Stuffy nose according to Chinese Medicine
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.
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Stuffy 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 stuffy 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 stuffy nose is often associated with headaches, aversion to cold and fever in the pattern “Wind-Heat invading the Lungs”. As you will see below, we have in record four patterns that can cause stuffy nose.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of stuffy nose we’ve identified five herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat stuffy nose.
The four "patterns of disharmony" that can cause stuffy nose
In Chinese Medicine stuffy nose is a symptom for 4 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Wind-Heat invading the Lungs
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Floating (Fu)
In addition to stuffy nose, other symptoms associated with Wind-Heat invading the Lungs include headaches, aversion to cold and fever.
Wind-Heat invading the Lungs is often treated with Yin Qiao San, a herbal formula made of 10 herbs (including Honeysuckle Flowers - Jin Yin Hua - as a key herb). Yin Qiao San belongs to the category of "external formulas for external disorders", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Disperses Wind Heat".
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Damp-Heat in the Stomach
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
In addition to stuffy nose, other symptoms associated with Damp-Heat in the Stomach include epigastric pain, epigastrium fullness and feeling of heaviness.
Damp-Heat in the Stomach is often treated with Lian Po Yin, a herbal formula made of 7 herbs (including Goldthread Rhizomes - Huang Lian - as a key herb). Lian Po Yin belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat and expel dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Heat".
Japanese Catnip (Jing Jie) is the king ingredient for Jing Fang Bai Du San, a formula used for Wind-Cold
Wind-Cold
Pulse type(s): Tight (Jin), Floating (Fu)
In addition to stuffy nose, other symptoms associated with Wind-Cold include headaches, aversion to cold and fever.
Wind-Cold is often treated with Jing Fang Bai Du San, a herbal formula made of 13 herbs (including Japanese Catnip - Jing Jie - as a key herb). Jing Fang Bai Du San belongs to the category of "external formulas for external disorders", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Releases the Exterior".
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Wind-Cold invading the Lungs
Pulse type(s): Tight (Jin), Floating (Fu)
Tongue shape: Partially swollen
In addition to stuffy nose, other symptoms associated with Wind-Cold invading the Lungs include headaches, aversion to cold and fever.
Wind-Cold invading the Lungs is often treated with Ma Huang Tang, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Ephedra - Ma Huang - as a key herb). Ma Huang Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear wind-cold", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Releases exterior cold".
Five herbal formulas that might help with stuffy nose
Yin Qiao San
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Disperses Wind Heat. Clears Heat. Resolves Toxicity.
Why might Yin Qiao San help with stuffy nose?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Wind-Heat invading the Lungs' of which blocked nose is a symptom.
Lian Po Yin
Source date: 1862 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat. Transforms Dampness. Regulates Qi. Harmonizes the Middle Burner.
Why might Lian Po Yin help with stuffy nose?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Stomach' of which blocked nose is a symptom.
Ge Hua Jie Cheng San
Source date: 13th century
Number of ingredients: 13 herbs
Key actions: Separates and reduces alcohol-dampness. Warms the Middle. Strengthens the Spleen .
Why might Ge Hua Jie Cheng San help with stuffy nose?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Stomach' of which blocked nose is a symptom.
Jing Fang Bai Du San
Source date: 1550 AD
Number of ingredients: 13 herbs
Key actions: Releases the Exterior. Dispels Wind and Dampness. Augments Qi.
Why might Jing Fang Bai Du San help with stuffy nose?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Wind-Cold' of which blocked nose is a symptom.
Ma Huang Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Releases exterior cold. Treats wheezing.
Why might Ma Huang Tang help with stuffy nose?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Wind-Cold invading the Lungs' of which blocked nose is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for stuffy nose
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat stuffy nose
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with stuffy nose?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat stuffy nose as a symptom, like Ma Huang Tang or Ge Gen Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might Japanese Catnip (Jing Jie) help with stuffy nose?
Because Japanese Catnip is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat stuffy nose as a symptom, like Jing Fang Bai Du San or Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang for instance.
Japanese Catnip is a Neutral herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Liver and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold or Heat depending on the other herbs used. Releases the Exterior for measles. Stops bleeding. Abates swellings.
Why might Wild Mint (Bo He) help with stuffy nose?
Because Wild Mint is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat stuffy nose as a symptom, like Sang Ju Yin or Yin Qiao San for instance.
Wild Mint is a Cool herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Liver and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Relieves the Exterior and disperses Wind-Heat. Clears Wind-Heat from the head, eyes and throat. Allows the release of toxins from the skin. Moves Stagnant Liver Qi
Why might Fermented Soybean (Dan Dou Chi) help with stuffy nose?
Because Fermented Soybean is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat stuffy nose as a symptom, like Cong Chi Tang or Huo Ren Cong Shi Tang for instance.
Fermented Soybeans is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Lung and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Relieves the Exterior and scatters Wind, Cold and Heat, especially when there is Yin Deficiency. Relieves stuffy sensation in the chest and irritability.
Why might Platycodon Root (Jie Geng) help with stuffy nose?
Because Platycodon Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat stuffy nose as a symptom, like Yin Qiao San or Sang Ju Yin for instance.
Platycodon Roots is a Neutral herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Lung.
Its main actions are: Opens the Lungs and smoothes the flow of Lung Qi. Expels Phlegm and pus from the Lungs and throat, can be used for either Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat according to the other herbs in the formula. Directs the actions of other herbs to the Upper Warmer.
Other symptoms often associated with stuffy nose
Headaches Aversion to cold Fever Sneezing Runny nose Body aches Chills Itchy throat Sore throat Coughing