Syndrome differentiation and treatment
The commonly-seen syndromes of atrophic rhinitis include dryness of the lung due to yin deficiency and deficiency of qi and blood. The syndrome of dryness of the lung due to yin deficiency is characterized by congestion of the nasal mucosa with red colour. Treatment should be nourishing yin to moisten dryness. The syndrome of deficiency of qi and blood is marked by pale nasal mucosa. Treatment should lie in nourishing qi and blood.

1. Syndrome of dryness of the lung due to yin deficiency
Main symptoms and signs: Dryness is severer inside the nose, possibly accompanied by burning sensation and pain. Sarolemma is atrophic inside the nose, with hyposmia and many nasal crusts. There exists turbid yellowish-greenish nasal discharge occasionally intermingled with blood which will aggravate when climate is dry. The patient has accompanying dryness and pain of the pharyngolaryngx, cough, fatigue, disinclination to speak as well as dysphoria with feverish sensation of chest, palms and soles. The tongue is reddish with scanty fur and the pulse is thready and rapid.
Therapeutic methods: Nourishing yin to moisten dryness, dispersing the lung and dispelling pathogenic factors.

2. Syndrome of deficiency of qi and blood       
Main symptoms and signs: Severer atrophy of nasal sarolemma, nasal discharge with foul odour or yellowishgreenish pus crusts, poor appetite, abdominal distension, fatigue of limbs, loose stool, pale tongue with whitish fur, thready and weak pulse
Therapeutic methods: Strengthening middle energizer to benefit qi, nourishing blood and moistening dryness.