Deep-source nasal congestion

Persistent nasal congestion with turbid snivel (nasal mucus) attributable to wind-cold, wind-heat, or gallbladder heat.

Biomedical correspondence: paranasal sinusitis, chronic rhinitis.

Patterns

Wind-cold (风寒 fēng hán) patterns are typified by nasal congestion with loss of smell, with a frequent sensation of acrid sour-sore in the nose.

Medicinal therapy: Rectify the lung and open the orifices. Use Magnolia Flower Powder (辛夷散 xīn yí sǎn).

Acumoxatherapy: As for all deep-source nasal congestion patterns, base treatment mainly on GV, LU, and LI. Main points: LU-7 (Broken Sequence, 列缺 liè quē), LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), LI-20 (Welcome Fragrance, 迎香 yíng xiāng), Hall of Impression (印堂 yìn táng), GV-23 (Upper Star, 上星 shàng xīng), and GB-20 (Wind Pool, 风池 fēng chí), needling with drainage. For loss of smell, add BL-7 (Celestial Connection, 通天 tōng tiān) and BL-10 (Celestial Pillar, 天柱 tiān zhù). For wind-cold, add moxa.

Wind-heat (风热 fēng rè) patterns are marked by pronounced runny nose with fishy-smelling yellow snivel (nasal mucus).

Medicinal therapy: Clear and diffuse the orifices of the lung; cool the blood and resolve toxin. Use Xanthium Powder (苍耳子散 cāng ěr zǐ sǎn) plus moutan (Moutan Cortex, 牡丹皮 mǔ dān pí) and dandelion (Taraxaci Herba, 蒲公英 pú gōng yīng).

Acumoxatherapy: to the basic points add GV-14 (Great Hammer, 大椎 dà zhuī) and LI-11 (Pool at the Bend, 曲池 qū chí).

Gallbladder heat (胆热 dǎn rè) spreading to the brain usually causes a more severe form of deep-source nasal congestion called brain leak, characterized by sourness in the nose and persistent nasal discharge like marrow or pus that has a foul or fishy smell and accompanied by dizziness, headache, and forgetfulness.

Medicinal therapy: Clear the gallbladder and diffuse the orifices of the lung. Use formulas like Deep-Source Decoction (取渊汤 qǔ yuān tāng), which contains magnolia flower (Magnoliae Flos, 辛夷 xīn yí), Chinese angelica (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, 当归 dāng guī), charred gardenia (Gardeniae Fructus Carbonisatus, 黑山栀子 hēi shān zhī zǐ), fritillaria (Fritillariae Bulbus, 贝母 bèi mǔ), bupleurum (Bupleuri Radix, 柴胡 chái hú), and scrophularia (Scrophulariae Radix, 玄参 xuán shēn).

Acumoxatherapy: Add to the basic points GB-34 (Yáng Mound Spring, 阳陵泉 yáng líng quán), LR-2 (Moving Between, 行间 xíng jiān), GB-39 (Suspended Bell, 悬钟 xuán zhōng), and GB-19 (Brain Hollow, 脑空 nǎo kōng).

Qi vacuity (气虚 qì xū) signs are often concurrent in deep-source nasal congestion.

Medicinal therapy: Supplement the center and boost qì. Use Center-Supplementing Qì-Boosting Decoction (补中益气汤 bǔ zhōng yì qì tāng) plus magnolia flower (Magnoliae Flos¹, 辛夷 xīn yí) and xanthium (Xanthii Fructus, 苍耳子 cāng ěr zǐ).

Acumoxatherapy: Needle with supplementation at ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ). Deep-source nasal congestion characterized by persistent bloody discharge with foul or fishy smell accompanied by dizzy head and vision and general emaciation is called brain-gripping sand shā, which nowadays prompts investigation into the possible presence of cancer.

Medicinal therapy: Diffuse the lung and free the network vessels using Luffa Stem Powder (天罗散 tiān luó sǎn), which is luffa stem (Luffae Caulis, 丝瓜藤 sī guā) ground, and swallowed with yellow wine. Both brain leak and brain-gripping sand shā can also be treated with Old Hermit Patchouli Pill (奇授藿香丸 qí shòu huò xiāng wán), comprising patchouli (Pogostemonis Herba, 藿香 huò xiāng) combined with pig or ox bile, which can be taken with a decoction of xanthium (Xanthii Fructus, 苍耳子 cāng ěr zǐ).