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Nosebleeds and Acupuncture
Nosebleeds are a common problem in children and young adults, although older adults can suffer from nosebleeds as well. This article will focus on epistaxis a common nosebleed, not caused by hemophilia, cancer, liver disease, etc.
The most conventionally common way to stop nosebleeds is to use packs to compress the nose to stop bleeding. However, patients suffering from frequent nosebleeds may want to consider alternative treatments. For this reason, patients can consider Chinese medicine.
From the prospective of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), nosebleeds are usually caused by over-heated blood, and recurrent or persistent nosebleeds may indicate an internal disharmony of Ying and Yang.
Chinese medical doctors will identify the pattern of the nosebleeds according to the characteristic of the bleeding, including the duration, interval, amount, color and texture of the blood, and the overall body condition, to decide which cooling herbs and acupuncture points to use.
The main patterns Chinese medical practitioners look for are
The first is a lung heat pattern, which is often accompanied by a very dry nose and throat, and thirst. Symptoms may include a feverish sensation or coughing with a little phlegm. The tongue may be red with a thin coating or yellowish in color, and the pulse may be rapid or “floating”. This pattern often occurs during the dry or allergy season.
Another pattern is a stomach heat pattern, and bleeding gums may be a symptom, in addition to nosebleeds. The patients may feel thirsty and drink a lot of water; they may have bad breath, swollen gums and constipation. The tongue may be red and covered with a yellow coating. The pulse may be very fast. This pattern is usually caused by an overconsumption of spicy and hot foods.
The final common pattern is a liver fire pattern. With this pattern, nosebleeds may be accompanied by a headache, blurred vision, dizziness, red face, red eyes, irritability, dry mouth or there may be discomfort in the ribs. The tongue may be red and covered with a yellow coating. The pulse may be taut and fast.
With nosebleeds, the blood is usually a bright red color.
For some women, nosebleeds may occur periodically with menstruation, or follow other hormonal fluctuations of the body. TCM believes that nosebleeds are mainly due to over-heated blood, or a reverse of the Qi flow.
An experienced Chinese medical doctor and acupuncturist can diagnose and differentiate the different nosebleed patterns, and provide a customized combination of Chinese medical treatments, including Chinese herb prescriptions and acupuncture points.
