Ear pain






Prescription



Main formula



Yin qiao san


Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder. Besides the function for dispelling the Wind and clearing the Heat, so as to relieve the External symptoms, this formula also has some effect on removing the Toxin and reducing the swelling. Meanwhile, some other herbs, such as Pu Gong Ying Herba Taraxaci Mongolici cum Radice 10g, Ye Ju Hua Flos Chrysanthemi Indici 10g, Chuan Xiong Radix Ligustici Wallichii 10g and Bai Zhi Radix Angelicae Dahuricae 10g could be added to relieve the ear pain.


Alternative formulas



Xiong zhi shi gao tang


Cnidium, Angelica and Gypsum Decoction. When this formula is used to treat the ear pain due to invasion of Wind-Heat, Sang Ye Folium Mori 10g, Jin Ying Hua Flos Lonicerae 10g and Sheng Di Huang Radix Rehmanniae 10g, etc, could be added to the prescription to relieve the ear pain.


Ju hua cha tiao san


This formula is formed based upon CHUAN XIONG CHA TIAO SAN by adding Ju Hua Flos Chrysanthemi 10g and Jiang Can Bombyx Batryticatus 10g.


Modifications





1. If there is severe redness and swelling of the ear due to the invasion of Toxic Heat, add Xia Ku Cao Spica Prunellae 10g to clear the Heat, eliminate the Toxin and reduce the swelling


2. If there is discharge of yellow liquid from the ear due to invasion of Toxic Damp-Heat, add Long Dan Cao Radix Gentianae 5g and Ku Shen Radix Sophorae Flavesentis 10g to eliminate the Toxin and the Damp and clear the Heat


3. If there is fever due to the predominance of Heat invasion, add Chai Hu Radix Bupleuri 5g and Sheng Ma Rhizoma Cimicifugae 5g to clear the Heat and reduce the fever


4. If there is headache due to the disturbance of the Clear Yang in the head by Wind-Heat, add Man Jing Zi Fructus Viticis 10g to dispel Wind-Heat and sedate the headache


5. If there is a cough and expectoration of yellow phlegm due to invasion of the Lung by Wind-Heat, add Qian Hu Radix Peucedani 10g and Zhe Bei Mu Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii 10g to disperse the Lung-Qi and dispel the Wind-Heat.


Patent remedies


Yin Qiao Pian Honeysuckle and Forsythia Tablet.

Yin Qiao Jie Du Pian Honeysuckle and Forsythia Tablet to Overcome Toxins.







Invasion of Wind-Cold



Symptoms and signs


Painful ears, a slight purplish or blue colour to the ears, ear pain referring to the head, headache, an aversion to cold, a slight fever, a runny nose with a white discharge, a cough with expectoration of white phlegm, a thin and white tongue coating and a superficial and wiry pulse.


Principle of treatment


Dispel Wind, eliminate Cold and relieve the pain.





Prescription



Main formula



Chuan xiong cha tiao san


Ligusticum–Green Tea Regulating Powder. This formula was originally designed for headache due to invasion of Wind-Cold; however, it can also be used to treat ear pain due to invasion of Wind-Cold. Gui Zhi Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae 10g, Man Jing Zi Fructus Viticis 10g and Jue Ming Zi Semen Cassiae 10g could be added to relieve the eye pain.


Alternative formulas



Jing fang bai du san


Schizonepeta and Ledebouriella Powder to Overcome Pathogenic Toxin. Although this formula could be used to dispel the External Wind and eliminate the Cold, its effect on the ear pain is not sufficient. Gui Zhi Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae 10g, Man Jing Zi Fructus Viticis 10g, Jue Ming Zi Semen Cassiae 10g and Bai Zhi Radix Angelicae Dahuricae 10g could be added to relieve the ear pain.


Qiang huo sheng shi tang


Notopterygium Dispelling Dampness Decoction. This formula dispels Wind, eliminates the Cold, relieves the Damp and alleviates the pain. Although there is no obvious Damp invasion, this formula could still be applied to treat the ear pain due to invasion of Wind-Cold.


Modifications





1. If there is spasm of the face due to the predominance of Cold invasion, add Bai Fu Zi Rhizoma Typhonii 10g to eliminate the Cold and relieve the spasm


2. If there is stiffness of the neck and headache due to slowing down of the Qi and Blood circulation as a result of Wind-Cold invasion, add Qiang Huo Rhizoma seu Radix Notopterygii 10g and Ge Gen Radix Puerariae 10g to relieve the stiff neck and headache


3. If there is severe cold hands and feet, add Xi Xin Herba Asari 3g to dispel Wind-Cold and relieve the cold hands and feet


4. If there is cough and expectoration of white phlegm due to invasion of the Lung by Wind-Cold, add Ban Xia Rhizoma Pinelliae 10g and Chen Pi Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae 10g to disperse the Lung-Qi, dispel the Wind-Cold and relieve the cough


4. If there is headache due to Wind-Cold invasion, add Qiang Huo Rhizoma seu Radix Notopterygii 10g to dispel the Wind-Cold and relieve the headache.


Patent remedy


Jing Fang Bai Du Pian Schizonepeta and Ledebouriella Tablet to Overcome Pathogenic Influences.






Main points


LI-4 Hegu, LU-7 Lieque, TE-17 Yifeng, GB-2 Tinghui, GB-8 Shuaigu and BL-12 Fengmen. Reducing method is used on these points. Moxibustion should be applied on LI-4, TE-5, TE-17 and GB-2.


Explanations





▪ Actually, this group of acupuncture points is almost the same as those for invasion of Wind-Heat; the only slight difference is the application of moxibustion to warm the ear, dispel Wind-Cold and relieve the pain


▪ Cold has the characteristics of contraction and stagnation; thus those points that have a strong ability to dispel Cold and open the skin pores – LI-4, the Source point, and LU-7, the Connecting point – are used to open the skin pores and promote sweating so as to dispel Wind-Cold


▪ BL-12 dispels Wind, eliminates Cold and relieves External symptoms


▪ TE-17, GB-2 and GB-8 are local points around the ear, and are able to circulate the Qi and Blood and harmonise the collateral so as to stop the pain.


Alternative points


GB-11 Touqiaoyin, GB-12 Wangu, GB-19 Naokong and GB-40 Qiuxu.


Modifications





1. If there is spasm of the face due to predominance of Cold invasion, add ST-6 and ST-7 with moxibustion to eliminate the Cold and relieve the spasm


2. If there is stiffness of the neck and headache due to slowing down of the Qi and Blood circulation resulting from invasion of Wind-Cold, add SI-3, the Confluence point of the Governing Vessel, and BL-62, the Confluence point of the Yang Heel Vessel, to relieve the stiff neck and headache


3. If there is cough and expectoration of white phlegm due to invasion of the Lung by Wind-Cold, add LU-1, the Front Collecting point, and BL-13, the Back Transporting point of the Lung to disperse the Lung-Qi, dispel the Wind-Cold and relieve the cough.





A 51-year-old woman had been suffering from pain in her right ear for 2 weeks. She had a painful ear and stiff neck when she woke up one winter morning. She received massage treatment, which got rid of the neck pain but the painful ear remained. Therefore she came to the acupuncturist for treatment. When she arrived at the clinic, she had right ear pain with spasm sensation, and slight rigidity in her neck, which always got worse when she went outdoors. She wore a heavy scarf all the time when she left the house. Her tongue was white and wet, and her pulse was wiry.


Diagnosis


Invasion of External Cold. The key symptoms of this case were the ear pain caused by improper exposition to Cold. The pain was acute and with a cold sensation. The white tongue coating and wiry pulse were also due to External Cold syndrome.


Principle of treatment


Warm the Gallbladder channels and eliminate External Cold to relieve the ear pain.


Acupuncture treatment


SI-19 Tinggong, TE-17 Yifeng, TE-5 Waiguan, GB-2 Tinghui and GB-20 Fengchi were needled with reducing method. Treatment was given every other day.


Explanations





▪ TE-5 is the Connecting point of the Triple Burner channel. It is needled to promote the Qi circulation in the Triple Burner channel, to dispel the external Cold in the channels. GB-20 is a key point to treat Wind-Cold disorders in the head area. It can be used to dispel Wind-Cold to treat a painful ear. This point was also warmed with moxa stick after needling.


▪ GB-2, TE-17 and SI-19 are local points to treat ear pain.


▪ Ten days later, the ear pain was relieved completely.


Invasion of Toxin or insect bites



Symptoms and signs


Sudden swelling and pain of the ear, mostly at one side, itching, redness, a hot or even burning sensation, restlessness, or fever, a thirst, constipation, a red tongue with a thin and yellow coating and a wiry and rapid pulse.


Principle of treatment


Clear the Heat, remove the Toxin, reduce the swelling and relieve the pain.





Prescription



Main formula



Pu ji xiao du yin


Universal Benefit Decoction to Eliminate Toxin. This formula has a good effect on clearing the Heat, removing the Toxin and reducing the swelling, indicated in ear pain due to invasion of Toxic Heat with predominance of Heat in the body, and Jin Yin Hua Flos Lonicerae Japonicae 10g and Da Qing Ye Folium isatidis 10g should be added to clear the Heat and Toxin.


Alternative formulas



Yin qiao san


Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder. This formula has also the effect of dispelling the Wind, clearing the Heat and removing the Toxin, but it is not as efficient as the formula above at removing the Toxin and reducing the swelling. Huang Lian Rhizoma Coptidis 5g, Huang Qin Radix Scutellariae 10g, Chuan Xiong Radix Ligustici Wallichii 10g and Bai Zhi Radix Angelicae Dahuricae 10g, etc., could be added to relieve the ear pain.


Wu wei xiao du yin


Five-Ingredient Decoction to Eliminate Toxin. This formula is very good at eliminating the Toxin and reducing the swelling. Some other herbs to sedate the ear pain, such as Chuan Xiong Radix Ligustici Wallichii 10g and Bai Zhi Radix Angelicae Dahuricae 10g could be added.


Modifications





1. If there is obvious redness and swelling of the ear due to severe Toxin invasion, add Huang Lian Rhizoma Coptidis 10g and Da Qing Ye Folium isatidis 10g to clear the Heat, eliminate the Toxin and reduce the swelling


2. If there is fever due to invasion of Toxic Heat, add Chai Hu Radix Bupleuri 5g and Sheng Ma Rhizoma Cimicifugae 5g to clear the Heat and reduce the fever


3. If there is headache due to disturbance of the Clear Yang in the head by Toxic Heat, add Man Jing Zi Fructus Viticis 10g and Bo He Herba Menthae 5g to dispel the Wind-Heat and sedate the headache


4. If there is restlessness and insomnia due to failure of the Heart to house the Shen, resulting from disturbance of the Heart by Toxic Heat, add Huang Lian Rhizoma Coptidis 10g and Zhu Ye Herba Lophatheri 10g to clear the Heat and calm the Shen


5. If there is fever with thirst, add Shi Gao Gypsum Fibrosum 20g and Zhi Mu Rhizoma Anemarrhenae 10g to clear the Heat and relieve the thirst


6. If there is constipation, add Da Huang Radix et Rhizoma Rhei 10g and Mang Xiao Natrii Sulfas 10g to clear the Fire and promote defecation.


Patent remedies


Niu Huang Jie Du Pian Cattle Gallstone Tablet to Resolve Toxin.

Huang Lian Shang Qing Wan Coptis Pill to Clear Heat of Upper Burner.






Main points


BL-17 Geshu, GV-10 Lingtai, LI-2 Erjian, LI-4 Hegu, TE-6 Zhigou, TE-21 Ermen and GB-3 Shangguan. Reducing method is used on these points.


Explanations





▪ This condition is usually caused by a Toxic Heat invasion resulting from insect bites; thus some points to clear the Heat and remove the Toxin from the Blood should be used, as well as some points to clear Heat in the Qi stage


▪ BL-17 and GV-10 clear Heat and remove Toxin from the Blood as well as reduce swelling


▪ LI-2, the Spring point, and LI-4, the Source point, clear Heat, eliminate Toxin, reduce swelling and relieve the pain


▪ TE-6 clears Heat and drains Toxin downward


▪ TE-21 and GB-3 are the local points around the ear; they are able to circulate the Qi and Blood and harmonise the collateral so as to stop the pain.


Alternative points


TE-16 Tianyou, TE-20 Jiaosun, GB-4 Hanyan, GB-9 Tianchong and GB-10 Fubai, etc.


Modifications





1. If there is obvious redness and swelling of the ear due to severe Toxin, add TE-2 and GB-43 to clear Heat, eliminate the Toxin and to reduce the swelling


2. If there is fever due to invasion of Toxic Heat, add GV-14 and LI-11 to clear Heat and to reduce the fever


3. If there is headache due to disturbance of the Clear Yang in the head by Toxic Heat, add Extra Taiyang to dispel Wind-Heat and sedate the headache


4. If there is restlessness and insomnia due to failure of the Heart to house the Shen resulting from disturbance of the Heart by Toxic Heat, add HT-3 to clear the Heat and calm the Shen.

Jun 19, 2016 | Posted by in PAIN MEDICINE | Comments Off on Ear pain

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