典藏书目

The kidney qi of infants and children is robust, allowing heat to rush upward to the ears. This causes fluids to stagnate and transform into thick pus or clear fluid. In some cases, water enters the ear during bathing, causing blood and qi to stagnate, gradually leading to otomycosis with a foul odor, which may eventually result in deafness. Tang Shi classified ear diseases into five types, but their root cause is the same. It is advisable to use Longgu San (Dragon Bone Powder) insufflated into the ear, while externally administering decoctions that resolve toxicity and reduce fever.

If gallbladder qi fails to diffuse smoothly, wind pathogens invade, and Shaohuo (Ministerial Fire) becomes constrained, resulting in swelling and pain in both ears. Clear fluid flows internally, which over time turns into pus and blood. The body exhibits alternating chills and fever, and a sound like boiling water is heard within the ear. This presents as a syndrome where wind-fire dries up gallbladder juice; treatment should employ Shudan Tang (Gallbladder-Diffusing Decoction).

If the ear is dry with cerumen, without pus or fluid, and pain feels like needle pricks, prolonged neglect will lead to desiccation and deafness. One should promptly administer Pinghuo Tang (Fire-Calming Decoction) in a heavy dose, or adjust treatment using Chaihu Cong'er Tang (Bupleurum Ear-Opening Decoction) according to circumstances.

Longgu San (Dragon Bone Powder): Calcined Dragon Bone (ground), Alum (each 3 qian), Red Lead (2 qian), Carmine (1 qian), Musk (a small amount). All ingredients are ground together into powder. First, wipe away the pus, then insufflate the powder into the ear using a goose quill.

Wu Yu-zhai stated: For sores outside the ear, use 1 qian of Realgar and one red date pitted. Wrap the Realgar inside the date, roast it over fire until the carbonized nature remains, take out the Realgar, grind it finely, and apply it topically for immediate healing. For sores inside the ear, use processed Fish Head Stone calcined to retain its nature, grind it fine, add a small amount of Cinnabar and Musk, mix thoroughly, and insufflate into the ear for spontaneous recovery.

Fang Lu-cun stated: For abscesses behind the ear, use seven or eight persimmon stalks. Burn them to ash; when the fire is about to extinguish, cover them with a bowl to cool and solidify, then grind into powder. Add 1 qian of Calomel, mix with sesame oil, and apply topically for healing.

Shudan Tang (Gallbladder-Diffusing Decoction): Angelicae Radix (Danggui), Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao), Scrophulariae Radix (Yuanshen), Trichosanthis Radix (Huafen), Gardeniae Fructus (Chao Zhizi), Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu), Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma (Shichangpu).

Pinghuo Tang (Fire-Calming Decoction): Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Shudi), Rehmanniae Radix Recens (Shengdi), Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong), Scrophulariae Radix (Xuan Shen), Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma (Changpu).

Chaihu Cong'er Tang (Bupleurum Ear-Opening Decoction): Bupleuri Radix (3 qian), Forsythiae Fructus (4 qian), Angelicae Radix, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), Ginseng Radix (each 1 qian), Blatta Orientalis (Mengchong, 3 specimens, wings and feet removed), Hirudo (Shuizhi, 5 fen), Musk (a small amount, prepared separately), Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (Shengjiang, 1 slice). Decoct the herbs, strain the residue, add the three prepared powders, boil for one or two more boils, and drink hot after meals with some distance taken.

Cheng Qing-qi stated: If an insect enters the ear, causing unbearable pain resembling dry cerumen syndrome, rub a cat's nose with fresh ginger, collect the urine, and drip it into the ear to expel the insect.

Qiu Xi-xuan stated: For sudden deafness caused by dry cerumen, use Scolopendra (Quanxie) detoxified and ground into powder. Mix with wine and drip into the ear; hearing the sound of water indicates recovery.