Nasal congestion

Blockage of the nose impairing the sense of smell. Nasal congestion is attributed to nondiffusion of lung qì due to wind-cold or wind-heat. In wind-cold patterns, it is attended by heat effusion, aversion to cold, headache and generalized pain, white tongue fur, and a floating pulse. In wind-heat patterns, it is accompanied by heat effusion, thirst, and runny nose with turbid snivel (nasal mucus). Nasal congestion is also a principal sign of nasal polyp.

Medicinal therapy: Treat wind-cold patterns by coursing wind and dispersing cold with Apricot Kernel and Perilla Powder (杏苏散 xìng sū sǎn). Treat wind-heat patterns by coursing wind and clearing heat with Mulberry Leaf and Chrysanthemum Beverage (桑菊饮 sāng jú yǐn). For external treatment, insufflate powdered gleditsia (Gleditsiae Fructus, 皂荚 zào jiá), asarum (Asari Rhizoma et Radix, 细辛 xì xīn), magnolia flower (Magnoliae Flos¹, 辛夷 xīn yí), zanthoxylum (Zanthoxyli Pericarpium, 花椒 huā jiāo), and aconite (Aconiti Radix Lateralis Praeparata, 附子 fù zǐ).

Acumoxatherapy: Main points: LI-20 (Welcome Fragrance, 迎香 yíng xiāng), LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), GV-23 (Upper Star, 上星 shàng xīng), and GB-20 (Wind Pool, 风池 fēng chí).

• For wind-cold, add TB-5 (Outer Pass, 外关 wài guān) and LU-7 (Broken Sequence, 列缺 liè quē), needling with drainage and adding moxa.
• For wind-heat, add GV-14 (Great Hammer, 大椎 dà zhuī) and LI-11 (Pool at the Bend, 曲池 qū chí). Needle with drainage and prick LU-11 (Lesser Shang, 少商 shào shāng) to bleed.