Postnasal Drip

How Chinese medicine differentiates postnasal drip, the five 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. Drip accompanied by facial pain, fever, or a foul smell needs medical evaluation to rule out sinus infection before acupuncture is considered.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for postnasal drip — 10 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
BL-13	Stimulates the diffusing and descending of Lung-Qi. Tonifies Lung-Qi.
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen. Tonifies Qi and Blood.
L.I.-20	Expels exterior Wind. Opens the nose. Removes obstructions from the channel.
LU-7	Promotes the descending and diffusing of Lung-Qi. Opens the nose.
BL-20	Tonifies Spleen and Stomach. Resolves Dampness.
SP-9	Regulates the Spleen. Resolves Dampness. Opens the Water passages.
ST-40	Resolves Phlegm and Dampness. Subdues rebellious Qi.
Ren-12	Tonifies Stomach and Spleen. Resolves Dampness and Phlegm.
L.I.-4	Expels exterior Wind. Benefits the eyes, nose, ears and mouth.
G.B.-20	Expels exterior Wind. Clears Heat. Benefits the head.
LU-5	Clears Lung-Heat. Resolves Phlegm from the Lungs.
BL-23	Tonifies the Kidneys and nourishes Kidney-Essence.
Ren-4	Nourishes Blood and Yin. Strengthens the Kidneys.
KI-3	Tonifies the Kidneys (Yin and Yang). Strengthens Essence.

The Five Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Lung-Qi Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Clear, thin, watery post-nasal drip; fatigue; a weak, low voice; frequent colds; sensitivity to wind; shortness of breath worsening with exertion; spontaneous daytime sweating.

Tongue: Pale, tender, teeth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Weak or Empty, especially at the right cun (Lung) position.

Treatment principle: Tonify Lung-Qi, secure the Exterior, stop sweating and restore fluid dispersal.

BL-13 ↑ ST-36 ↑ L.I.-20 ⊥ LU-7 ↑

Note: moxa applicable except on the local point. Direct match with Lung-Qi deficiency — spontaneous sweating, weak voice and a propensity to catch colds are shared hallmarks.

2. Spleen Deficiency with Dampness

Clinical manifestations: Thick, white, sticky mucus; heaviness in the body and limbs; a poor appetite; bloating after eating; loose stools; drowsiness after meals; a greasy mouth sensation.

Tongue: Pale, puffy, teeth marks, moist, white greasy coating. Pulse: Soggy, Slow, especially at the right Guan position.

Treatment principle: Tonify Spleen-Qi, strengthen its transformative function and drain Dampness, preventing further Phlegm formation.

Tonify Spleen

BL-20 ↑ ST-36 ↑

Resolve Dampness

SP-9 ↓ L.I.-20 ⊥

Note: moxa applicable on the Tonify-Spleen points. No deck on this site combines Spleen deficiency with Dampness into one named pattern, so no pattern link is given here.

3. Damp-Phlegm in the Lungs View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Sticky white or grey-white mucus; a constant need to clear the throat; heaviness or fullness in the chest; cough with copious white phlegm; a poor appetite; bloating.

Tongue: Pale, swollen, teeth marks, thick white greasy coating. Pulse: Slippery.

Treatment principle: Dry Dampness, transform Phlegm, regulate Qi and restore the Lung's downward-dispersing function.

ST-40 ↓ Ren-12 ↑ BL-13 ↓ L.I.-20 ⊥

Note: no moxa except on Ren-12. Direct match with Damp-Phlegm in the Lungs — phlegm in the throat and sticky white sputum are shared distinguishing markers.

4. Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Thick yellow or green mucus; throat irritation or tickling; a heat sensation in the chest or body; cough with yellow sputum; irritability and restlessness.

Tongue: Red, possibly swollen at the front, yellow greasy coating. Pulse: Rapid, Slippery.

Treatment principle: Clear Lung-Heat, resolve the Phlegm-Heat obstruction, and open the nasal passages.

L.I.-20 ⊥ L.I.-4 ↓ G.B.-20 ↓ BL-13 ↓ LU-5 ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct match with Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs.

5. Kidney-Yang Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Watery, clear, thin discharge; coldness throughout the body, especially the lower back and legs; frequent nighttime urination; low back and knee soreness; worse in cold weather or after overwork.

Tongue: Pale, puffy, tender, teeth marks, wet white coating. Pulse: Deep, Slow, weak, especially at the rear position.

Treatment principle: Warm and tonify Kidney-Yang, restoring fluid transformation and control.

BL-23 ↑ Ren-4 ↑ KI-3 ↑ L.I.-20 ⊥

Note: moxa applicable except on the local point. Direct match with Kidney-Yang deficiency.

Related conditions

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