Nasal allergies
AliasAllergic rhinitis
Traditional Chinese Medicine Definition
Biqi, also known as allergic rhinitis in traditional Chinese medicine, falls under the category of otorhinolaryngological disorders. The classic TCM text *Internal Medicine of Traditional Chinese Medicine* records: "Biqi is characterized by nasal itching, sneezing, and clear nasal discharge." This condition is often caused by deficiency of lung qi, insecure defensive exterior, or yang deficiency of the spleen and kidneys, leading to invasion by external pathogens.
In TCM clinical practice, the core pathogenesis of Biqi involves dysfunction of the lung, spleen, and kidney organs, resulting in insecure defensive exterior and invasion of the nasal orifices by external pathogens. Common triggers include climate changes, environmental pollution, pollen, and dust. Syndrome differentiation requires distinguishing cold, heat, deficiency, and excess. For example, lung qi deficiency-cold pattern manifests as nasal itching, sneezing, clear nasal discharge, shortness of breath, and fatigue; spleen qi deficiency pattern presents with nasal congestion, sneezing, poor appetite, abdominal distension, loose stools, and fatigue; kidney yang insufficiency pattern shows year-round nasal itching and sneezing, aversion to cold, cold limbs, and soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees; lung meridian latent heat pattern features nasal itching, sneezing, yellow nasal discharge, dry mouth, red tongue with thin yellow coating. Overall treatment direction emphasizes warming the lung to disperse cold, supplementing qi to secure the exterior, strengthening the spleen to boost qi, ascending clear qi to resolve dampness, warming kidney yang, consolidating the governor vessel to unblock the orifices, clearing the lung to unblock the orifices, and cooling blood to dispel wind.
Common Syndrome Types and Key Points of Differentiation
lung qi deficiency cold syndrome
Main Manifestations: Nasal itching and sneezing, clear runny nose, shortness of breath and fatigue, susceptibility to colds.
Management Approach: Warm the lungs, disperse cold, benefit qi, and secure the exterior.
Spleen Qi Deficiency Syndrome
Main Manifestations: Nasal congestion and sneezing, poor appetite and abdominal distension, loose stools and fatigue, sallow complexion.
Management Approach: Invigorate the spleen, replenish qi, raise the clear and transform dampness.
Insufficient Kidney Yang Syndrome
Main Manifestations: Year-round nasal itching and sneezing, aversion to cold with cold limbs, soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees.
Management Approach: Warm and tonify kidney yang, secure the Governing Vessel, and open the orifices.
Lung meridian latent heat syndrome
Main Manifestations: Nasal itching and sneezing, yellow nasal discharge, dry mouth, red tongue with thin yellow coating.
Management Approach: Clearing the lungs, opening the orifices, cooling the blood, and dispelling wind.
The above syndrome information is based on traditional Chinese medicine textbooks and clinical standards. Specific differentiation should be completed by a practicing traditional Chinese medicine physician in person.
Physician's Clinical Insights
For Biqi patients with persistent sneezing, I focus on observing the tongue body and coating, and treatment often employs the method of dispersing wind and dissipating cold.
— Zhu Yongbing Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner
Related Popular Articles
Related TCM Treatment Programs
This page is for the popular science of traditional Chinese medicine knowledge and does not constitute medical advice. Specific diagnosis should be completed by a licensed traditional Chinese medicine practitioner in person.
This article has been reviewed by licensed TCM physicians at Hangzhou Kezhentang TCM Clinic. It is for TCM popular science reference only and does not involve specific treatment plan recommendations.
References: Internal Medicine of TCM (13th Five-Year Plan Textbook), Diagnostic and Therapeutic Effectiveness Standards for TCM Diseases and Syndromes (ZY/T001.1-94), Classification and Codes of TCM Diseases and Syndromes (GB/T 15657-2021)