Traditional Chinese Medicine Approach to Sinusitis

Clearing the Nose by Unblocking Meridians and Resolving Pathogenic Factors

Sinusitis—inflammation or blockage of the sinus cavities—is known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as "Bi Yuan" (鼻渊), meaning "deep-seated nasal congestion or discharge." It often presents with symptoms such as nasal obstruction, thick discharge, facial pain or pressure, headache, and sometimes loss of smell.TCM does not treat sinusitis as a single disease but as the result of external Wind invasions combined with internal imbalances, such as Dampness, Heat, Phlegm, or Qi deficiency. Treatment is aimed at expelling the pathogen, clearing Heat, resolving Phlegm, and strengthening the underlying organs.

🔹 General TCM Causes of Sinusitis

Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat invasion that becomes trapped in the nose and sinuses

Lung and Spleen Qi Deficiency, leading to accumulation of Phlegm and Dampness

Liver and Gallbladder Heat rising to the head, causing chronic or recurring inflammation

Kidney Deficiency, failing to nourish the upper orifices in long-standing cases

🔹 Common TCM Patterns and Treatment Principles

✅ Wind-Heat Invading the Lungs and Nasal Passages

Symptoms: Nasal congestion, yellow sticky discharge, headache, sore throat, slight fever

Treatment Principle: Expel Wind, clear Heat, open the nose

✅ Damp-Heat Accumulating in the Sinuses

Symptoms: Thick yellow-green discharge, sinus pressure/pain, foul smell, fatigue, heavy limbs

Treatment Principle: Clear Heat, drain Dampness, resolve Phlegm, open nasal passages

✅ Lung and Spleen Qi Deficiency

Symptoms: Chronic sinus congestion, clear watery discharge, low immunity, fatigue, poor appetite

Treatment Principle: Strengthen Qi, tonify Lung and Spleen, transform Damp

✅ Liver and Gallbladder Heat (often in recurring or stubborn sinusitis)

Symptoms: Dryness or burning in nose, thick discharge, irritability, bitter taste in mouth, red eyes

Treatment Principle: Clear Liver/Gallbladder Heat, drain Fire, unblock the nose

✅ Kidney Yin or Yang Deficiency (chronic, long-term cases)

Symptoms: Persistent stuffy nose, mild discharge, dizziness, tinnitus, cold back and knees (Yang deficiency) or heat at night, dry throat (Yin deficiency)

Treatment Principle: Tonify Kidney Yin or Yang, nourish the brain, support the upper orifices

🔹 Other TCM Therapies for Sinusitis

✅ Acupuncture

Effectively relieves nasal obstruction, reduces inflammation, and boosts immunity.

✅ Cupping or Gua Sha

Applied to the upper back or neck to release exterior pathogens and improve circulation, especially in Wind-Cold type cases.

✅ Dietary and Lifestyle Support

Avoid: Cold/raw foods, dairy, greasy or spicy foods (which produce Phlegm and Dampness)

Eat: Warm, cooked meals with Lung- and Spleen-strengthening ingredients (e.g., ginger, daikon, lotus root, rice porridge)

Protect: Against Wind and Cold, especially around the head and neck

Hydrate: Warm teas with perilla leaf, ginger, or chrysanthemum may help clear congestion

💬 Conclusion

TCM treats sinusitis by identifying the pattern of disharmony behind the symptoms and applying a tailored combination of herbal medicine, acupuncture, and lifestyle support. Unlike symptomatic relief alone, TCM focuses on resolving the root cause, preventing recurrence, and strengthening the body's natural defenses.