Sinus Headache - Wind-Heat Pattern

Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Sinus Headache · Wind-Heat Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Wind-Heat is a common pattern in sinus headache, characterized by acute sinus mucosal inflammation, headache radiating to the nose, yellow nasal discharge, fever, and sore throat. The core pathogenesis is invasion of Wind-Heat pathogens into the nasal passages, causing Lung Qi to fail to clear, nasal mucosal inflammation, and headache.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

| :— | :— |

| Primary Symptoms | Headache radiating to the nose, yellow nasal discharge, nasal congestion |

| Associated Symptoms | Fever, sore throat, thirst, cough with yellow sputum |

| Tongue and Pulse | Red tongue with thin yellow coating, floating and rapid pulse |

| Pathogenesis | Wind-Heat pathogens invading the nasal passages |

| Etiology | Wind-Heat infection, viral or bacterial upper respiratory infection |

Acupuncture Point Prescription

| Point | Location | Function |

| :— | :— | :— |

| Hegu (LI4) | Dorsum of the hand, between the 1st and 2nd metacarpals | Disperses Wind-Heat and clears the exterior |

| Quchi (LI11) | Lateral end of the elbow crease | Clears Heat and detoxifies |

| Yingxiang (LI20) | In the nasolabial groove, at the level of the midpoint of the lateral border of the ala nasi | Opens the nasal passages and disperses Wind |

| Yintang (EX-HN3) | Midpoint between the eyebrows | Clears the head and opens the nasal passages |

| Lieque (LU7) | Above the wrist, on the radial side, in the depression between the tendons | Diffuses the Lung and disperses Wind-Heat |

Clinical Recommendation: Filament needle, reducing method; may combine with pricking at Dazhui to enhance Heat clearing.

Herbal Formula

Base Formula: Yin Qiao San (银翘散) + Cang Er Zi San (苍耳子散)

Composition:

Lonicera (Jin Yin Hua), Forsythia (Lian Qiao), Mint (Bo He), Arctium (Niu Bang Zi), Schizonepeta (Jing Jie), Fermented Soybean (Dan Dou Chi), Xanthium (Cang Er Zi), Magnolia Flower (Xin Yi), Angelica Dahurica (Bai Zhi), Licorice (Gan Cao)

Action: Disperses Wind-Heat, clears the nasal passages, and relieves headache.

Modifications

| Associated Symptoms | Additions/Subtractions |

| :— | :— |

| Thick yellow nasal discharge | Add Yu Xing Cao, Pu Gong Ying to clear Heat and detoxify |

| Severe headache | Add Chuan Xiong, Man Jing Zi to disperse Wind and stop pain |

| Sore throat | Add Ban Lan Gen, Xuan Shen to clear Heat and relieve sore throat |

| Fever | Add Shi Gao, Zhi Mu to clear Heat and generate fluids |

| Cough | Add Xing Ren, Jie Geng to diffuse the Lung and stop cough |

Western Mechanism Reference

Acute sinus mucosal inflammation with IL-6/TNF-α elevation, mucosal congestion, edema, and increased vascular permeability. Wind-Heat corresponds to acute viral or bacterial sinusitis, where elevated inflammatory cytokines and increased vascular permeability contribute to mucosal edema and sinus headache.

References

  1. Otolaryngology of TCM - Sinusitis with Wind-Heat.

  2. Zang-Fu Pattern Differentiation: Wind-Heat → Clearing Pathway.

  3. WHO. (2023). Respiratory health. World Health Organization.

Explore More

  • Find your solution at MendGod.com – Personalized herbal protocols and acupressure tools for sinus relief.

  • Deepen your knowledge at TcmCIO.com – Full research papers and clinical case studies on TCM respiratory health.