Sinusitis, known as sinusitis in Western medicine, is divided into chronic and acute types. The main symptoms include localized headache, stuffy nose, persistent nasal discharge, and olfactory dysfunction. Nasal examination may reveal congestion and swelling of the nasal mucosa, as well as retained nasal discharge. It often occurs following external contraction of wind-heat, as the pathogenic wind-heat invades the lung meridian. Since the nose is the orifice of the lungs, the condition develops along the meridian, leading to sinusitis. Therefore, treatment primarily focuses on dispersing wind, clearing heat, and relieving stuffy orifices to expel the pathogenic factors.

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Li Jichang Medical Case

A 35-year-old female came for consultation on May 11, 1965. She had been ill for over a year, with symptoms including nasal congestion, inability to smell, foul-smelling nasal discharge, severe headache, palpitation, sweating of hands and feet, cold extremities, and menstruation just ended. She usually had excessive vaginal discharge before menstruation. Her pulse was thin and weak, and her tongue was pale red with thin white coating. The syndrome was attributed to blood failing to nourish the heart, combined with wind-heat and dampness disturbing the clear orifices, and the lung orifices not being clear. It was appropriate to treat the symptoms first. The prescription used was Cocklebur Fruit 5 qian, Magnolia 3 qian, Wu Dahurian Angelica 3 qian, Patchouli 3 qian, Schizonepeta 2 qian, Sichuan Lovage Rhizome 3 qian, Submature Bitter Orange 2 qian, Asarum 1 qian, Chastetree Fruit 3 qian, and stir-frying to yellow Scutellaria 2 qian. On May 13, during the second consultation, after taking two doses of the above prescription, nasal congestion improved, headache gradually lessened, and other symptoms remained the same. The above prescription was maintained with the addition of Sheng Er Liang, and two more doses were taken. The headache stopped, nasal breathing became smooth, and the ability to smell returned. The prescription was then adjusted to treat palpitation and sweating.