Traditional Chinese medicine believes that this disease falls under the categories of "common cold," "nasal congestion," and "stuffy nose." It is caused by the invasion of external pathogens, leading to lung dysfunction affecting the nose, which is connected to the skin and hair. If the body's defenses are weak and the pores are loose, wind-cold pathogens can take advantage of this weakness, invade the lung-defense system, and impair lung qi's purifying function. This affects the nasal passages, resulting in symptoms such as nasal congestion, sneezing, and clear nasal discharge. If wind-heat pathogens enter through the mouth and nose, they can also attack the lungs and block the nasal passages, causing nasal congestion and thick nasal discharge. If pathogenic toxins linger or repeatedly invade the lung-defense system, lung qi fails to disperse, leading to stagnation of qi and blood in the nasal passages, which can cause nasal airway obstruction. If lung qi is inherently weak and healthy qi is insufficient to expel the pathogens, the disease may remain latent in the nose, leading to recurrent and chronic conditions that are difficult to cure.

bubble_chart Modern Research

Allergic rhinitis is an allergic disease that occurs in the nasal mucous membrane. Clinically, it is mainly characterized by sneezing, profuse clear nasal discharge, stuffy nose, and itching of the eyes, nose, and throat. It often occurs simultaneously with allergic sinusitis and allergic conjunctivitis. Based on the characteristics of onset, it can be divided into seasonal allergic rhinitis and perennial allergic rhinitis.

The occurrence of this disease is related to exposure to allergens such as Mongolian snakegourd root, dust, genetic factors, and non-specific stimuli such as cold and temperature changes. The mechanism of disease mainly involves immediate hypersensitivity reactions. When allergens enter the body through the respiratory tract, they sensitize the body, leading to the production of IgE. IgE secreted by plasma cells in the submucosal layer of the nose, trachea, and bronchi is fixed on the surface of mast cells. When it encounters specific antigens again, it immediately causes mast cell degranulation, releasing bioactive mediators such as histamine, leading to capillary dilation, increased permeability, nasal mucous membrane edema, and symptoms such as itching of the eyes and nose.

1. Some patients have a family history of the disease, and most patients have a history of recurrent episodes.
2. Symptoms mainly include sneezing, clear nasal discharge, stuffy nose, and itching of the eyes, nose, and throat. Based on clinical manifestations, it can be divided into acute and chronic types.
3. Laboratory examination of nasal secretion smears: a large number of eosinophils can be seen. Skin tests: mostly show positive reactions.

bubble_chart Pattern Analysis

1. Wind-cold Obstructing the Lung︰Nasal congestion worsens with cold, accompanied by sneezing, a heavy and turbid voice, and copious clear nasal discharge. There is aversion to cold, fever, headache, body pain, mild nasal mucosal congestion but significant swelling. The tongue is pale red with a thin white coating, and the pulse is floating and tight or floating and moderate. The treatment involves dispersing wind and dissipating cold, ventilating the lungs, and relieving stuffy orifices. Modified Schizonepeta and Saposhnikovia Toxin-Vanquishing Powder is used, consisting of: Fineleaf Nepeta Spike 10g, Saposhnikovia Root 10g, Notopterygium 6g, Peucedanum 10g, Submature Bitter Orange 10g, Magnolia Flower 10g, White Atractylodes 10g, Cicada Slough 6g, Liquorice Root 5g. If there is fever with mild sweating and a floating, moderate pulse, remove Peucedanum and Notopterygium, and add Cinnamon Twig 10g, Platycodon Root 6g, Fresh Ginger Rhizome 3–5 slices, and Chinese Date 7 pieces. If accompanied by cough with excessive phlegm, add Dried Tangerine Peel 10g and Pro Formula Pinellia 10g.
2. Wind-heat Invading the Lung︰Nasal congestion, loud sneezing, thick nasal discharge that is white or slightly yellow, fever, mild aversion to cold, slight thirst, obvious congestion of the nasal mucosa. The tongue appears reddish with thin white or thin yellow coating, and the pulse is floating and rapid. The treatment principle is to dispel wind, clear heat, ventilate the lungs, and relieve stuffy orifices. Modified Lonicera and Forsythia Powder is used, consisting of: Lonicera 15g, Forsythia 12g, Lophatherum Herb 6g, Fineleaf Nepeta Spike 10g, Mentha 6g, Reed Rhizome 10g, Platycodon Root 6g, Magnolia Flower 10g, Cicada Slough 6g, Cocklebur Fruit 10g, Dahurian Angelica 10g, Liquorice Root 5g. For headache, add Chrysanthemum Flower 10g and green tea 6g; for dampness-heat, add Patchouli 12g and Fortune Eupatorium 10g; for sore throat, add Great Burdock Achene 20g, Vietnamese Sophora Root 10g, and Scrophularia Root 12g; for constipation, add Trichosanthes Seed 10g and raw Rhubarb Rhizoma 6–10g (to be decocted later or taken with water).
3. Lung Deficiency with Pathogenic Stagnation︰Nasal congestion is mostly intermittent, varying in severity, with nasal itching and bouts of sneezing upon waking, accompanied by thin, white, and copious nasal discharge that worsens with cold. It may also be accompanied by mental fatigue, lack of strength, chest tightness, shortness of breath, poor appetite, and loose stools. The tongue is pale with a thin coating, and the pulse is weak and thready. Treatment involves replenishing qi and consolidating the exterior, ventilating the lungs, and relieving stuffy orifices. Modified Jade Screen Powder is used: Astragalus Root 20g, Saposhnikovia Root 10g, White Atractylodes Rhizome 10g, Heterophylly Falsestarwort Root 15g, Platycodon Root 6g, Magnolia Flower 10g, Cicada Slough 6g, Tangshen 10g, Dried Tangerine Peel 10g, Poria 15g. For severe nasal congestion, add Sweetgum Fruit 10g, Notopterygium 6g, Atractylodes Rhizome 10g; for headache, add Chastetree Fruit 10g, Sichuan Lovage Rhizome 10g; for excessive nasal discharge, add Dahurian Angelica 10g, Coix Seed 20g, Waxgourd Seed 12g.
4. Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis︰Nasal congestion is often persistent, with fewer sneezes. The nasal discharge is thick, white, or tinged with fresh blood, difficult to expel, and accompanied by dulled sense of smell. Symptoms may include dizziness, tinnitus, and memory decline. The nasal mucosa appears congested, dark red, or deep red, with swollen turbinates that have an uneven surface. The tongue texture is purplish-dark or shows ecchymosis. Treatment involves invigorating blood and resolving stasis, moving qi to relieve stuffy orifices. Modified Chinese Angelica and Peony Root Decoction: Chinese Angelica 10g, Red Peony Root 12g, White Atractylodes Rhizome 10g, Sichuan Lovage Rhizome 10g, Poria 15g, Alisma 10g, Skullcap Root 10g, Mentha 6g, Magnolia Flower 10g, Cicada Slough 6g, Platycodon Root 6g. For pronounced blood stasis, add Peach Kernel 10g, Leech 10g, Sparganium Rhizome 15g, Zedoary Rhizome 12g. For severe nasal congestion, add Earthworm 10g, Patchouli 12g. For excessive discharge, head heaviness, and pain, add Acorus 10g, Dahurian Angelica 10g.