The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
deafness, diminished hearing and loss of hearing or deafness redirect here
Impaired hearing can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like impaired hearing here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here impaired hearing is often associated with insomnia, scanty and dark urine and abdominal pain in the pattern “Full-Heat in the Small Intestine”. As you will see below, we have in record five patterns that can cause impaired hearing.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of impaired hearing we’ve identified five herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat impaired hearing.
The five "patterns of disharmony" that can cause impaired hearing
In Chinese Medicine impaired hearing is a symptom for 5 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
The Small Intestine is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Small Intestine in Chinese Medicine
Full-Heat in the Small Intestine
Pulse type(s): Overflowing (Hong), Rapid (Shu)
In addition to impaired hearing, other symptoms associated with Full-Heat in the Small Intestine include insomnia, scanty and dark urine and abdominal pain.
Full-Heat in the Small Intestine is often treated with Dao Chi San, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Akebia Stems - Mu Tong - as a key herb). Dao Chi San belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat from the organs", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears the Heart".
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Liver Fire Blazing
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Wiry (Xian), Full (Shi)
In addition to impaired hearing, other symptoms associated with Liver Fire Blazing include dizziness, tinnitus and dry stools.
Liver Fire Blazing is often treated with Long Dan Xie Gan Tang, a herbal formula made of 10 herbs (including Chinese Gentian - Long Dan Cao - as a key herb). Long Dan Xie Gan Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat from the organs", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Heat and Fire from the Liver and Gallbladder".
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Liver Yang Rising
Pulse type(s): Wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Red
Long term Liver Yin Deficiency causes Liver Yang rising upwards. The treatment should be focused on subduing rising Yang as well as nourishing Liver Yin and Blood. It is also called Arrogant Liver Yang.
In addition to impaired hearing, other symptoms associated with Liver Yang Rising include dizziness, tinnitus and dry stools.
Liver Yang Rising is often treated with Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 6 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Liu Wei Di Huang Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish yin and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nutritive tonic for the Liver and Kidney Yin Essence (nourishes the parasympathetic nervous system)".
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
In addition to impaired hearing, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing include dizziness, tinnitus and lower back pain.
Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing is often treated with Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 6 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Liu Wei Di Huang Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish yin and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nutritive tonic for the Liver and Kidney Yin Essence (nourishes the parasympathetic nervous system)".
Read more about Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing here
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
In addition to impaired hearing, other symptoms associated with Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency include dizziness, tinnitus and blurred vision.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Spontaneous Flow Of Breast Milk.
Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency is often treated with Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang, a herbal formula made of 10 herbs (including Milkvetch Roots - Huang Qi - as a key herb). Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that tonify qi", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Tonifies Qi of the Spleen and Stomach (Middle Burner)".
Five herbal formulas that might help with impaired hearing
Dao Chi San
Source date: 1119 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Clears the Heart. Promotes urination.
Why might Dao Chi San help with impaired hearing?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Full-Heat in the Small Intestine' of which impaired hearing is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Full-Heat In The Small Intestine include insomnia, scanty and dark urine and abdominal pain.
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang
Source date: 1247
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Qi of the Spleen and Stomach (Middle Burner). Raises the Yang. Detoxifies. Lifts what has sunken.
Why might Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang help with impaired hearing?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency' of which impaired hearing is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Spleen And Stomach Qi Deficiency include dizziness, tinnitus and blurred vision.
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
Source date: 1682 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat and Fire from the Liver and Gallbladder. Clears and drains Damp-Heat from the Lower Burner.
Why might Long Dan Xie Gan Tang help with impaired hearing?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Liver Fire Blazing' of which impaired hearing is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Liver Fire Blazing include dizziness, tinnitus and dry stools.
Da Chai Hu Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Harmonizes and releases the Lesser Yang. Drains internal clumping due to Heat.
Why might Da Chai Hu Tang help with impaired hearing?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Liver Yang Rising' of which impaired hearing is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Liver Yang Rising include dizziness, tinnitus and dry stools.
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Source date: 1119 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Nutritive tonic for the Liver and Kidney Yin Essence (nourishes the parasympathetic nervous system).
Why might Liu Wei Di Huang Wan help with impaired hearing?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing' of which impaired hearing is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing include dizziness, tinnitus and lower back pain.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat impaired hearing
Why might Yam (Shan Yao) help with impaired hearing?
Because Yam is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat impaired hearing as a symptom, like Liu Wei Di Huang Wan or Qi Ju Di Huang Wan for instance.
Yam is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Kidney and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach. Tonifies the Lung Qi and nourishes the Lung Yin. Nourishes the Kidneys and consolidates Jing.
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with impaired hearing?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat impaired hearing as a symptom, like Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang or Liu Wei Di Huang Wan for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart, the Kidney and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Why might Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) help with impaired hearing?
Because Prepared Rehmannia is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat impaired hearing as a symptom, like Liu Wei Di Huang Wan or Ba Xian Chang Shou Wan for instance.
Prepared Rehmannia is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Tonifies the Yin of the Kidneys.
Why might Water Plantain (Ze Xie) help with impaired hearing?
Because Water Plantain is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat impaired hearing as a symptom, like Liu Wei Di Huang Wan or Qi Ju Di Huang Wan for instance.
Water Plantain is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Bladder and the Kidney.
Its main actions are: Causes urination and removes Damp-Heat
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with impaired hearing?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat impaired hearing as a symptom, like Dao Chi San or Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Stomach, the Heart and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Other symptoms often associated with impaired hearing
Dizziness Tinnitus Lower back pain Infertility Dry stools Insomnia Night sweats Blurred vision Irritability Back pain