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Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs for Sinusitis:

With the coming of winter, many people look forward to skiing and other winter sports, but for those millions of people with chronic or acute sinus problems, winter can be a dreaded event. Sinus problems affect at least 30 million Americans, and are one of the most common complaints of patients seeking medical attention. Usually, sinus infections start with a cold due to factors such as weather changes; or an allergy episode that causes swelling of the mucous membranes and increased production of watery mucus. When the mucus changes from clear to a yellow or green color, it means a bacterial infection. The mucus builds up and the nasal passages become blocked because the sinus tissues are swollen. One consequence is the pressure and pain of sinus headaches. Other symptoms of sinusitis include: stuffy nose; sticky-yellow or purulent nasal discharge; nasal congestion; nosebleed; diminished sense of smell; headache; a feeling of heaviness in the head; fever; sore throat; and facial pressure around the cheeks, eyes, and forehead.

Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture for Chronic Recurrent Sinus Infections:

In China, people use Chinese herbs and acupuncture for their chronic recurrent sinus infections. Many doctors offer herbs and acupuncture even for acute and severe cases. This use of acupuncture and herbs dramatically decreases the use of antibiotics, thus avoiding the abuse and side effects of antibiotics. It is very valuable for our society to have different options besides antibiotics, especially for the chronic and recurrent infections which conventional Western medicine has failed to cure.

A fifty-one year old lady came to my clinic last November. Every year she suffered from repeated sinus infections, for which she used Bactrim and Amoxil, as well as some decongestants. Steam inhalation helped her a little bit. Her doctor tried his best to mask the signs and symptoms, but when November rolled around, she began her "miserable season" once again. It was at this point that she came to my clinic. Besides some of the typical signs and symptoms, her tongue showed a yellowish coating, and her pulse was rapid. In traditional Chinese medicine, this indicates a Wind-Heat type of sinusitis. Six acupuncture treatments, with a few more follow-ups and an herbal patent medicine, SinusEASE (Xin Yi Wan), helped her to have her best winter in six years. In addition to the Wind-Heat type of sinusitis, there are four other patterns of sinusitis in traditional Chinese medicine (see the box below for patterns of sinusitis). These five patterns have different causative factors, and treatment is based on the origin of the pattern.

For sinus problems, the color of the nasal discharge and the color of the tongue are very important indications for making the correct diagnosis. One type of pattern with white, clear nasal discharge and a white tongue coating is totally different from another pattern with yellow nasal discharge and a yellow tongue coating. Different herbal medicines and acupuncture treatment strategies are used for the acute stage of sinus infection, for chronic sinus infections, and for the prevention of further infections. Incorrect diagnosis, incorrect acupuncture treatment, or incorrect herbal medicine might make things worse, even when using traditional Chinese medicine.

Patterns of Sinusitis:

Wind-Heat of Lung: mainly caused by weather changes

Stagnated Heat of Gallbladder: mainly caused by emotions

Damp Heat of Spleen/Stomach: mainly caused by greasy and spicy foods

Deficiency Cold of Lung Qi: mainly caused by chronic illness

Deficiency of Spleen: mainly caused by improper diet, fatigue or over-thinking

Self-Acupressure Tips for Sinusitis (Do Three Times on Each Point Daily)

1. Bitong (Extra Point): Located on each side of the nose, at the bottom edge of the nasal bones.

2. Yingxiang (LI 20): Located in the groove on each side of the nostrils, at the widest point of the nostrils.

3. Hegu (LI-4): Located at the highest spot of the muscle between the thumb and index finger on the back of the hand when the thumb and index finger are close together.

Dietary Recommendations for Sinusitis:

The dietary approach is another way to deal with sinus problems. A Chinese medicine practitioner always considers the diet to be an important aspect of treatment. Many people have experienced an intensification of their sinus problems after eating certain foods such as cheese, which can have a congesting effect on the system. Generally, you should avoid foods which produce phlegm, such as cheese, ice cream, milk, butter, and fried foods (French fries, fried chicken, etc.). It is also a good idea to limit red meat consumption. Several of the patterns of sinusitis discussed in this article could be avoided through dietary modifications alone.