Nasal dryness refers to the symptom of dryness in the nasal cavity. Therefore, Neijing refers to it as "nasal dryness," also known as "nasal aridity." This condition is often accompanied by clinical manifestations such as nasal pain, epistaxis, nasal soreness, and nasal swelling, and thus can be cross-referenced with the above entries.

bubble_chart Pattern Analysis

1. Exuberant Heat in the Lung Meridian︰Dry nostrils, burning and painful, with slight nasal itching, or dry nose with bleeding, dry mouth and throat, cough with scanty sputum, severe cases may be accompanied by fever, headache, general discomfort, dry stool and yellow urine. Locally, redness, swelling, or erosion of the nostrils may be observed. The tongue tip is red, with thin yellow coating, and the pulse is floating and rapid or wiry and rapid. It is caused by wind pathogenic heat invading the lung. Since the lung opens into the nose, lung heat rises and obstructs the nasal orifice. When lung heat is excessive, symptoms such as dry mouth and throat, cough with scanty sputum, red tongue tip, and even dry nose with bleeding may occur. Treatment should focus on clearing heat and ventilating the lung. The recommended formulas are Mulberry Leaf and Chrysanthemum Decoction or Dryness-Clearing Lung-Rescuing Decoction with modifications.
2. Dryness Damaging the Lung︰Dryness of the nose and throat, congestion and itching, decreased sense of smell, dry cough without phlegm or with scant sticky phlegm, thirst, dry lips, initial onset with chest pain, fever, headache, and general soreness. Local examination may reveal dry nasal mucosa with crust accumulation. The tongue is red with thin, scant coating and floating, thin, rapid pulse. This condition often occurs in autumn when dryness qi prevails, attributed to pathogenic dryness damaging yin, known as external dryness. Hence, nasal dryness and significant nasal obstruction are prominent, accompanied by fever, headache, and general soreness—symptoms of dryness invading the exterior. Treatment should focus on relieving dryness and moistening the lungs, with the prescription of Mulberry Leaf and Apricot Kernel Decoction.
3. Stomach Heat︰Dry nose with a burning sensation, possibly accompanied by pain, nosebleeds, or crusting; dry mouth and throat, thirst with a preference for cold drinks, fetid mouth odor, or rapid digestion and frequent hunger, acid reflux and epigastric upset, constipation with dark urine, red tongue with yellow coating, and a slippery, rapid pulse. This condition is often caused by excessive consumption of spicy foods, which generates heat and fire, or external pathogens transforming into internal heat and damaging the stomach. The stomach meridian originates near the nose, and when stomach heat rises, it scorches the nasal passages, leading to nasal dryness. Additional symptoms include thirst for cold drinks, severe constipation, and a dry yellow tongue coating. Clinically, this is not difficult to differentiate. Treatment should focus on clearing and purging stomach fire, using formulas such as Stomach-Clearing Powder or Stomach-Regulating Purgative Decoction with modifications.
4. Lung Dryness Yin Deficiency︰Dry nose and throat, scanty and sticky nasal discharge, itchy throat, cough, chest pain, night sweat, or hoarseness, red tongue with scant fluid, thin white coating, thready and weak pulse. Often due to recurrent illness just recovered, with yin fluids not yet restored, or excessive sweating, injuring lung yin, leading to yin deficiency causing dryness as internal dryness, hence manifesting itchy throat, vexing heat, cough with chest pain, night sweat, and other yin deficiency symptoms. Treatment should focus on nourishing yin and moistening dryness, with the formula selection being Lily Bulb Metal-Securing Decoction.
5. Lung-spleen Qi Deficiency︰Dry and itchy nose, dry crusts in the nostrils, or accompanied by a pale complexion, weak cough and wheezing, shortness of breath, spontaneous sweating, abdominal distension and fullness, anorexia, loose stools, pale tongue texture, thin white coating, and fine weak pulse. The spleen governs transportation and transformation, the lungs govern distribution. Lung-spleen qi deficiency prevents the essence of water and grain from being transported upward to the nose, leading to dryness in the nostrils. Other deficiency signs such as spontaneous sweating, poor appetite, and loose stools are distinctly different from other symptoms and signs. Treatment should focus on tonifying the middle and replenishing qi, banking up earth to generate metal. The recommended formula is Middle-Tonifying Qi-Replenishing Decoction, or modified Jian Six Gentlemen Metal and Water Decoction.

Dryness pathogen damaging the lung and lung dryness with yin deficiency causing dry nose, the location of disease is in the lung, both manifest as dry nose and dry throat without pain, the former being external dryness, the latter being internal dryness.

The symptom of dry nose, its disease cause is not limited to external dryness, heat, and deficiency, but is generally caused by injury to body fluids and liquid, related to the lung, spleen, stomach, and other zang-fu organs. In addition, there is also drug-induced dry nose, which is formed by misuse or overuse of warm and dry drugs, and should be treated with yin-nourishing and dryness-moistening products. External application of nasal drops can also be used to moisturize the local area, such as Chrysanthemum Flower honey or sesame oil for local application.