A Natural Ally for Your Nose This Flu Season

The Kou He Liao acupoint may help you forgo a tender nose and going through boxes of tissues.
A Natural Ally for Your Nose This Flu Season
LI19 Mouth Grain Crevice Kou He Liao
Moreen Liao
Moreen Liao
R.Ph. of TCM (Taiwan)
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Medically reviewed by
Jingduan Yang, M.D.
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As the colder months roll in, so do the sniffles, sneezes, and endless boxes of tissues. For many people, seasonal colds and flus hit the nose the hardest. While over-the-counter solutions have their place, some people explore holistic, budget-friendly ways to get through the tough season. That’s where the acupoint, Mouth Grain Crevice (Kou He Liao, LI19), located just under the nose, steps in. It’s a helpful point to remember when everyone around you seems to be catching colds, and it offers more than just relief from a runny nose.

From Classic Roots to Practical Use

Kou He Liao was first mentioned in “The A-B Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion,” the earliest surviving text on treatment methods of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Despite being part of the Large Intestine meridian, its purpose is closely tied not to the large intestine itself but to its precise location.
Kou He Liao is recognized as a common supportive acupoint in protocols for addressing various nasal issues. It is used to manage inflammation in and around the nose. It is applied in cases of rhinitis, a common condition when the mucous membrane of the nose becomes swollen and irritated. It can help stop nosebleeds and is also used for nasal polyps. Additionally, this point can be incorporated into broader treatment plans for facial nerve paralysis and involuntary facial twitching.

Scientific Studies on a Facial Acupoint

Modern research continues to examine the physiological changes associated with Kou He Liao. In one study, researchers assessed facial blood flow using laser Doppler imaging before and after stimulating another acupoint, Hegu (LI4), in 30 healthy volunteers. Kou He Liao was among the facial points with the highest baseline blood perfusion. After acupuncture at LI4, blood flow increased across the face, including at Kou He Liao, highlighting its key role in facial circulation.
Moreen Liao
Moreen Liao
R.Ph. of TCM (Taiwan)
Moreen was born into a family with a lineage of four generations of traditional Chinese medicine doctors and professors. She was Dean of the Natural Therapies Institute in Sydney, Australia. Drawing on her family heritage, she created a certified organic wellness brand, and co-founded the largest Chinese medical image encyclopedia online.