Can rhinitis be treated with traditional Chinese medicine?

Rhinitis is a common respiratory disease in autumn and winter. Its main symptoms include nasal congestion, excessive mucus, decreased sense of smell, headache, dizziness, loss of appetite, fatigue, memory loss, and insomnia. Some people suffer from rhinitis in autumn and winter. Doctors prescribe a lot of medicine, but it can only alleviate the symptoms but not cure them. The symptoms recur the next year and the cycle gets worse. Therefore, many people began to try traditional Chinese medicine treatment. So is traditional Chinese medicine really effective for rhinitis?

Causes of rhinitis:

1. Viral infection

Viral infection is the primary cause, or bacterial infection is secondary to viral infection. More than 100 viruses are known to cause this disease, the most common of which is rhinovirus, followed by influenza and parainfluenza viruses, adenovirus, coronavirus, coxsackievirus, and myxovirus and paramyxovirus. The virus is mainly transmitted through inhalation through the respiratory tract, and secondly through entering the body through contaminated objects or food.

2. Genetic factors

People with a family history of allergies are more likely to develop this disease. Most family members of the patients have a history of asthma, urticaria or drug allergy. In the past, such patients were called atopic individuals, whose ability to produce IgE antibodies was higher than that of normal people. However, in recent years, some people have found that there is no significant difference in the incidence rate between twins and the general population.

3. Susceptibility of nasal mucosa

Susceptibility arises from frequent stimulation by antigenic substances, but the degree of susceptibility depends on the number of mast cells and alkaliphils in the nasal mucosal tissue and the ability to release chemical mediators. It has been confirmed that the number of the above-mentioned cells in the nasal mucosa of patients with allergic rhinitis is not only higher than that of normal people, but also has a stronger ability to release chemical mediators.

4. Antigenic substances

Antigen substances that stimulate the body to produce IgE antibodies are called allergens. When the allergen enters the nasal mucosa again, it combines with the corresponding IgE and causes an allergic reaction. The allergens that cause this disease are divided into two categories according to the way they enter the human body: inhalation and food.

(1) Inhaled allergens

① Pollen: Not all plant pollens can cause disease. Only those pollens with large amounts, wide vegetation areas, strong allergenicity, and spread by wind are most likely to become allergens. Due to differences in vegetation species, the allergenic pollen in different regions is also different.

②Fungi are widely distributed in nature, mainly existing in soil and decayed organic matter. Both its hyphae and spores are allergenic, but the spores are more allergenic.

③House dust mites belong to the class Arachnid in the phylum Arthropoda. The size of adults is generally 300 to 500 μm. It mainly parasitizes in various corners of the room, with the most being in the dust on mattresses, pillows, sofa cushions, etc. The excrement, eggs, desquamation and broken body parts of mites can all become allergens.

④Animal dander Animal dander is one of the strongest allergens. For susceptible individuals, long-term contact with relevant animals may cause sensitization. After sensitization, further contact with even a small amount of dandruff can trigger nasal symptoms.

⑤Indoor dust is one of the common allergens that cause perennial rhinitis.

(2) Ingestion allergens

Refers to allergens that enter the human body through the digestive tract and cause nasal symptoms. The way in which it acts on the nasal mucosa is very complex and is still not fully understood. Milk, eggs, fish, shrimp, meat, fruit, and even some vegetables can become allergens.

Traditional Chinese medicine treatment of rhinitis:

Recipe 1: Chinese Yam and Coriander Porridge

Ingredients: 60 grams of yam, 10 grams each of scallion and coriander, and 100 grams of polished rice.

Usage: Grind the yam into powder and cook it with rice into porridge; chop the scallion and coriander into small pieces, add them into the porridge when it is cooked, stir well, boil, and eat in 1-2 times.

Efficacy: Nourishes the lungs and spleen, and clears the nasal passages.

Indications: Chronic rhinitis of the type of lung and spleen qi deficiency and evil stagnation in the nasal passages, with nasal congestion that varies from time to time, runny nose, symptoms aggravated by cold, and slight swelling and discomfort in the head.

Recipe 2: Mashed Yam

Ingredients: 150 grams of yam and 10 dates.

Usage: Cut the yam into small pieces, remove the core of the jujube, put them on a plate, steam them on the fire until the yam is soft, and mash them into a paste before eating.

Efficacy: Nourishes the lungs and spleen.

Indications: Chronic rhinitis of the type of deficiency of lung and spleen qi, stagnation of pathogenic factors in the nasal passages, alternating nasal congestion, runny nose, cough with thin sputum and shortness of breath, pale complexion, poor appetite, loose stools, and fatigue.

Recipe 3: Peach kernel porridge

Ingredients: 10g peach kernel (peeled and tipped), 50g polished rice.

Usage: Grind peach kernels with water to extract juice, add it to rice and cook into porridge for consumption.

Efficacy: Promote blood circulation and qi circulation.

Indications: Chronic rhinitis, which is caused by long-term retention of evil toxins, stagnation of qi and blood stasis. The nasal congestion is persistent, the mucus is abundant or yellow and thick, or sticky and white, and the tongue is red or has blood stasis.

Recipe 4 Orange Red Wine

Ingredients: 30 grams of tangerine peel, 500 grams of white wine.

Usage: Soak the tangerine peel in white wine and seal it for 1 month. Take 1 small cup (about 20 ml) every night before going to bed.

Efficacy: Promote blood circulation and open the orifices.

Indications: Chronic rhinitis, which is of the type of long-term retention of evil toxins, stagnation of qi and blood stasis, with persistent nasal congestion, excessive mucus or yellow and thick, or sticky white, dull sense of smell, slurred speech, cough with sputum, tinnitus and deafness.

Recipe 5: Rosé Drink

Ingredients: 10 grams of peach kernel, 10 grams of safflower, and 30 grams of mung bean.

Usage: Add 500 ml of water to the above three ingredients, boil for 30 minutes, take the juice instead of tea, do not take it for a long time.

Efficacy: Promote blood circulation and qi circulation.

Indications: Chronic rhinitis, which is caused by long-term retention of evil toxins, stagnation of qi and blood stasis, with persistent nasal congestion, excessive mucus or yellow and thick, or sticky white mucus, and a red tongue or one with petechiae.