The clinical symptoms are watery nasal discharge (allergic rhinitis), sneezing, watery itchy eyes, itchy throat, and headaches. In 20% of cases, there is also asthma characterized by difficulty in breathing, wheezing, and constriction of the chest (Source: The Practice of Chinese Medicine).

Allergic rhinitis is due to an antigen-antibody reaction in the nasal mocosa. If the antigens responsible are only pollen particles, then it is called seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever). If the antigens are dust, house-dust mites'faecal matter, fungal spores and animal dander, it is called perennial allergic rhinitis. As for furry animals such as dogs and cats, the most allergenic substances are protein from their skin, urine and saliva. In perennial rhinitis, the nose becomes more reactive to non-specific stimuli such as cigarette smoke, petrol fumes and perfumes. In Oriental medical theory, these conditions are caused by over reactivity of the immune system due to our body's deficiencies of Defensive Qi (energy) and classified by the deficiency and reaction to certain allergens.

• Lung invaded by wind-cold. Stuffed nose, runny nose with clear mucus, slight headache, sneezing.
• Lung invaded by wind-heat. Sneezing, stuffed nose, runny nose with thick-yellow discharge, itchy nose and throat, redness and swelling around the nose, itchy eyes.
• Liver and gall bladder heat. Dry nose, runny nose with yellow-sticky-purulent and foul-smelling discharge, diminished sense of smell, bitter taste, dry throat, and headache.
• Lung-heat. Stuffed nose, runny nose with yellow foul-smelling discharge which may contain blood, dry mouth, felling of heat.
• Spleen-heat. Stuffed nose, runny nose with yellow foul-smelling discharge, diminished sense of smell, feeling of heaviness of the head, headache, bitter and sticky taste.

Treatment

According to Oriental medical theory, first identify the syndrome (lung invaded by wind-cold) and treat the root condition (weakness in the lungs), and the symptoms. Both can be done at the same time using acupuncture and/or Chinese Herbal Medicine.