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Allergic Rhinitis

How Chinese medicine differentiates allergic rhinitis, the six patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Acupuncture only — no herbs.

This page is educational, for practitioners and students — it is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace a proper in-person assessment. Nasal blockage with facial swelling, persistent one-sided bleeding, or a suspected structural cause (polyps, deviated septum) needs ENT evaluation.
General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for allergic rhinitis — 14 key points, used across most of the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

PointKey action
L.I.-20Expels exterior Wind, opens the nose, removes obstructions from the channel.
L.I.-4Expels exterior Wind, releases the Exterior, benefits the nose, ears, eyes and mouth.
LU-7Releases the Exterior, expels exterior Wind, opens the nose, benefits the head and neck.
G.B.-20Expels exterior Wind, subdues Liver-Yang, clears Heat, benefits the head.
BL-13Stimulates the diffusing and descending of Lung-Qi, expels external Wind, tonifies Lung-Qi.
ST-36Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
Du-14Clears Heat, releases the Exterior, expels exterior Wind, regulates Nutritive and Defensive Qi.
SP-6Strengthens the Spleen, resolves Dampness, tonifies the Kidneys.
KI-3Tonifies the Kidneys (Yin and Yang), strengthens Essence.
BL-23Tonifies the Kidneys, nourishes Kidney-Essence, strengthens the lower back.
Du-4Tonifies Kidney-Yang, warms the Gate of Life (Ming Men), expels Cold.
LU-5Clears Lung-Heat, promotes the descending of Lung-Qi, resolves Phlegm.
SP-10Cools Blood, invigorates Blood and eliminates stasis.
BL-17Invigorates Blood, cools Blood, nourishes Blood, tonifies Qi and Blood.
The Six Patterns

reinforcing   reducing   even method — technique below follows standard Excess/Deficiency treatment principle for each pattern, not tied to a specific point-by-point source.

1. Wind-Cold Invading the Lungs View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Sudden fits of sneezing; profuse clear watery nasal discharge; nasal itching that flares in cold air or wind; a stuffy nose with reduced sense of smell; chills and aversion to wind more than fever; no sweating; headache and body aches; brought on by sudden exposure to cold wind or air-conditioning, cold drinks, seasonal changes, or drafts on the neck; eased by warmth and covering the neck, warm ginger tea, avoiding cold air, or a warm scarf.
Tongue: Normal or slightly Pale body, thin white moist coating. Pulse: Floating, Tight.
Treatment principle: Release the Exterior, disperse Wind-Cold, open the nasal orifices.
Note: moxa applicable.

2. Lung-Qi Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Chronic clear watery nasal discharge lasting weeks to months; a weak, low voice with fatigue; marked sensitivity to wind and cold; spontaneous sweating during the day without exertion; a pale complexion; frequent colds that are slow to clear; brought on by overwork and chronic fatigue, repeated exposure to cold and wind, a long illness, or lack of sleep; eased by rest, warm clothing and avoiding drafts, warm nourishing food, or moxibustion on the back.
Tongue: Pale, tender body, possible tooth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Weak, Empty, especially at the right Cun (front) position.
Treatment principle: Tonify Lung-Qi, consolidate the Exterior.
Note: moxa applicable.

3. Spleen-Qi Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Profuse sticky, clear nasal discharge; nasal congestion distinctly worse after eating; bloating and loose stools; a heavy, tired feeling in the limbs; poor appetite; brought on by irregular meals or overeating, cold raw food and drinks, overthinking and worry, or damp weather; eased by warm cooked food, regular mealtimes, rest after meals, or gentle exercise.
Tongue: Pale, puffy body with tooth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Soft, Weak, especially at the right Guan (middle) position.
Treatment principle: Tonify the Spleen, raise sunken Yang.
Note: moxa applicable.

4. Kidney-Yang Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Profuse watery nasal discharge markedly worse in cold weather; cold limbs and a cold sensation in the lower back; soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees; frequent urination, especially at night; symptoms worse in winter and early morning; deep fatigue and low spirits; possible loose stools or early-morning diarrhoea; brought on by cold weather, ageing, chronic illness, or overwork; eased by warmth on the lower back, warm food and drinks, rest, or moxibustion.
Tongue: Pale, puffy, tender body with tooth marks, wet white coating. Pulse: Deep, Slow, Weak, especially at the rear (Chi) position.
Treatment principle: Tonify Kidney-Yang, warm the Gate of Life (Ming Men).
Note: moxa applicable.

5. Lung-Heat View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Yellow or greenish, thick nasal discharge; a dry mouth and thirst; a sensation of heat in the nose or face; irritability and restlessness; possible mild sore throat; brought on by spicy or fried food, a hot stuffy environment, smoking, or lingering unresolved Wind-Cold turning into Heat; eased by cool drinks, fresh air, avoiding spicy or fried food, or a cool environment.
Tongue: Red body, especially at the tip, dry yellow coating, possible prickly papillae on the front third. Pulse: Rapid, possibly Slippery or Overflowing at the right Cun position.
Treatment principle: Clear Lung-Heat, unblock the nasal passages.
Note: no moxa.

6. Qi Deficiency Causing Blood Stagnation

Clinical manifestations: Dark, purple or dusky nasal mucosa; fixed, unremitting nasal blockage that doesn't shift; stabbing, localized pain in the nose or head; a pale face with a greyish tinge; fatigue and shortness of breath; a long-standing history of allergic rhinitis; brought on by a long-untreated condition, chronic fatigue, cold weather, or repeated unresolved infections; eased by rest, warmth, gentle movement, or a sustained course of treatment addressing both the deficiency and the stasis.
Tongue: Pale-dark or pale-purple body, often with stasis spots and tooth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Deep, Fine, Choppy.
Treatment principle: Tonify Qi, invigorate Blood, dispel stasis, unblock the local channels.
Tonify Qi
Invigorate Blood, local
Note: moxa applicable on ST-36 only; no deck slide matches this exact deficiency-driven local stasis pattern, so no pattern link is given here (verified — no equivalent found across all 11 pattern decks).
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