > > [/got nothing] /me blinks. I have to use that the next time I’m at a boring party held by the anthro department. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-tip-of-nose-really-working-against-gag-reflex-how/304479/5 "2005-05-19T00:14:15Z")
[OT] Scratching slightly north of the tip of my nose causes me to sneeze… And it feels G_ooood_[/OT] ---
**Author:** ![Ficer67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Ficer67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ficer67)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-tip-of-nose-really-working-against-gag-reflex-how/304479/6 "2005-05-19T01:23:52Z")
I am just scratching my head… ---
**Author:** ![andrewdt85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71e660/32.png) [@andrewdt85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt85)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-tip-of-nose-really-working-against-gag-reflex-how/304479/7 "2005-05-19T01:42:11Z")
Little off topic- my mom would get nauseous years ago and would always rub the skin flap between the thumb and index finger. She read in some Prevention magazine or somewhere that it helps. Any idea if that’s factual? ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-tip-of-nose-really-working-against-gag-reflex-how/304479/8 "2005-05-20T04:06:43Z")
> [@andrewdt85](#): > > Little off topic- my mom would get nauseous years ago and would always rub the skin flap between the thumb and index finger. She read in some Prevention magazine or somewhere that it helps. Any idea if that’s factual? That spot corresponds to an acupuncture / acupressure point for easing nausea.