How to stop sneezing?

[Tobs]

I had a bad cold recently and couldn't stop sneezing, Someone told me to look at the light and i would stop....very odd but it did work, can anyone tell me how it works??

[beenee]

When I was little, my parents used that on me and my brothers - when they thought we were struggling with a sneeze, they would say "look, an elephant dancing on the ceiling!" It wasn't particularly towards a light but upwards in general, and the sneeze wouldn't come.

Although I don't know exactly why. And in my experience, sometimes the best feeling in the world to let a huge massive sneeze rip!

[chrisbailey]

There are also some people (called 'Sun Sneezers') who DO sneeze when they look at a bright light. I'm not sure why though. I have this problem. If I leave a dark room and walk into sunlight, I'll sneeze.

[Tobs]

I've also heard about people who look at light and they sneeze, someone told me once that it was because when you look at a light the natural reaction is to want to close your eyes and when you sneeze you have to close your eyes!!! bit weird. thanx for your help

[darth vader]

I too am a sun sneezer. I researched the problem a while back and found out that a) it is hereditary b) it "just happens" i.e. there is no real reason why.

[darth vader]

sorry i meant there is no KNOWN reason why. There must be a real reason why, or else we're just making it up!