Objective:To analyze the formulation characteristics of transnasal therapy formulas for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), evaluate the inheritance relationship between COVID-19 transnasal therapy formulas and ancient ones for epidemics, and further explore the formulation rules of TCM transnasal therapy formulas for epidemic diseases. MethodsThrough searching the Chinese Medical Classics, 210 literature items of 48 ancient books in 5 historical periods were obtained, and 132 transnasal treatment formulas for ancient epidemic diseases (including 62 burning fumigation formulas, 63 volatile formulas and 7 decoction formulas) were screened out. Through searching the official websites and research documents of health departments at the municipal level and above all over the country, 20 formulas (including 12 volatile formulas and 8 decoction formulas) for COVID-19 were collected. The software of “Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Assistance Platform” was used to process and analyze various formulas.  Results:①There were 178 kinds of medicinal materials involved in the ancient transnasal therapy for epidemic diseases, 25 kinds of which had a use frequency of no less than 10 times, and Xionghuang (Realgar) was a single medicinal with the highest use frequency. Among them, 103 burning fumigation formulas were involved, 28 formulas of which had a use frequency more than or equal to 5 times. Xionghuang (Realgar) was the one single medicinal with the highest use frequency. Xionghuang (Realgar) and Cihuang (Orpiment) was the pair with the highest use frequency. The core formula was composed of “Xionghuang (Realgar), Zhusha (Cinnabaris) and Cihuang (Orpiment)”. The volatile formulas involved 142 kinds of medicinal materials, 30 of which had a use frequency more than or equal to 5 times. Xionghuang (Realgar) was still the one most frequently used. Zhusha (Cinnabaris) and Cihuang (Orpiment) was the pair used the most frequently. The core formula was composed of “Xionghuang (Realgar), Zhusha (Cinnabaris), Cihuang (Orpiment) and Guijianyu (Euonymus alatus)”. There were 17 kinds of medicinal materials in 7 decoction formulas, of which Taozhi (Ramulus Pruni) had the highest use frequency. ②In 20 transnasal therapy formulas for COVID-19, there were 22 kinds of medicinal materials, 18 kinds of which were used more than or equal to 2 times, and Aiye (Folium Artemisiae Argyi) was the most frequently used. Among them, the volatile formulas involved 18 kinds of medicinal materials, 13 kinds of which had a use frequency more than or equal to 2 times, and the herb with the highest frequency was Huoxiang (Agastache rugosa). The decoction formulas involved 13 kinds of medicinal materials, 7 kinds of which had a use frequency more than or equal to 2 times, and the herb with the highest frequency was Aiye (Folium Artemisiae Argyi).  Conclusion:sTransnasal therapy for ancient epidemics mainly used burning fumigation formulas and volatile formulas which made good use of minerals and used diverse varieties of medicinals. However, transnasal therapy for COVID-19 mainly use volatile formulas and decoction formulas composed of herbs, and medicinals used are less in variety than that of ancient formulas. The burning fumigation method hasn’t been fully applied. It is believed that transnasal therapy formulas for COVID-19 have inherited ancient epidemic prevention experience and embody the application of ancient transnasal therapy formulas, but there are also obvious research shortcomings. It is suggested to promote the research on TCM transnasal therapy for epidemic prevention and treatment to provide new support for the participation of TCM in the construction of modern epidemic disease prevention and control system.