Is a dry nose due to lung fire or liver fire?

Nov 07, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
In general, dryness in the nose may be caused by excessive lung heat. Since the nose is considered the orifice of the lung, when lung heat is excessive, body fluids are depleted, leading to nasal dryness. This condition is often accompanied by symptoms such as sore and swollen throat, dry mouth, cough with little phlegm, or yellow and sticky sputum. Such cases are commonly associated with external contraction of heat pathogens or consumption of spicy foods. The accumulation of internal dry-heat in the lung channel impairs the nourishment of bodily fluids to the nasal area.

Nasal dryness is usually related to either excessive lung fire or liver fire, and should be evaluated based on accompanying symptoms. If in doubt, it's advisable to consult a healthcare provider promptly. Detailed analysis is as follows:

The nose is considered the orifice of the lungs. When lung fire is excessive, body fluids are depleted, leading to nasal dryness. This condition is often accompanied by sore throat, dry mouth, cough with little or yellow, sticky phlegm. It commonly results from external heat pathogens or consuming spicy foods, causing internal dry-heat to accumulate in the lung meridian and impairing the nourishment of nasal tissues.

When liver fire is excessive, the upward flare of fire may affect the nose, causing dryness along with dizziness, headache, flushed face, red eyes, irritability, and a bitter taste in the mouth. This pattern is often triggered by emotional stress or lack of sleep, which causes liver fire to rise and disrupts the distribution of body fluids, resulting in nasal discomfort.

When experiencing nasal dryness, maintain a light diet, drink plenty of water, avoid staying up late and emotional fluctuations. If symptoms persist, seek proper diagnosis and treatment based on a comprehensive assessment of your condition.