Chronic rhinitis is a chronic inflammatory change of the nasal mucosa, mainly due to the protraction of acute rhinitis. Its main symptom is nasal obstruction. This disease is called in TCM "bi zhi" (nasal obstruction).

Major Points of Diagnosis

1. The nasal obstruction is either alternate, intermittent or continuous.

2. The nasal mucosa swells or becomes thick, especially that of the inferior nasal concha.

3. Hyposmia is fluctuating.

4. There is pain and itching in the throat and tinnitus or hypoacusis may occur. 

Differentiation and Treatment of Common Syndromes     

1. Internal Treatment.

1) The Type of Qi-Deficiency of both the Lung and the Spleen

Main symptoms and Signs: The nasal obstruction is relieved in the morning and aggravated at night and becomes severer is exposed to cold. When the patient lies in lateral recumbent position, it is less severe in the upper part than in the lower one, or becomes alternate. The inferior nasal concha swells and has slight congestion. The conchae may contract if vasoconstrictor is used. There may be accompanying cough with thin sputum, short breath and asthenia. The tongue is light red, and its fur is white and the pulse moderate.

Therapeutic Principle: strengthening the spleen, warming the lung, removing cold and clearing away the obstruction from the upper orifices.

Recipe: Pill for Warming the Lung to Stop Running Nose with additional ingredients

ginseng, schizonepeta, chebula fruit, platycodon root, eardust of yellow croaker, dahurian angelica root, asarum herb, licorice root, astragalus root.

All the above herbs are to be decocted in water for oral administration.

2) The Type of Stagnation of Qi and Blood Stasis

Main Symptoms and Signs: The patient has continuous nasal obstruction and hyposmia. The inferior nasal concha is hypertrophic and dark red or like moruloid and insensitive to vasoconstrictor. There and accompanying symptoms such as dizzying, a feeling of fullness in the ear and hypoacusis. The tongue is red or has petechiae on it. The pulse is taut and uneven.

Therapeutic Principle: Promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis and resolving masses to clear away obstruction from the upper orifices.

Recipe: Peach Kernel and Safflower Decoction of Four Ingredients, compounded with Xanthium Powder

peach kernel, safflower, dried rehmannia root, xanthium, peppermint, magnolia flower, Chinese angelica root, red peony root, ligusticum rhizome, dahurian angelica root.

All the above herbs are to be decocted in water for oral administration.

For those with severe nasal obstruction, add 9 grams of Chinese honeylocust spine and 9 grams of pangolin scale. For those with headache, add 9 grams of ligusticum root and 9 grams of chastetree fruit. For those who have severe blood stasis, add 9 grams of burreed tuber and 9 grams of zedoary. For those who have short breath and asthenia, add 15 grams of codonopsis root, 9 grams of white atractylodes rhizome and 9 grams of amomun fruit.

2. External Treatment

1) Use Effectual Nose Drops for nasal drip. This should be done three times a day.

2) Blow Powder of Eardust of Yellow Croaker into the nasal cavity. Its ingredients are:

cardust of yellow croaker, borneol, magnolia flower, asarum herb.

All the above ingredients are to be pounded into powder and blown into the nose three times a day.

3) Massage the nasal part. Knead with two thumbs to and fro along the back of the nose until a sensation of enough heat is produced. Do this twice a day.  

Thank you so much for visiting our website!  


1. Since the clinical cases are always more complex than theories, so for an accurate syndrome identification and effective treatment to you, please let us evaluate your personnel conditions by filling out Patient Form.

2.Check Our Online Shop for hundreds of the best herbal products manufactured in China for various chronic diseases. Find herbal product for rhinitis treatment at this page.