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A question was asked: "What is the condition of sores developing inside the ear?" The answer was: "The ailments in the ear vary, but all are caused by the upward congestion of Wind-Heat (Wind-Heat) in the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian. There are five types of symptoms: one is Ting Er (Stagnant Ear), also known as Er Shi (Ear Dampness), which frequently discharges yellow pus; two is Er Feng Du (Ear Wind-Toxin), which frequently discharges red pus; three is Chan Er (Entangling Ear), which frequently discharges white pus; four is Er Gan (Ear Fungus/Gangrene), characterized by sores with a foul odor; five is Zhen Er (Shocking Ear), characterized by empty ringing in the ear and frequent discharge of clear pus. Although there are these five variations, their source is the same, and none involve chills or fever. Additionally, there are Er Xun (Ear Mushroom) and Er Zhi (Ear Hemorrhoid), which do not produce pus nor involve chills or fever, and present with no external swelling, only blockage and obstruction in the ear canal. These conditions above, if lingering and unceasing, can lead to deafness. They should be treated with Huoming Yin (Life-Saving Decoction) or Huanglian Xiaodu Yin (Coptis Detoxification Decoction). If chills and fever occur intermittently, and internal and external redness, swelling, and pain increase daily, it is an Er Yong (Ear Carbuncle). It should be treated with Huoming Yin (Life-Saving Decoction) plus Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), Zijin Dan (Purple Gold Pill), and Wujin San (Black Gold Powder); for those with robust constitution, Yili Jin Dan (One-Pill Golden Pill) should be used to purge. If chills and fever are severe and pain is unbearable, it is a Ding Chuang (Carbuncle/Furuncle), and it should be treated as such.

[Li Dongyuan] Shuniangzi Tang (Buddleja Seed Decoction) treats pain inside the ear and the development of sores.
Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix) (half tael), Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Huangqi (Astragali Radix) (each 3 fen), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructum), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Shuniangzi (Buddlejae Semen), Danggui Shao (Angelicae Sinensis Radix tip), Shengdihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) (each 2 fen), Puhuang (Typhae Pollen), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, honey-fried), Caolongdan (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix), Kunbu (Eckloniae Thallus), Sumu (Sappan Lignum), Sheng Gancao (Raw Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) (each 1 fen), Taoren (Persicae Semen) (1 qian), Honghua (Carthami Flos) (a small amount).
Crush the above ingredients to the size of hemp seeds. Prepare as one dose, add two large cups of water, and decoct until one cup remains. Strain the dregs; take warm after meals. Avoid cold-natured herbs that promote bowel movements.

[ Luo Tianyi ] Treating sores developing inside the ear: This occurs because the Foot-Shaoyin is the meridian of the Kidney, and its qi connects to the ear. When the meridian is deficient, Wind-Heat takes advantage of this deficiency, enters the ear along the meridian, and contends with the body's Qi, thus causing sores at the Er Men (Ear Gate). The primary treatment is Zengqing San (Azurite Powder).

Zengqing San (Azurite Powder) treats malignant sores inside the ear.
Xionghuang (Realgar) (7 qian), Zengqing (Azurite) (half tael), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) (2.5 qian).
Pound the above ingredients into a fine powder and mix evenly. Use a small amount each time and insert it into the ear. If pus discharges, wipe dry with a cotton swab before applying.

Huanglian San (Coptis Powder)
Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) (half tael), Baifan (Alumen, calcined) (7.5 qian).
Pound the above ingredients into a fine powder. Each time, use a small amount, wrap in cotton, and insert into the ear.
For further details, refer to Volume 8 of Miscellaneous Diseases, section on Er Men (Ear Gate).