Acupuncture for Chronic Nasal Congestion in Vancouver
At Apollo Wellness in Vancouver, we provide acupuncture treatment for people experiencing chronic nasal congestion, a persistent stuffy nose, or difficulty breathing through the nose. Treatment is adjusted to the individual.
Can acupuncture help chronic nasal congestion?
Some people live with a stuffy nose that does not clear for months or years. They may already have tried nasal sprays or other measures, and still find nasal breathing restricted.
Acupuncture is one treatment option that may be considered for persistent nasal congestion and can be used alongside appropriate medical assessment and ENT follow-up when needed.
This page focuses on chronic nasal congestion. It is not a general page for all ear, nose, and throat conditions. Persistent or significant nasal obstruction should still be evaluated medically, especially if a structural cause or another medical condition may be involved.
Clinical experience
The following is an anonymized clinical experience from Apollo Wellness describing one patient's reported course of care.
Before acupuncture, the patient reported persistent nasal congestion for nearly two years. Antibiotics and nasal sprays had already been tried, yet congestion continued and those measures had not provided adequate relief. Surgery had been discussed with an ENT specialist. The patient was afraid of needles and initially uncertain about acupuncture. Because surgery was being considered, the patient decided to try acupuncture first.
After the first acupuncture treatment, the patient reported that the nose felt noticeably more open and that nasal breathing was substantially easier. After struggling with nasal breathing for nearly two years, the patient was very happy with that improvement. This was the patient's reported response after the first treatment.
Acupuncture continued for the second and third treatments. After approximately three acupuncture treatments, the patient returned to the ENT specialist for reassessment.
The patient later told us that, after returning to the ENT specialist for reassessment, the specialist said surgery was no longer necessary at that time and advised the patient to continue acupuncture. Apollo Wellness did not review the ENT specialist's medical documentation; this is what the patient reported to us.
After that reassessment, the patient continued approximately one to two additional acupuncture treatments. The full course was approximately five treatments. By the end of this course, the patient reported that nasal breathing had returned to normal.
This is an individual clinical experience. Treatment response and the course of care can vary from person to person.
Gentle acupuncture if you are afraid of needles
In the clinical experience above, the patient was also afraid of needles. Apollo Wellness uses a gentle acupuncture approach and high-quality Japanese-made acupuncture needles as part of our treatment standards. Technique and stimulation can be adjusted according to your sensitivity, comfort, and clinical needs.
Sensations during acupuncture can vary from person to person. If you are nervous about needles or more sensitive to needling, please let your practitioner know.
What happens during your first acupuncture treatment?
At the first visit, the practitioner will review how long the nasal congestion has been present, the pattern of symptoms, previous treatments, and relevant health history before planning the acupuncture treatment.
Treatment may use commonly selected acupuncture points relevant to nasal congestion, with appropriate adjustments based on the patient's symptoms, individual presentation, and response to treatment.
The number of treatments needed varies according to the individual.
You should continue to see your doctor or ENT when congestion is persistent, worsening, or medically concerning.
Related wellness directions are outlined on our allergy support / immune balance program and other services.
Book a visit
You are welcome to book a visit at our Vancouver clinic to discuss whether gentle acupuncture is a suitable next step for persistent nasal congestion.