Question Details
Rhinitis Response To San Ren Tang
by amymatthews - November 12, 2009
Hi Steve,

I see a MN Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with a chronic history of rhinitis (usually moderately thick clear to white mucous, occas yellow) and evidence of allergies on blood allergy testing. His tongue varies but is most commonly pink to dull pink, a little wrinkled, with a thin wet coat that dries during his visit. His pulse is usually weak but when having musculoskeletal pain becomes strong. He has responded briefly to the many therapies we have tried, though the owner has not chosen to pursue allergy vaccines yet. He tolerates antibiotics well, and has gotten pneumonia and infectious rhinitis occasionally but not often.

I put him on San Ren Tang and he seemed more congested at first - I thought the secretions might be drying up before the herbs had a chance to decrease inflammation and mucous production. However, his signs have progressed to total congestion through his nasal sinuses so he can't breath through his nose at night and a chest cough - lungs sound clear, no fever, good energy. He sounds like he's still making mucous but it's thicker and harder to move, and that he's too dry (and perhaps too cool) to tolerate San Ren Tang. Are there any option options that might help his nasal inflammation and mucous production?

Thanks as always!

Amy
Replies
by naturevet
November 12, 2009
Hi Amy,

That's an odd response. All I can think of is that if SRT has a Wind dispersing effect that helps move blood to the epithelia, then the right thing to do instead is to dry the epithelia. There are many herbs that can do that. Even Si Miao San can have that benefit, in addition to many western herbs. If you have SMS, I'd try that next. If the thinking is correct, you'll see some improvement (is the pulse superficial).

Now if the pulse is still weak and thin, then perhaps you were too drying and will need instead something to moisten the Yin of the Lungs. You have lots of options there, but even Yi Guan Jian is a possibility, or Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang.

Hope that helps you sort it out.

Steve
by amymatthews
January 11, 2010
What about Liu Jun Zi...? I was just reviewing this herbal combo a few days ago, and it seems like a good fit for this dog in some ways: very soft body and temperment, somewhat wrinkled tongue, soft pulse, not adventurous with foods, often seems fatigued, never heard him bark. I found a reference which mentioned its indication for patients with copious nasal discharge.... What do you think?

Amy

P.S. thought we'd taken the dog off SRT weeks ago, but the owner misunderstood me and hadn't taken him off, his chest cough was maintained, slow and somewhat prolonged. I'm curious if he improved off of it.
by naturevet
January 12, 2010
Hi Amy,

The symptoms that seem to match Liu Jun Zi Tang are Qi deficiency symptoms. When faced with an upper respiratory infection as well, a better Qi tonifying formula is Yu Ping Feng San (Jade Wind Screen Powder). If it's not up to the task, it can be modified to make it more Wind expelling, by adding Bai Zhi (Angelica) and even Cang Er Zi (Xanthium).

Liu Jun Zi Tang is okay and has lots of anti-Damp properties. It has no Wind expelling properties, however, so it won't succeed if that needs to be addressed as well. Feel free to try LJZT, though. It's always important to follow your hunches and honor your intuition in this game.

All the best,

Steve
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