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The ear is the external orifice of the Heart (Xin, 心) and is connected to the Qi of the Kidney (Shen Qi, 肾气). When the Zang-Fu organs are harmonious, the orifice remains open and unobstructed. If Kidney Qi is deficient, Wind pathogen (Feng Xie, 风邪) may invade. Combined with excessive thinking and mental labor that damages the Heart, Qi and blood vessels become internally knotted and fail to circulate freely, causing tinnitus in the ears. The sound results from the collision between internal Qi and the ear orifice. The sounds may resemble bells, chimes, thunder, drums, or cicadas. All these are caused by Kidney deficiency.

Kidney Qi connects to the ear. The Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian (Zu Shao Yin Shen Jing, 足少阴肾经) is where the Major Vessels (Zong Mai, 宗脉) gather. Labor consumes meridian blood and Qi, leading to insufficiency, which causes the Major Vessels to become empty. Wind pathogen takes advantage of this deficiency, entering the ear along the meridians and colliding with Qi, thus causing tinnitus. Palpating the Cun Kou pulse at the right wrist, known as the Qi Kou (Qi Kou, 气口): a floating pulse indicates Yang, corresponding to the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian (Shou Yangming Da Chang Jing, 手阳明大肠脉); a deep pulse indicates Yin, corresponding to the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian (Shou Taiyin Fei Jing, 手太阴肺脉). If both Yin and Yang pulses are deficient, it signifies damage to Blood and Qi and insufficiency of the Major Vessels. The patient suffers from buzzing in the ears and occasional visual hallucinations of flowers; this indicates deficiency of both the Lung and Large Intestine. Palpating the Chi position on the left wrist, known as Shen Men (Shen Men, 神门): a floating pulse indicates Yang, corresponding to the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian (Zu Tai Yang Pang Guang Jing, 足太阳膀胱脉). A deficient pulse indicates Bladder deficiency. The Kidney and Bladder are interior-exteriorly related. If tinnitus occurs, sudden deafness, and aversion to wind, it is because Bladder deficiency leads to Fullness of the San Jiao (Triple Burner). The Bladder is the mansion of Body Fluids (Jin Ye, 津液). If the San Jiao is full, it consumes Body Fluids, resulting in Bladder deficiency. If tinnitus persists, it may progress to deafness.

Formulas:
Niu Xi Wan (Achyranthes Bidentata Pill), from *Shengji Zonglu*, treats tinnitus caused by Kidney Qi deficiency and Wind pathogen invasion attacking the ear, often sounding like cicadas, leading to heavy hearing.
Ingredients: Niu Xi (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae, remove seedlings), Haitong Pi (Cortex Erythrinae, half jin each of the above two, pounded into powder, boiled with five sheng of good wine in a silver or ceramic vessel until paste-like), Xiang Zi (Fructus Amomi Rotundus, stir-fried), Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), Duhuo (Radix Angelicae Pubescentis), Scorpion (Scorpio, stir-fried, remove soil, two liang), Moschus (She Xiang, 麝香, mixed and pounded).

Bao Ming Wan (Life-Preserving Pill), from *Shengji Zonglu*, treats empty tinnitus in the ear.
Ingredients: Shu Gan Di Huang (Prepared Radix Rehmanniae, baked), Rou Cong Rong (Herba Cistanches, soaked in wine, sliced, and baked), Gui Xin (Cortex Cinnamomi, remove rough bark), Fu Zi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata, cracked by frying, remove skin and navel), Ding Xiang (Flos Caryophylli), Tu Si Zi (Semen Cuscutae, soaked in wine), Sheng Di Huang Zhi (Juiice of Raw Radix Rehmanniae).

Sheng Di Huang Zhi San (Raw Rehmannia Juice Powder), from *Qianjin Fang*, treats Kidney Qi deficiency-cold, pain in the lower back and spine, weak Yin and Yang, tinnitus, and emaciation.
Ingredients: Sheng Di Huang Zhi (two sheng), Sheng Tian Dong Zhi (Juice of Raw Radix Asparagi), Bai Mi (White Honey, three sheng each), Yang Shen (Oviduct Ovis, one piece, roasted), Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), Mai Qu (Massa Medicata Fermentata, one jin each), Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae). Pounded into powder.

Rou Cong Rong Wan (Cistanche Pill), from *Shengji Zonglu*, treats men suffering from empty tinnitus, pain in the waist and kidneys, cold wind in the thighs and knees, and loss of taste.
Ingredients: Rou Cong Rong (soaked in wine, sliced, and baked), Shi Hu (Caulis Dendrobii, remove roots), Bai Zhu, Wu Wei Zi (Fructus Schisandrae), Gui (Cortex Cinnamomi, remove rough bark), Ba Ji Tian (Radix Morindae Officinalis, remove heart), Fang Feng (Radix Saposhnikoviae, remove forked root), Ci Shi (Magnetitum, quenched in vinegar seven times).

Xiong Zhi San (Ligusticum and Angelica Dahurica Powder), from *Zhizhi Fang*, treats empty tinnitus caused by Wind entering the ear.
Ingredients: Bai Zhi (Radix Angelicae Dahuricae), Shi Chang Pu (Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii, stir-fried), Cang Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Chinensis), Chen Pi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae), Xi Xin (Herba Asari), Hou Po (Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis, processed), Ban Xia (Rhizoma Pinelliae, processed), La Gui (Cortex Cinnamomi Cassiae), Mu Tong (Caulis Akebiae), Zi Su Jing Ye (Stem and Leaf of Perilla Frutescens), Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae, roasted, one qian each), Chuan Xiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong, three fen). Coarsely chopped for decoction. Take three qian per dose, with five slices of fresh ginger and two white parts of scallion, decocted in water. Take after meals and before sleep.

Gan Di Huang San (Dry Rehmannia Powder), from *Shenghui Fang*, treats cicada-like tinnitus in the ear.
Ingredients: Shu Gan Di Huang (one liang), Fang Feng (one liang, remove rhizome head), Sang Er (Auricula Auricularia, three qian, lightly roasted), Zhi Ke (Fructus Aurantii, three qian, bran-roasted until slightly yellow, remove pulp), Huang Lian (Radix Coptidis), Bing Lang (Areca Seed, three qian), Fu Shen (Poria with Hostwood, three qian), Gan Cao (three qian, roasted until slightly red, chopped). Made into powder. Take three qian per dose, with one zhong of water and half a fen of fresh ginger, decocted to five fen. Strain and take warm before meals.

Di Huang Wan (Rehmannia Pill), from *Shengji Zonglu*, treats tinnitus due to Kidney deficiency.
Ingredients: Shu Gan Di Huang (three liang, baked), Huang Qi (Radix Astragali, chopped and baked), Shan Zhu Yu (Fructus Corni), Sang Gen Bai Pi (Cortex Mori Radicis, two liang each), Huang Lian (Radix Coptidis, remove threads), Ling Yang Jiao (Cornu Saigae Tataricae, powdered). Pounded and sifted into powder.

Long Chi San (Dragon Tooth Powder), from *Shengji Zonglu*, treats Kidney deficiency where Heat-Toxin attacks the ear due to deficiency, causing constant cicada-like tinnitus. Do not solely use tonifying medicines; use this formula instead.
Ingredients: Long Chi (Dens Draconis et Ossis Mastodi, ground), Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng), Yuan Zhi (Radix Polygalae, remove heart), Bai Fu Ling (Poria, remove black skin), Mai Men Dong (Radix Ophiopogonis, remove heart and bake, half liang each), Dan Sha (Cinnabar, ground), Tie Fen (Ferrum, ground).

Bai Zhu Tang (Atractylodes Decoction), from *Qianjin Fang*, treats Kidney heat, dark face, white eyes, internal injury to Kidney Qi, noisy tinnitus, shortness of breath, pain in the four limbs, and pulling pain in the waist and back.
Ingredients: Bai Zhu (five liang), Sheng Jiang (fresh ginger, six liang), Yang Shen (one piece, prepared for eating), Xuan Shen (Radix Scrophulariae), Ze Xie (Rhizoma Alismatis), Dan Zhu Ye (Folium Bambusae, cut).

Di Huang Tang (Rehmannia Decoction), from *Jingyan Liangfang*, treats twenty-year-old men who, after sores/toxins, have Heat in the Kidney Meridian, inaccurate hearing in the right ear, and frequent unexpected distress in the heart.
Ingredients: Sheng Gan Di Huang (one and a half liang), Sang Bai Pi (Cortex Mori Radicis, one liang), Ci Shi (Magnetitum, crushed, washed in water thirty to fifty times until red juice is gone, two liang), Zhi Ke (Fructus Aurantii), Qiang Huo (Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii).

Sai Er Cong Chang Pu Wan (Scallion and Acorus Pill for Ear Insertion), also known as Cong Ti Wan, treats deafness and tinnitus requiring ear insertion, and water entering the ear.
Ingredients: Chang Pu (Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii), Duhuo (remove rhizome head), Fan Shi (Alumen, boiled until juice dries, one liang each), Xi Xin (Herba Asari, remove seedlings and leaves), Gui (Cortex Cinnamomi, remove rough bark, three liang each). Pounded and sifted into powder. Mix with scallion juice.

Shan Yu Wan (Dioscorea Pill), from *Shengji Zonglu*, treats deafness and tinnitus.
Ingredients: Shan Yu (Dioscorea Hypoglauca Rhizome), Shu Gan Di Huang (sliced and baked), Ci Shi (quenched in vinegar seven times), Ju Hua (Flos Chrysanthemi, lightly stir-fried), Huang Qi (chopped), Fu Shen (remove wood), Mu Tong. Made into pills the size of tung tree seeds with honey. Take ten pills with rice drink initially, gradually increasing to ninety-nine pills.

She Xiang Wan (Moschus Pill), from *Weisheng Baojian Fang*, treats empty tinnitus in the ear.
Ingredients: She Xiang (Moschus, half qian), Quan Xie (Scorpio, fourteen pieces), Mao Er Bo He (Nepeta cataria, fourteen leaves wrapped around Moschus and Scorpio pills, baked dry). Made into fine powder. Drop water to form pills. Treats tinnitus and stops various pains (from *Bencao*).

Use Gu Sui Bu (Radix Drynariae), remove fine hairs, slice, mix with raw honey, steam from Si hour to Hai hour, take out, dry in sun, and pound into powder. Eat with fried pig kidney on an empty stomach.

Gui Xin Tang (Cinnamon Heart Decoction), also known as Ci Shi San, from Yan Shi's *Jisheng Fang*, treats insufficient Kidney Qi, deafness, and empty tinnitus.
Ingredients: Gui (remove rough bark), Qiang Huo (remove rhizome head), Huang Qi (chopped, one fen each), Fang Feng (remove forked root, half liang), Shao Yao (Radix Paeoniae Alba), Ren Shen (chopped, one and a half fen each). First boil pig kidney.

Yu Nao Gao (Fish Brain Ointment), from *Shenghui Fang*, treats tinnitus and deafness. Apply this ointment into the ear.
Ingredients: Li Yu Nao (Brain of Common Carp, six he), Dang Gui, Fang Feng (remove forked root), Xi Xin (remove seedlings and leaves), Fu Zi (remove skin and navel), Xiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong), Bai Zhi (one fen each). Insert into the ear.

Liao Er Meng Fei Nao (Treatment for Noisy Tinnitus), from *Shenghui Fang*.
Ingredients: Wu Zhu Yu (Fructus Evodiae), Ba Dou (Seminar Crotonis, remove shell and fry), Gan Jiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis), Shi Chang Pu, Ci Shi, Xi Xin (one fen each). Pound into powder. Mix with goose fat in small amounts. Use several times.

Xiong Gui Tang (Ligusticum and Angelica Decoction), from *Zhizhi Fang*, treats tinnitus.
Ingredients: Xiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong), Dang Gui, Hua Yin Xi Xin (Herba Asari from Huayin, half liang each), La Gui (Cortex Cinnamomi Cassiae), Shi Chang Pu, Bai Zhi (three qian each). Coarsely chopped for decoction. Take three qian per dose... (Original text incomplete here regarding administration).

Zi Su Dang Gui Gao (Perilla and Angelica Ointment), from *Shenghui Fang*, treats tinnitus and deafness.
Ingredients: Dang Gui, Xi Xin, Fang Feng, Fu Zi, Xiong, Bai Zhi (six zhu/qian each). Made into powder. Fry with male common carp brain.

Huang Qi Wan (Astragalus Pill), from Wei Shi's Formula, treats Kidney deficiency tinnitus. At night while sleeping, it sounds like war drums, feeling like wind blowing in the ear, accompanied by twitching and pain in the four limbs.
Ingredients: Huang Qi (single stem, remove rhizome head, one liang), Bai Ji Li (Fructus Tribuli, stir-fried on tile, rub off fine thorns), Qiang Huo (remove rhizome head, half liang each), Hei Fu Zi (large black Aconite, one piece). Take before meals.

Chang Pu Jin Jiu (Acorus Infused Wine), from *Shenghui Fang*, treats empty deafness and tinnitus.

Quan Xie Wan (Scorpion Pill), treats Kidney Qi deficiency, where the ear sounds like wind and water or bells/chimes, and sudden deafness.
Ingredients: Quan Xie, Chuan Jiao (Fructus Zanthoxyli), Ba Dou (remove shell), Shi Chang Pu, Song Zhi (Resina Pini, equal parts). Made into fine powder. Melt wax and form pills. Insert into the ear using a tube. Change once a day.

Xiong Gao (Ligusticum Ointment), from *Shengji Zonglu*, treats tinnitus and deafness for ear insertion.
Ingredients: Xiong, Dang Gui, Xi Xin (remove seedlings and leaves), Bai Zhi (equal parts). Finely chopped. Mix with six he of common carp brain in a silver vessel. Boil into ointment.

Ba Dou Wan (Croton Pill), treats tinnitus for ear insertion.
Ingredients: Ba Dou (two seeds, remove shell and fry), Tao Ren (Semen Persicae, remove shell and fry, two seeds), Song Zhi (size of soybean). Pound into two pills. Wrap in cotton and insert into the ear.

Qing Yan Xia Qi Wan (Green Salt Descending Qi Pill), from *Ren Cun Fang*, treats Kidney Qi deficiency, Qi rushing upward, tinnitus, and deafness.
Ingredients: Hui Xiang (Fructus Foeniculi, stir-fried), Mu Xiang (Radix Aucklandiae), Bi Cheng Qie (Fructus Tetracondylis). Equal parts, made into powder. Outside, use Green Salt powder, add glutinous rice paste to form pills the size of tung tree seeds. Take with salt water. Take thirty to forty pills per dose.

Ba Dou Fang (Croton Formula), treats Kidney Qi deficiency, where the ear sounds like wind and water or bells/chimes, and sudden deafness.
Ingredients: Ba Dou, Shi Chang Pu, Song Zhi (equal parts). Melt wax into a tube shape and insert into the ear. Change once a day. Miraculous effect.

Ci Shi Jiu (Magnetite Wine), treats deafness and tinnitus, often sounding like wind and water.
Ingredients: Ci Shi (crushed, wrapped in silk, half liang), Mu Tong, Shi Chang Pu (soaked in rice wash water, one liang each, sliced daily and baked, half jin each). Coarsely chopped. Put in a silk bag. Soak in wine.

Chang Pu San (Acorus Powder), treats empty tinnitus day and night for ear insertion.

Ba Wei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill), from *Jianyi Fang*, treats deafness and empty tinnitus.
Take forty-nine good whole scorpions, stir-fry until slightly yellow, make into powder. Take three qian per dose, mixed with warm wine. Also take one hundred Ba Wei Wan pills on an empty stomach. Only three liang... (Original text incomplete).

Treat constant tinnitus in the ear (from *Shenghui Fang*).
Cut raw Rehmannia and insert into the ear. Change ten or more times a day until healed. Alternatively, wrap in paper and roast in hot ashes.

Sheng Wu Tou Fang (Raw Aconite Formula), from *Shenghui Fang*, treats deafness and tinnitus sounding like flowing water. If untreated for long, it becomes deafness.
Wash raw Wu Tou (Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii) cleanly, carve into the size of a jujube pit, and insert into the ear. Change once a day. Cured in three days. Also treats ear itching and sudden wind deafness. One formula treats... (Original text incomplete).

Bu Shen Wan (Tonify Kidney Pill), also known as Rou Cong Rong Wan or Yang Shen Wan, from *Qianjin Fang*, treats Kidney deficiency deafness, or Qi injury from overwork, deficiency from wind-stroke.
Ingredients: Shan Zhu Yu, Gan Jiang (fired), Yuan Zhi (remove heart), Ba Ji (Radix Morindae Officinalis), Shao Yao, Ze Xie, Tu Si Zi (soaked in wine), Gui Xin, Huang Qi, Shi Hu, Shi Chang Pu. Made into powder, paste with flour dough to form pills.

Ci Shi San (Magnetite Powder), from *Shengji Zonglu*, treats weak Kidney Qi, Qi rushing to both ears making noise, severe cases leading to deafness.
Ingredients: Ci Shi (quenched in vinegar seven times), Shu Gan Di Huang (baked), Mu Dan Pi (Cortex Moutan), Shi Chang Pu (soaked in rice wash water overnight, chopped), Bai Zhu (one liang each), Fu Zi (prepared), Gui (remove rough bark), Dang Gui (sliced and baked), Sang Piao Xiao (Mantispis Oothecae, broken and roasted, half liang each), Yang Shen (one pair, thinly sliced, remove fascia, roasted dry). Made into powder. Take one qian per dose, mixed with warm wine. Increase to two qian daily. Take anytime.

Shi Hu Wan (Dendrobium Pill), from *Shengji Zonglu*, treats Kidney deficiency, noises in the ear like cicadas or wind/water. Palpation shows the Chi pulse on the left wrist is faint and thin.
Ingredients: Shi Hu (remove roots), Huang Qi (chopped), Di Gu Pi (Cortex Lycii), Lu Rong (Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum, remove hair, soak in wine overnight, roast with butter), Fu Zi (cracked by frying, remove skin and navel, one liang each), Tu Si Zi (washed clean, soaked in wine, steamed, baked). Made into powder... (Original text incomplete).

Fu Zi Cong Rong Wan (Aconite and Cistanche Pill), from *Ren Cun Fang*, treats Kidney deficiency deafness, or Wind pathogen entering meridians causing empty tinnitus.
Ingredients: Rou Cong Rong (soaked in wine, sliced, baked), Wu Zhu Yu (remove core), Shi Long Rou (Sanguisorba Officinalis Root), Shi Chang Pu, Tu Si Zi (washed clean, soaked in wine, steamed, baked), Lu Rong (burned to remove hair), Quan Xie (remove toxicity). Take seventy pills per dose... (Original text incomplete).

Bu Shen Huang Qi Tang (Tonify Kidney Astragalus Decoction), from *Shengji Zonglu*, treats Kidney deficiency, frequent tinnitus leading to deafness.
Ingredients: Huang Qi (chopped), Ren Shen, Zi Wan (Radix Asteris, remove dirt), Gan Cao (roasted, chopped), Fang Feng (remove forked root), Dang Gui (sliced and baked), Mai Men Dong (remove heart, bake). Coarsely sifted. Take five qian per dose... (Original text incomplete).

Sang Piao Xiao San (Mantis Egg-case Powder), from *Shengji Zonglu*, treats weak Kidney Qi, Qi rushing to both ears, severe tinnitus leading to deafness.
Ingredients: Sang Piao Xiao (broken and roasted), Fu Zi (cracked by frying, remove skin and navel), Ren Shen, Bai Fu Ling (remove black skin), Dang Gui (sliced and baked), Gui (remove rough bark, half liang each). Pound and sift into powder... (Original text incomplete).

Bu Shen Lu Rong Wan (Tonify Kidney Deer Antler Pill), also known as Ci Shi Wan, from *Shenghui Fang*, treats deafness and hearing bell/chime/wind/rain sounds after Kidney fatigue and deficiency.
Ingredients: Lu Rong (remove hair, soak in wine overnight, roast with butter), Ci Shi (quenched in vinegar seven times), Zhi Shi (Fructus Aurantii, remove pulp, bran-roasted, three liang each), Fu Zi (prepared), Ba Ji Tian (remove heart). Honey-made pills the size of tung tree seeds... (Original text incomplete).