Nosebleeds

Prevention and Treatment

As most of us can recall from childhood, a bump on the nose during play can trigger a nosebleed, and it can be a little frightening. Yet parents don’t need to fuss over an occasional bloody nose. Staying calm and acting fast to stop the bleeding is the best way to comfort your child.

When your child has a nosebleed:

Have your child sit down and lean forward slightly, keeping her head above the heart.
Gently pinch the soft part of her nose below the bridge, and squeeze for 5 to 10 minutes.
Apply a cold compress or ice pack to the bridge of the nose with or without gentle squeezing.
Advise your child not to blow or pick her nose and try to avoid bumping it for the next few days.

Treating Chronic Nose Bleeds with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

It’s not uncommon for young children to have nosebleeds that seem to come out of nowhere, especially around the time of changing seasons, when the air is especially dry, or when kids are under stress. Chinese medicine can treat the nose bleeds by addressing the root causes.

There are two general explanations of nosebleeds in Chinese Medicine. One is underlying heat in the lungs exacerbated by catching a cold. The heat causes the bleeding, much as a full pot of water may spill over if it is heated.

The second explanation primarily has to do with diet. Over-consumption of greasy, spicy foods leads to heat and stagnation (such as constipation) in the digestive system. Excess heat leads to the blood boiling over, and the result is nose bleeds.

For kids with recurring nosebleeds, a customized Chinese herbal formula can address the underlying causes. Your acupuncturist can blend the right herbs for your child to prevent future bloody noses.

More Prevention

Vitamin C with bioflavinoids promotes blood vessel health
Vitamin K supports healthy clotting of blood. Add Vitamin K rich foods to the diet such as dark leafy greens like kale and chard. If your child is a not at fan of green veggies, try adding a greens power (like New Chapter Berry Greens), blue green algae or spirulina powder into a smoothie.
Use a saline spray several times a day, especially during dry weather to keep the inside of the nose moist.
Try homeopathy. Here’s a site that breaks down the various remedies for nosebleeds in minute detail.

When to Call a Doctor

Safe, natural treatments should be parents’ first choice for helping kids deal with nosebleeds. Although nosebleeds aren’t usually cause for too much concern, Call your pediatrician if: