Disease and Condition Overview
Rhinitis is characterized by stuffy nose and running nose . It is categorized into acute and chronic rhinitis. In Chinese medicine, acute rhinitis is often caused by attack of external wind cold, unable to promote lung qi,or wind heat uprising, lung loses the ability to regulate and clear itself resultings accumulation of external pathogenic qi at the nose. As for chronic rhinitis, it is often caused by qi deficiency of the lung and spleen, pathogenic qi stagnation at the nose, or lingering of pathogenic qi leading to stagnation of qi and blood, blocking the nose. Additionally, in cases of allergic rhinitis, it is because of weakness of lung qi or deficiency of both spleen and kidney, leading to wind cold taking advantage of the unguarded, attacking the nose.
Clinically, chronic rhinitis is not seasonal and does not differentiate in age. It could be evolved from acute chronic rhinitis, or from prolonged exposure to dust or chemicals in the air. Allergic rhinitis is differentiated by known cause of allergen, with consistent symptoms such as itching m nose, sneezing, watery eyes, stuffy nose, occurring in mostly 15-40 year old, mostly seasonal.

Pair-point Treatment Combinations

(1) Yingxiang (LI20), Hegu (LI4) ( Fig 59)
Yingxiang ( LI20) : in the nasolabial groove, beside the midpoint of the lateral border of the ala nasi.
Hegu (LI4): on the dorsum of the hand, midway between the junction of the first and second  metacarpal bones.
Yingxiang ( LI20 ) promotes lung and connects to the orifice. Hegu (LI4) opens channels, invigorates luo-connecting channels, clears lung opens fu organs. This pair point combination, connects channels and qi within the channels, one superior, one inferior, promotes and elevates qi in the nose orifice, opens and dredges intestine harmonizes stomach, regulates the opening and closing of the orifice. Appropriate for all types of acute and chronic rhinitis.

Needling techniques:
1. Yingxiang (LI20) towards anterior, superior direction, oblique insertion 0.5 cun.
2. Hegu ( LI4 ) perpendicular insertion 1 cun.

(2) Yingxiang (LI20), Zasanli (ST36) (Fig 60)
Yingxiang (LI20) : in the nasolabial groove, beside the midpoint of the lateral border of the ala nasi.
Zusanli (ST36) : on the anteriolateral side of the lower leg, 3 cun inferior to Dubi (ST35), one finger breadth (middle finger) lateral to the anterior crest of the tibia.
Yingxiang (LI20) disperses and opens local qi connecting to the nose. Zusanli (ST36) clears yangming pathogenic heat and reversing the rising. This pair point combination, one superior, one inferior, both belong to the yangming channel and work in synchrony to clear and reduce pathogenic heat and open closed orifice. Appropriate for excess pathogenic qi attacking yangming or yangming qi and blood deficiency caused by acute and chronic rhinitis.

Needling techniques:
1. Yingxiang (LI20) towards anterior, superior direction, oblique insertion 0.5 cun.
2. Zusanli (ST36 ) perpendicular insertion 2 cun.

(3) Shangxing (DU 23), Yingxiang (LI 20) (Fig 61)
Shangxing (DU 23) : on the head,1 cun superior to the midpoint of the anterior hairline.
Yingxiang (LI 20) : in the nasolabial groove, beside the midpoint of the lateral border of the ala nasi.
Shangxing (DU 23) stimulates qi of the Du channel, opens channels and invigorates luo-connecting channels, disperses pathogenic factors to unobstructed orifice. Yingxiang (LI20) disperses yangming and connects to clear the nose.This pair point combination, one superior and one inferior, regulate qi in the channels surrounding the nose and clear obstructed orifices. Appropriate for rhinitis accompanied by reduced sense of smell.

Needling techniques:
1. Shangxing (DU23) from superior towards inferior direction. oblique insertion 0.5 cun or moxa using moxa stick for 20 minutes.
2. Yingxiang (LI20) towards anterior, superior direction, oblique insertion 0.5 cun.

(4) Hegu (LI4), Taiehong 1 (LV3) (Fig 5)
Hegu (LI4) clears and reduces yangming, opens fu organs by reversing the rising. Taichong (LV3) soothes the liver, regulates qi, invigorates blood to remove stagnation. This pair point combination, works on both qi and blood to regulate qi and blood, open channels and invigorate luo- connecting channels, open obstructed fu organs. Appropnate for all types of rhinitis  caused by qi stagnation.

Needling techniques:
1. Hegu (LI4) perpendicular insertion 1 cun.
2, Taiehong (LV3) perpendicular insertion 0.5 cun.

Commentaries
Acupuncture treatment for rhinitis is very effective. For acute rhinitis usually after 2-3 treatment can obtain substantial result, especially to improve the flow of qi in the nose. Patients with chronic rhinitis have longer course, which may require longer treatment period. Functional rhinitis is easier to treat than those which physiological changes. As for allergic rhinitis, it is crucial to locate allergens and avoid contacts and subsequent flare ups.