Nosebleeds

Description

A nosebleed is characterized by blood flowing from one nostril. This trickle of blood may be so light you may not even realize you have a nose-bleed until someone points it out to you.

Small, fragile blood vessels are located in the septum, the cartilage that separates the two nostrils. Nosebleeds can occur when one or more of these easily damaged vessels is burst, such as from some type of trauma (for example, a blow to the nose), dry air (which makes the mucous membranes crusty and cracked), constant or forceful nose-blowing, or a scab being scraped off.

Signs and Symptoms

• Sudden stream of blood from one nostril

Conventional Medical Treatment

Rarely does a one-time nosebleed require medicalintervention. To stop the blood flow, simply sit or stand up, pinch the end of your nose, and breathe through your mouth. In 5 to 15 minutes, the blood should stop. If the blood continues after this, see a doctor, who may suction away excess blood, then pack your nose with cotton. In severe cases, your physician may cauterize the broken blood vessel.

Complementary and Alternative Treatments

Nutrition and Supplementation

Nosebleeds can be a symptom of vitamin deficiencies. Enhance your vitamin C intake by eating citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, and green peppers. Get your vitamin K through yogurt, alfalfa, soybean oil, and kelp. Oranges, lemons, and limes supply you with necessary bioflavonoids.

In addition, take a daily vitamin C supplement (1000 mg) with 500 mg bioflavonoids.

Ayurvedic Medicine

To stop the bleeding, Ayurvedic practitioners may recommend squeezing your nostrils together and breathing through your mouth. They also may advise holding a cool compress against your forehead while you squeeze your nose.

To prevent future nosebleeds, Ayurvedic practitioners may advise humidifying your home. If the air in your home is too dry, the mucous membranes in your nose can become very dry, and crack and bleed.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture Acupuncture may be useful in rechanneling the flow of blood and chi, which can help stop a nose bleed. Also, by strengthening the lung and spleen functions, acupuncture may help minimize or prevent chronic nosebleeds.

Acupressure The practitioner typically presses firmly on Large Intestine 4 and 20, Bladder 10, Gallbladder 20, Pericardium 6, and Governing Vessel 14 to stop a nosebleed.

Chinese Herbal Therapy For recurrent (chronic) nosebleeds, see an herb-trained acupuncturist. Herbs in combination with bioflavonoids may be helpful.