This paper summarizes Professor ZHOU Mingxin's clinical experience in treating allergic rhinitis in northwest China from the perspective of dryness syndrome. Considering the regional characteristics of disease occurrence， he proposed the theory of "northwest dryness syndrome"， which identifies dryness pathogen damaging the lungs， and lungs fail to disperse and descend as the core pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis， and the treatment principle emphasizes dispersing and descending the lung

qi

while nourishing

yin

and moistening dryness. Several empirical formulas have been developed to treat allergic rhinitis and its complications， including

Qiangzhi Xinyi Decoction

（羌芷辛夷汤） for relieving stuffy orifices， promoting fluid production， and moistening dryness； self-prescribed

Bawei Qingyan Decoction

（八味清咽饮） for clearing the lungs， nourishing

yin

， and moistening dryness； self-prescribed

Paida Zongyang Decoction

（排闼宗阳汤） for dispersing and purifying， moistening the dryness， and relieving asthma； self-prescribed

Sangma Zhike Decoction

（桑麻止咳汤） for dispersing the lungs， moistening dryness， and stopping cough； self-prescribed

Sizi Dingchuan Decoction

（四子定喘汤） for moistening the lungs， resolving phlegm， and calming asthma； self-prescribed

Jiawei Yupingfeng Decoction

（加味玉屏风汤） for dispersing the lungs， dispelling wind， and moistening dryness； and

Xiangsu Chengqi Decoction

（香苏承气汤） for purifying the lungs， unblocking the bowels， and moistening the intestines.