Deafness in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different deafness patterns according to TCM theory
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Condition Categories
Condition Categories
Deafness is the partial or complete inability to hear. It can range from mild hearing impairment to total loss of hearing. This condition may occur suddenly or develop gradually over time. Deafness significantly impacts communication and can be a source of social isolation.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) interprets deafness not just as a symptom limited to the ears but as an indication of deeper imbalances in the body's energetic pathways.
TCM views deafness through a holistic lens, often attributing it to the disruption of Qi (vital energy) and Blood flow to the ears. This perspective considers the body as a network of interconnected systems where the ears are influenced by the health of the Kidneys, Liver, and Speen, among other organs.
TCM emphasizes identifying the underlying pattern causing deafness, as this will dictate the therapeutic approach. It's understood that treating the root cause is as important as addressing the symptom itself.
TCM Patterns for Deafness
Heat
Causes: Deafness
Full-Heat in the Small Intestine
Deafness
Along with: Restlessness, Insomnia, Tongue ulcers, Mouth ulcers, Throat pain, Cardiac burning sensation, Abdominal pain, Craving for cold beverages, Scanty and dark urine, Hematuria, Urinary burning
Liver Fire Blazing
Deafness
Along with: Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Temporal headache, Dizziness, Flushed face, Eye hyperemia, Thirst, Bitter taste in the mouth, Vivid dreaming, Constipation, Dry stools, Dark urine, Nosebleeds, Cough of blood, Vomiting blood
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
Deafness
Along with: Tremors, Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Temporal headache, Dizziness, Flushed face, Eye hyperemia, Thirst, Bitter taste in the mouth, Vivid dreaming, Constipation, Dry stools, Dark urine, Nosebleeds, Vomiting blood, Cough of blood
Wind
Causes: Deafness
Interior Wind
Deafness
Along with: Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder, Mouth deviation, Eye deviation, Tremors, Headaches, Limb numbness
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
Deafness
Along with: Tremors, Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Temporal headache, Dizziness, Flushed face, Eye hyperemia, Thirst, Bitter taste in the mouth, Vivid dreaming, Constipation, Dry stools, Dark urine, Nosebleeds, Vomiting blood, Cough of blood
Qi Deficiency
Causes: Deafness
Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency
Deafness
Along with: Dizziness, Unsteadiness, Blurry vision, Tinnitus, Shortness of breath, Weak voice, Pale face, Loss of appetite, Diarrhea, Belching
Essence Deficiency
Causes: Deafness, Loss of hearing or deafness
Kidney Essence Deficiency
Deafness, Loss of hearing or deafness
Along with: Decreased mental sharpness, Retardation, Osteomalacia, Hair loss, Lower back pain, Infertility, Primary amenorrhea, Dizziness, Blurry vision, Absentmindness
Yang Excess
Causes: Deafness
Liver Yang Rising
Deafness
Along with: Headaches, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Blurry vision, Dry mouth, Dry throat, Insomnia, Irritability, Exhaustion, Anger, Stiff neck, Shoulder stiffness, Stiff upper back
Yang Deficiency
Causes: Loss of hearing or deafness
Kidney Yang Deficiency
Loss of hearing or deafness
Along with: Lower back pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Weak and cold knees, Lower back coldness, Chills, Weak legs, Bright pale face, Generalized fatigue, General weakness, Leg edema, Female infertility, Diarrhea, Depression, Erectile dysfunction, Premature ejaculation, Oligospermia, Low sex drive, Pale and abudant urination, Constipation
Herbal Formulas for Deafness
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address deafness
Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Cools the Liver
- Extinguishes Wind
- Increases Fluids
- Relaxes the sinews
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Interior Wind
How it manifests:
Deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder...
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
How it manifests:
Deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Tremors, Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Temporal headache, Dizziness...
Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Headaches, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Blurry vision, Dry mouth, Dry throat...
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Calms the Liver
- Extinguishes wind
- Invigorates the blood
- Clears heat
- Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Interior Wind
How it manifests:
Deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder...
Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Headaches, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Blurry vision, Dry mouth, Dry throat...
Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Kidney Yang
- Strengthens the Essence
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Kidney Essence Deficiency
How it manifests:
Deafness, Loss of hearing or deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Decreased mental sharpness, Retardation, Osteomalacia, Hair loss, Lower back pain, Infertility...
Kidney Yang Deficiency
How it manifests:
Loss of hearing or deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Lower back pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Weak and cold knees, Lower back coldness, Chills...
Zi Xue Dan
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Heat
- Opens the sensory orifices
- Controls spasms and convulsions
- Extinguishes Wind
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
How it manifests:
Deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Tremors, Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Temporal headache, Dizziness...
Qi Ju Di Huang Wan
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes Kidney and Liver Yin
- Improves vision
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Interior Wind
How it manifests:
Deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder...
Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Headaches, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Blurry vision, Dry mouth, Dry throat...
Tu Si Zi Wan
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Warms the Kidneys
- Prevents abnormal leakage such as urinary incontinence or seminal emissions
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Kidney Essence Deficiency
How it manifests:
Deafness, Loss of hearing or deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Decreased mental sharpness, Retardation, Osteomalacia, Hair loss, Lower back pain, Infertility...
Kidney Yang Deficiency
How it manifests:
Loss of hearing or deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Lower back pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Weak and cold knees, Lower back coldness, Chills...
Feng Yin Tang
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Extinguishes and pacifies Wind with heavy medicinals
- Calms the Mind
- Clears Heat
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
How it manifests:
Deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Tremors, Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Temporal headache, Dizziness...
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Qi of the Spleen and Stomach (Middle Burner)
- Raises the Yang
- Detoxifies
- Lifts what has sunken
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency
How it manifests:
Deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Unsteadiness, Blurry vision, Tinnitus, Shortness of breath, Weak voice...
Dao Chi San
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears the Heart
- Promotes urination
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Full-Heat in the Small Intestine
How it manifests:
Deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Restlessness, Insomnia, Tongue ulcers, Mouth ulcers, Throat pain, Cardiac burning sensation...
E Jiao Ji Zi Huang Tang
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes Yin
- Nourishes Blood
- Calms the Liver
- Extinguishes Wind
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Interior Wind
How it manifests:
Deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder...
Zuo Gui Wan
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes the Yin
- Strengthens the Kidneys
- Fills the Essence
- Augments the marrow
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Kidney Essence Deficiency
How it manifests:
Deafness, Loss of hearing or deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Decreased mental sharpness, Retardation, Osteomalacia, Hair loss, Lower back pain, Infertility...
Da Chai Hu Tang
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Harmonizes and releases the Lesser Yang
- Drains internal clumping due to Heat
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Headaches, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Blurry vision, Dry mouth, Dry throat...
Ba Wei Di Huang Wan
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Yang
- Warms the Kidneys and lower extremities
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Kidney Yang Deficiency
How it manifests:
Loss of hearing or deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Lower back pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Weak and cold knees, Lower back coldness, Chills...
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Heat and Fire from the Liver and Gallbladder
- Clears and drains Damp-Heat from the Lower Burner
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Liver Fire Blazing
How it manifests:
Deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Temporal headache, Dizziness, Flushed face...
Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Pacifies the Liver
- Extinguishes Wind
- Nourishes the Yin
- Anchors the Yang
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Interior Wind
How it manifests:
Deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder...
Qi Bao Mei Ran Dan
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Enriches the Kidney Yin and Essence
- Nourishes the Liver Blood
- Beautifies hair
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Kidney Essence Deficiency
How it manifests:
Deafness, Loss of hearing or deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Decreased mental sharpness, Retardation, Osteomalacia, Hair loss, Lower back pain, Infertility...
Zhen Zhu Mu Wan
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes the Yin and Blood
- Sedates the Heart and calms the Mind
- Calms the Liver
- Anchors the yang
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Headaches, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Blurry vision, Dry mouth, Dry throat...
You Gui Wan
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang
- Replenishes the Essence
- Tonifies the Blood
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Kidney Yang Deficiency
How it manifests:
Loss of hearing or deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Lower back pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Weak and cold knees, Lower back coldness, Chills...
Dang Gui Long Hui Wan
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Drains Liver and Gallbladder Fire Excess
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Liver Fire Blazing
How it manifests:
Deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Temporal headache, Dizziness, Flushed face...
Bu Gan Tang
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies and regulates the Blood
- Nourishes the Liver Yin
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Interior Wind
How it manifests:
Deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder...
Huan Shao Dan
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies the Spleen, Heart and Kidneys
- Nourishes Yin and Blood
- Augments Qi
- Tonifies Yang
- Promotes Longevity
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Kidney Essence Deficiency
How it manifests:
Deafness, Loss of hearing or deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Decreased mental sharpness, Retardation, Osteomalacia, Hair loss, Lower back pain, Infertility...
Zhen Xin An Shen Tang
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Anchors the Heart and calms the Mind
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Headaches, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Blurry vision, Dry mouth, Dry throat...
Er Xian Tang
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes Yin and tonifies Yang of the Kidneys
- Clears Empty Heat
- Regulates the Directing and Penetrating Vessels
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Kidney Yang Deficiency
How it manifests:
Loss of hearing or deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Lower back pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Weak and cold knees, Lower back coldness, Chills...
Xie Qing Wan
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears the Liver and drains Fire
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Liver Fire Blazing
How it manifests:
Deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Temporal headache, Dizziness, Flushed face...
Si Wu Tang
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Restores and nourishes Blood
- Stimulates Blood circulation
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Interior Wind
How it manifests:
Deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder...
Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies and warms Kidney Yang
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Kidney Yang Deficiency
How it manifests:
Loss of hearing or deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Lower back pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Weak and cold knees, Lower back coldness, Chills...
Ji Chuan Jian
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Warms the Kidneys
- Nourishes the Blood
- Strengthens the Essence
- Moistens the Intestines
- Unblocks bowels
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Kidney Yang Deficiency
How it manifests:
Loss of hearing or deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Lower back pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Weak and cold knees, Lower back coldness, Chills...
Yu Lin Zhu
Addresses these deafness patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Kidney Yang
- Consolidates the Penetrating and Directing Vessel (Chong Mai, Ren Mai)
- Facilitating pregnancy
- Promotes Blood circulation and regulates menstruation
Addresses These Deafness Pattern Variations
Kidney Yang Deficiency
How it manifests:
Loss of hearing or deafness
Accompanying symptoms:
Lower back pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Weak and cold knees, Lower back coldness, Chills...