Chronic Rhinitis — Root Treatment for Nasal Congestion
Table of Contents
A constantly blocked nose: a daily struggle
A flood of clear runny nose every morning, congestion all day long, and even worse blockage at night force you to breathe through your mouth — degrading sleep quality and impairing concentration. Chronic rhinitis is not a life-threatening condition, but it severely lowers quality of life. Decongestant sprays may clear the nose briefly, but a vicious cycle of re-blockage soon returns.
The Korean medicine view of chronic rhinitis
In Korean medicine, the nose is the orifice of the lung (肺). Chronic rhinitis is broadly divided into two constitutional types.
- Lung qi deficiency with cold (肺氣虛寒): The lung qi is weak and cold, causing oversensitivity to cold air or dust. Severe morning sneezing and clear runny nose are typical.
- Spleen deficiency with damp excess (脾虛濕盛): A weak spleen-stomach (digestive system) impairs water metabolism, and surplus fluid stagnates in the nasal mucosa. The nose is constantly blocked with sticky discharge.
Korean medicine treatment protocol
- Herbal medicine: Constitution-matched prescriptions such as Socheongryong-tang (小靑龍湯), Okbyeongpung-san (玉屛風散), and Bojungikgi-tang (補中益氣湯) strengthen the lung and spleen-stomach functions.
- Acupuncture: Stimulating points around the nasal cavity such as Yingxiang (LI20), Hegu (LI4), and Shangxing (GV23) reduces mucosal swelling and improves airflow.
- Moxibustion: Applied to Feishu (BL13) and Dazhui (GV14) to warm the lung and boost immunity.
Treatment course and expected outcomes
Korean medicine treatment for chronic rhinitis typically runs in cycles of 2 to 3 months. From the second week, morning sneezing and runny nose begin to subside, and at 4 to 6 weeks, nasal congestion improves. Full constitutional correction may take 3 to 6 months, but because the root cause is addressed, the relapse rate is low — a key strength of Korean medicine treatment.