Nasal Congestion

鼻塞

Blocked or stuffy nose that hinders normal breathing.

Quick Facts

Health Topic	Respiratory Care
Also Known As	Blocked nose, Stuffy nose, Nasal blockage, Congested sinuses, Runny or blocked nose
Common Symptoms	A blocked or stuffy sensation in one or both nostrils that makes breathing through the nose difficult. There may be clear or coloured discharge, reduced sense of smell, sneezing, or pressure across the forehead and face. Symptoms can shift with weather, posture or time of day.
Related TCM Patterns	Wind-Cold · Wind-Heat · Lung Heat · Qi Deficiency · Yang Deficiency
Related Classical Formulas	Ma Huang Tang · Gui Zhi Tang · Xing Su San · Ge Gen Tang · Yin Qiao San · Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin Tang · Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang · Cang Er San · Shen Su Yin · Xiao Qing Long Tang · Jing Fang Bai Du San · Xin Yi San · Xin Yi Qing Fei Tang · Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San · Gui Zhi Jia Hou Po Xing Zi Tang · Gui Ma Ge Ban Tang

Nasal Congestion in Traditional Chinese Medicine

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, nasal congestion is commonly associated with exterior patterns such as Wind-Cold and Wind-Heat. Differentiation looks at whether the discharge is clear and watery or yellow and sticky, whether there are chills or fever and sore throat, and whether the onset is acute after exposure to wind. Classical formulas are matched to these exterior pattern features rather than to nasal blockage alone.

TCM Patterns Associated With Nasal Congestion

The same presentation may be understood through more than one pattern. Pattern differentiation weighs the accompanying signs, not the symptom on its own.

Pattern	Common Features	Related Formulas
Wind-Cold風寒證Exterior Patterns	Chills that outweigh the fever, no sweating, a stuffy or runny nose with clear discharge, an itchy or scratchy throat rather than a sore one, body aches, and a cough with thin white phlegm. Symptoms often start abruptly after exposure to cold or wind. Tongue with a thin white coating; pulse floating and tight.	Ma Huang Tang Gui Zhi Tang Xing Su San Ge Gen Tang Cang Er San Xiao Qing Long Tang Jing Fang Bai Du San Xin Yi San Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San Gui Zhi Jia Hou Po Xing Zi Tang Gui Ma Ge Ban Tang
Wind-Heat風熱證Exterior Patterns	Fever that is more noticeable than chills, mild sweating, sore throat, thirst, and a cough that may be dry or with yellow phlegm. The onset is often abrupt after exposure to wind or heat. Nasal discharge can turn yellow, and the face may look flushed. Tongue tip red with a thin yellow coating; pulse floating and rapid.	Yin Qiao San Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang
Lung Heat肺熱證Heat Patterns	Cough with yellow or sticky phlegm, thirst, a feeling of heat in the chest, and possible shortness of breath or flaring of the nostrils in stronger presentations. Fever may be present without marked chills, and the throat can feel sore or dry. Tongue red with a yellow coating; pulse rapid, possibly slippery.	Xin Yi Qing Fei Tang
Qi Deficiency氣虛證Deficiency Patterns	Easy fatigue, shortness of breath on mild effort, a soft or low voice, and spontaneous sweating with light activity. The complexion is often pale, and recovery after exertion is slow. There may be a tendency to catch external pathogens more easily. Tongue pale with a thin white coating; pulse weak or empty.	Shen Su Yin
Yang Deficiency陽虛證Deficiency Patterns	Aversion to cold, cold limbs, preference for warm drinks and clothing, and low energy that worsens in cold weather. There may be loose stools, clear copious urine, a pale puffy face, and reduced libido or lumbar weakness. The person feels better with warmth and worse with cold exposure. Tongue pale and possibly swollen with a white coating; pulse deep and weak.	Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin Tang