Tinnitus in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Understanding different tinnitus patterns according to TCM theory

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Condition Categories

9
TCM Patterns
62
Formulas
Overview
What causes it 9 TCM patterns documented
How to recognize Symptoms specific to each tinnitus pattern
Classical remedies 62 herbal formulas documented

From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, tinnitus is often seen as a disturbance in the body's harmonious balance, related to the flow of Qi and Blood. The ears are traditionally associated with the Kidney system, and thus, issues such as tinnitus may indicate a deeper imbalance or Deficiency within the Kidney system.

TCM seeks to identify the pattern of disharmony, be it Excess or Deficiency, that is causing the symptom and then aims to restore balance through a combination of approaches including herbal medicine, acupuncture, and dietary modification.

TCM Patterns for Tinnitus

Yin Deficiency

Causes: Tinnitus

11 variations documented
Kidney Yin Deficiency
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Excessive sweating, Back pain, Hearing loss, Dry mouth and throat at night, Lower back pain, Constipation,

Heart Yin Deficiency
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Night sweats, Feeling of uneasiness, Feeling of heat, Heat sensation in palms, Hysteria, Neurasthenia

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Dizziness, Hearing loss, Lower back pain, Vertical headaches, Occipital headache, Insomnia,

Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Afternoon heat sensation, Dry mouth, Preference for sipping, Dry mouth and throat at night, Night sweats, Cardiac burning sensation,

Kidney and Lung Yin Deficiency
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Dizziness, Night dry coughing, Dry throat, Dry mouth, Emaciation, Exertional dyspnea,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Flushed cheekbones, Restlessness, Insomnia, Night sweats, Low grade fever in the afternoon, Heat sensation in palms,

Kidney-Deficiency
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Scanty menstruation, Pale menstrual flow, Back pain, Knee pain, Dizziness, Frequent urination,

Heart and Kidney Yin Deficiency
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Palpitations, Insomnia, Poor memory, Night sweats, Anxiety, Dizziness,

Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency causing Heat in the Blood
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Dizziness, Night sweats, Back pain, Dark urine, Bleeding between periods

Deficiency of both the Kidney Yin and Yang
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Menopausal symptoms, Hypertension, Irregular periods, Menopausal hot flashes, Excessive sweating, Irritability,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Dizziness, Insomnia, Palpitations, Poor memory, Lower back pain, Knee pain,

Heat

Causes: Tinnitus

8 variations documented
Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Hypochondriac pain, Hypochondriac distention, Nausea or vomiting, Fat malabsorption, Dull yellow complexion, Scanty and dark urine,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Heat in the Blood
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Feeling of heat, Red skin eruptions, Thirst, Frequent bleeding, Bloody sputum, Hematochezia,

Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Afternoon heat sensation, Dry mouth, Preference for sipping, Dry mouth and throat at night, Night sweats, Cardiac burning sensation,

Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Flushed cheekbones, Restlessness, Insomnia, Night sweats, Low grade fever in the afternoon, Heat sensation in palms,

Liver Fire Blazing
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Irritability, Anger, Deafness, Temporal headache, Dizziness, Flushed face,

Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Tremors, Irritability, Anger, Deafness, Temporal headache, Dizziness,

Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency causing Heat in the Blood
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Dizziness, Night sweats, Back pain, Dark urine, Bleeding between periods

Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Dizziness, Insomnia, Palpitations, Poor memory, Lower back pain, Knee pain,

Yang Deficiency

Causes: Tinnitus

3 variations documented
Kidney Yang Deficiency
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Lower back pain, Dizziness, Weak and cold knees, Lower back coldness, Chills, Weak legs,

Spleen or Kidney Yang Deficiency
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Abdominal pain that worsens with cold, Urinary dysfunction, Deep pain and heaviness in limbs, Dizziness, Heavy sensation in the head, Edema,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Deficiency of both the Kidney Yin and Yang
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Menopausal symptoms, Hypertension, Irregular periods, Menopausal hot flashes, Excessive sweating, Irritability,

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Qi Deficiency

Causes: Tinnitus

2 variations documented
Kidney Qi Deficiency
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Hearing loss, Dizziness, Back pain, Frequent urination, Nocturia, Premature ejaculation,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Dizziness, Unsteadiness, Blurry vision, Deafness, Shortness of breath, Weak voice,

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Yang Excess

Causes: Tinnitus

2 variations documented
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Tremors, Facial tic, Severe dizziness, Headaches, Hypertension, Dry throat,

Liver Yang Rising
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Headaches, Dizziness, Deafness, Blurry vision, Dry mouth, Dry throat,

Wind

Causes: Tinnitus

2 variations documented
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Tremors, Irritability, Anger, Deafness, Temporal headache, Dizziness,

Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Tremors, Facial tic, Severe dizziness, Headaches, Hypertension, Dry throat,

Essence Deficiency

Causes: Tinnitus

1 variation documented
Kidney Essence Deficiency
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Deafness, Decreased mental sharpness, Retardation, Osteomalacia, Hair loss, Lower back pain,

Qi Sinking

Causes: Tinnitus

1 variation documented
Qi Collapsing or Qi Sinking
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Uterine prolapse, Prolapsed bladder, Stomach prolapse, Nephroptosis, Anus prolapse, Bearing down sensation in abdomen,

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Dampness

Causes: Tinnitus

1 variation documented
Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder
How it presents with tinnitus

Tinnitus

Along with: Hypochondriac pain, Hypochondriac distention, Nausea or vomiting, Fat malabsorption, Dull yellow complexion, Scanty and dark urine,

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Herbal Formulas for Tinnitus

Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address tinnitus

Liu Wei Di Huang Wan

Addresses these tinnitus patterns:

Yin Deficiency Heat Yang Excess Wind

Zuo Gui Wan

Addresses these tinnitus patterns:

Yin Deficiency Heat Essence Deficiency

Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang

Addresses these tinnitus patterns:

Heat Wind Yang Excess

Er Zhi Wan

Addresses these tinnitus patterns:

Yin Deficiency Heat Yang Deficiency

Feng Yin Tang

Addresses these tinnitus patterns:

Heat Wind Yang Excess

Qi Ju Di Huang Wan

Addresses these tinnitus patterns:

Yin Deficiency Yang Excess Wind

Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang

Addresses these tinnitus patterns:

Yin Deficiency Yang Excess Wind

You Gui Wan

Addresses these tinnitus patterns:

Yin Deficiency Yang Deficiency

Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang

Addresses these tinnitus patterns:

Qi Deficiency Qi Sinking