Introduction
Allergic rhinitis refers to allergic reaction of the nasal mucus due to excessive sensitivity of the certain part of the body to the sensitinogen. It usually occurs all year round or in certain seasons, the former is more frequent and often seen among young people. The clinical manifestations are mainly paroxysmal nasal pruritus, frequent sneezing, nasal obstruction and thin nasal discharge. This problem is caused by insufficiency of yang-qi in the lung, spleen and kidney, weakness of defensive qi and invasion of pathogenic wind and cold into the nose that lead to stagnation of pulmonary qi and obstruction of the nose.
Syndrome Differentiation
1. Asthenia of the Lung
Nasal pruritus frequent sneezing, thin and profuse nasal discharge, nasal obstruction, sudden onset and disappearance; accompanied by cough, lassitude, no desire to speak, shortness of breath, low voice, spontaneous sweating, light-colored tongue with thin fur and weak pulse.
2. Asthenia of the Spleen
Prolonged duration, repeated relapse of nasal pruritus and sneezing, thin and profuse nasal discharge, nasal obstruction, aggravation of the symptoms or occurrence after overstrain; accompanied by anorexia, abdominal distension, heaviness of the limbs, loose stool, light-colored tongue with tooth-prints on the margin, white or whitish greasy tongue fur and soft and weak pulse.
3. Asthenia of the Kidney
Prolonged duration, paroxysmal nasal pruritus and sneezing, thin nasal discharge, nasal obstruction, anosmia; accompanied by aversion to cold, cold limbs, aching and weakness of the loins and knees, seminal emission and immature ejaculation, loose stool, light-colored tongue with white fur and deep and thin pulse.
Treatment
1. Body Acupuncture
Prescription: Yingxiang (LI 20), Hegu (LI 4), Taiyuan (LU 9) and Zusanli (ST 36).
Modification: For asthenia of the lung, Feishu (BL 13) and Fengmen (BL 12) are added; for asthenia of the spleen, Pishu (BL 20) and Weishu (BL 21 ) are added; for asthenia of the kidney, Shenshu (BL 23) and Mingmen (GV 4) are added; for nasal obstruction, Yintang (EX-HN 3) is added; for profuse sputum, Fenglong (ST 40) is added; for tinnitus, Tinggong (SI 19) is added.
Performance: Yingxiang (LI 20) is needled obliquely toward the inner side with rotating and twirling reducing technique. The other acupoints are needled with needle-warming moxibustion or moxaroll moxibustion or moxibustion of 3 - 5 moxa cones after needling. Taiyuan (LU 9) is needled 0.3 -0.5 cun with rotating and twirling reinforcing technique, avoiding radial artery.
2. Ear Acupuncture
Prescription: Internal Nose ( TG4 ), Endocrine (CO18), Subcortex (AT4), Pingchuan (Ext.), Adrenal Gland (TG2p), Lung (CO14) and Kidney (CO10).
Performance: Each time 2 - 3 acupoints are needled with medium and strong stimulation. The needles are retained for 20 minutes and manipulated at intervals. Or Wangbuliuxingzi (Semen Vaccariae) is used for auricular acupressure alternatively on both ears, 3 - 4 times a day.
3. Acupoint Injection
Prescription: Fengchi (GB 20), Yingxiang (LI 20) and Feishu (BL 13) or [Pishu (BL 20) or Shenshu (BL 23)].
Drugs: Vitamin B12, placental tissue fluid and angelica injection, etc.
Performance: 0.5ml is injected into the acupoints each time and once every other day.