Post-Nasal Drip (chronic catarrh)
Also known as: post-nasal drip, chronic catarrh, mucus down the throat, throat clearing
Post-nasal drip is mucus running down the back of the throat — from allergies, sinusitis, reflux or irritants — causing throat clearing and cough. Treating the cause (nasal spray, reflux treatment) works best. Chinese medicine treats it as phlegm-damp in the lung channel, residual wind-heat, or spleen deficiency, with diet and sinus care alongside.
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Lifestyle & Diet
- •Treat the cause: allergy sprays, sinus care, reflux treatment all work.
- •Saline nasal rinses daily reduce mucus load.
- •Reduce dairy, alcohol and smoking if they worsen it.
- •Persistent one-sided symptoms need ENT assessment.
Cautions & Contraindications
- •No herbal 'decongestant' marathon courses — review at 4–6 weeks.[]
When to reassess or seek care again
Review at 4–6 weeks: discharge, throat clearing, cough. Escalate one-sided or bloody symptoms.
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Sources & Further Reading
Clinical guidance, red flags and safety notes on this page draw on the following current sources alongside the classical references above.
- NHS · 2024
- Healthdirect Australia · 2024
- National Library of Medicine · 2024
Educational reference for licensed practitioners. Not a substitute for individual clinical assessment. Refer to conventional care for any red-flag or undiagnosed presentation.