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The Kidney opens into the ears, and the Heart's orifices are also associated with the ears. The ears are clear and hollow orifices, serving as the site where Yang Qi converges and circulates. Once invaded by pathogenic factors such as Wind, Heat, Fire, or Stagnation, or when there is a deficiency of Kidney Water leading to excess Fire, or Kidney deficiency causing Qi rebellion, all these conditions can result in tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and deafness.

Since the ears are the orifice of the Kidney, ear diseases generally belong to the Kidney; Kidney deficiency leads to deafness and an inability to hear. Shaoyang (Lesser Yang) channel dampness surrounds the ears; if affected by pathogens, it causes tinnitus. Damp-Heat disturbing the Stomach and Stomach Fire flaring upward also cause tinnitus, which may be severe with redness and swelling. The right side belongs to the Yangming (Yang Brightness) channel, and the left side belongs to the Shaoyang channel; swelling with pus discharge indicates a Wind-Heat disease.

**Tinnitus due to Upward Stagnation of Wind-Warmth**
When Warm pathogens, Summerheat, Fire, Heat, or Wind invade the orifices, the method of "lightness can dispel solidity" should be used, employing light and clear herbs to drain and descend.
Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum), Tongcao (Tetrapanacis Medulla), Kudingcha (Ilicis Kudingchae Folium), Juye (Chrysanthemi Folium), Hegeng (Nelumbinis Petiolus), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), Mabo (Cordyceps Militaris), Ludoupi (Phaseoli Cochin-chinensis Pericarpium), Yinhua (Lonicerae Japonicae Flos), Chuanbei (Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus), Lingyangpian (Saigae Tataricae Cornu), Dalizi (Armeniaceae Semen), Yuan Shen (Scrophulariae Radix), Manjingzi (Viticis Fructus), Heyezhi (Nelumbinis Folium Succus), Xiakuahua (Prunellae Spica), Huashi (Talcum), Xian Zhuye (Bambusae Folium), Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), Yi Yuan San (Yi Yuan Powder), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Shan Zhi (Gardeniae Fructus).

**Deafness due to Upward Stagnation of Gallbladder Fire**
(Symptoms include headache and ear fullness; treatment is similar to the above.)
Qinghao (Artemisiae Annuae Herba), Danpi (Moutan Cortex), Xiang Bei (Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus), Shijueming (Haliotidis Concha), Sangye (Mori Folium), Shan Zhi (Gardeniae Fructus), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Chu Ganju (Chrysanthemi Indici Flos).

**Deafness due to Depression Damaging Heart and Kidney, with Gallbladder Fire Flaring Upward**
For tinnitus caused by depression, decoctions should be used to clear the Shaoyang channel, and pills to tonify the Heart and Kidney.
Sheng Di (Rehmanniae Radix), Xiakucao (Prunellae Spica), Shan Zhi (Gardeniae Fructus), Sheng Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Danpi (Moutan Cortex), Nvzhenzi (Ligustri Lucidi Fructus), Chi Ling (Poria Cocos cum Ligno), Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus), Fu Shen (Poria Cocos cum Radice), Chen Sha (Cinnabaris), Ci Shi (Magnetitum), Jian Lianzi (Nelumbinis Semen), Chenxiang (Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum).
Chenxiang Wan Formula: Uses Shu Di (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata), Gui Ban (Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum), Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Mu Li (Ostreae Concha).

**Tinnitus due to Qi Obstruction**
Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex), Mutong (Akebiae Caulis), Kudingcha (Ilicis Kudingchae Folium), Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum), Guang Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix), Xian Heye Zhi (Nelumbinis Folium Succus).

**Deafness due to Kidney Deficiency**
Yin deficiency with Yang hyperactivity, where internal Wind rises to obscure the orifices, requires strengthening Water to control Yang, filling Yin to suppress rebellious Qi, assisted by salty flavors entering Yin and sour flavors harmonizing Yang.
Da Shu Di (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata), Suo Yang (Cynomorii Herba), Niu Xi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), Ci Shi (Magnetitum), Yu Rou (Corni Fructus), Gui Ban Xin (Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum Corium), Fu Shen (Poria Cocos cum Radice), Yuan Zhi (Polygalae Radix), Qiu Shi (Urina Secalis Contaminata), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus).

**Deafness in Octogenarians**
(With deficiency below and excess above, the Lower Jiao must be filled.)
Liu Wei Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) plus Ci Shi (Magnetitum), Gui Ban (Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus), Yuan Zhi (Polygalae Radix).

Chen Xiyuan stated: The treatment methods for ear diseases do not go beyond regulating Yang, suppressing Yin, tonifying the Heart, benefiting the Kidney, and clearing the Gallbladder. For deafness due to constitutional weakness, treatment focuses on the Heart and Kidney; for obstruction of orifices due to pathogenic interference, treatment focuses on the Gallbladder channel.