Sinusitis

"Sinusitis" Issue / Symptom Connections

Below you will find various relationships to, and potential clinical treatment approaches for sinusitis.

Content Related to Sinusitis

It is critical to appreciate that in Chinese Medicine, treatment for "sinusitis" is rarely focused on the symptoms exclusively. Alternatively, a practitioner is looking at the factors that led to the development of "sinusitis" - i.e. the "cause(s)".

For non-practitioners, we recommend reading treating the "cause" and not the "symptoms" for more on the overall approach and the importance of the TCM diagnostic system in formulating treatment approaches.

Within TCM, "sinusitis" is potentially related to one or more of the following diagnostic patterns: lung wind invasion - wind cold, lung wind invasion - wind heat, spleen and stomach damp heat, and/or spleen qi deficiency.

The above patterns are common examples. In clinical situations, however, there are any number of other possibilities. Many times there will be a layered combination of patterns in an interwoven blend with their symptoms - some being the cause of an issue and the result of another issue. While initially complex, this is illustrative of the the web of relationships that Chinese Medicine is designed to approach.

Related Acupuncture Protocols

When developing an acupuncture protocol a practitioner is very often focusing on the causal diagnoses in Chinese Medicine terms, not on the condition itself. To illustrate and guide developing an acupuncture treatment for someone experiencing sinusitis, this issue is referenced in the following acupuncture protocol section:

• View EX Huatuojiaji at C3 (Sides of Spine at C3)
  
      .5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous processes of C3
  
      C3 innervates the eyes, sinuses, temporal lobe areas and and is used for a range of eye, vision and sinus issues.  In the right circumstances, combines well with Yintang and LI 4. Used extensively within the Tam Healing System and Tong Re…
• View LI 19 (Grain Bone Hole)
  
      Directly below the lateral margin of the nostril at the level of GV 26
  
      Sinus congestion. Nasal polyps, sores. Nosebleed (combination with GV 23 and LI 19)  
• View LI 20 (Welcome Fragrance)
  
      In the nasolabial groove, level with the midpoint of the lateral border of the ala nasi.
  
      Loss of smell or taste, nasal discharge, any nose a/or sinus issues, nasal polyps, rhinitis, sinusitis, allergies. Often combined with LI 19 and other local points. Tong Ren/Tam Healing System: Sinus issues, often combined with LI 17 and …
• View UB 5 (Fifth Place)
  
      .5 cun behind UB 4 or 1 cun above the AHL and 1.5 cun lateral to the AML or 1.5 cun lateral to GV 23.
  
      Local point for headache and/or eye pain. Epilepsy, yang ascension issues (manic episodes, dizziness, etc.) Sinus congestion, stuffy head.
• View UB 7 (Celestial Connection)
  
      1.5 cun posterior to UB 6 or 4 cun above the AHL and 1.5 cun lateral to the AML.
  
      Clear wind and resolve the exterior - important point for sinus congestion, sinusitis, rhinitis, nosebleed, nasal polyps. Loss of sense of smell. Headaches and/or dizziness from wind and congestion. Neck pain and stiffness, throat goite…
• View UB 9 (Jade Pillow)
  
      1.3 cun lateral to GV 17 or 2.5 cun above the PHL, 1.3 cun lateral to the PML in depression level with GV 17.
  
      Expels wind-cold - nasal congestion, chills and fever, headaches from wind. Occipital headaches and/or neck pain, heavy head. Eye pain and/or redness, blurry vision. Unbalanced temperature/sweating - cold sensation in head with sweats, …