Postnasal Drip

During pregnancy, treatment options are limited as the use of Western medicines, such as antihistamines, is restricted. Similarly, herbal medicines include herbs contraindicated during pregnancy (powerful blood-activating and qi-breaking herbs such as rhubarb, croton seed, aconite, and safflower), so a prescription within a safe range that excludes these is necessary. The first three months of pregnancy require the utmost caution, while milder prescriptions focused on tonifying the lungs are relatively safer from the middle trimester onwards. Be sure to inform your attending obstetrician about your herbal medicine use and consult with them. Acupuncture alone can be safely applied during pregnancy if contraindicated acupoints (such as the hands and inner feet) are avoided. Postnasal drip during pregnancy is often caused by gestational rhinitis, where the mucous membranes become congested and edemaed due to increased progesterone. In such cases, acupuncture and nasal irrigation are applied first, while herbal decoctions are decided upon with caution.