The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
flushed nose redirects here
Red nose can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like red nose here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here red nose is often associated with night sweats, dry mouth and dry throat in the pattern “Yin Deficiency”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of red nose we’ve identified that a herbal formula called Liu Wei Di Huang Wan can help treat the patterns behind the symptom.
Yin Deficiency, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause red nose
In Chinese Medicine red nose is a symptom for the pattern "Yin Deficiency". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang) is the king ingredient for Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, a formula used for Yin Deficiency
Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Red
In the case of Yin Deficiency, the body is short in the cooling, moistening and nurturing aspects. This leads to Heat and Dryness accompanied by weakness and lack of strength and resistance. Yin becomes Deficient by over-working, lack of sleep, over-exercising, overindulgence in sex, long-term chronic diseases, internal injury due to the seven emotions, and the over-eating of dry and hot-natured foods.
In addition to red nose, other symptoms associated with Yin Deficiency include night sweats, dry mouth and dry throat.
Yin Deficiency is often treated with Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 6 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Liu Wei Di Huang Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish yin and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nutritive tonic for the Liver and Kidney Yin Essence (nourishes the parasympathetic nervous system)".
A herbal formula that might help with red nose
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Source date: 1119 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Nutritive tonic for the Liver and Kidney Yin Essence (nourishes the parasympathetic nervous system).
Why might Liu Wei Di Huang Wan help with red nose?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Yin Deficiency' of which red nose is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Yin Deficiency include night sweats, dry mouth and dry throat.
Prepared rehmannia might help with red nose
Why might Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) help with red nose?
Because it is a key herb in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Yin Deficiency' (a pattern with red nose as a symptom)
Prepared Rehmannia is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Tonifies the Yin of the Kidneys.
Other symptoms often associated with red nose
Night sweats Dry mouth Dry throat Insomnia Dizziness Sore throat Poor memory Irritability Headaches Dry cough