bubble_chart Concept

Itching in the ear, which includes the auricle and the external auditory canal, is referred to as ear itching. This condition is related to symptoms such as ear discharge, skin itching, skin erosion, and eczema of the external ear, and can be cross-referenced with these conditions.

bubble_chart Pattern Analysis

1. Wind-heat Dampness Toxin︰The ear is unbearably itchy, with severe itching leading to redness and burning heat around the auricle, sometimes accompanied by yellow discharge. In prolonged cases, the itching persists and may even cause bleeding and pain. Children often exhibit symptoms such as fever and dysphoria. The tongue coating is yellow and greasy, and the pulse is rapid and forceful. This condition arises from the accumulation of external pathogenic factors such as wind-heat and dampness-toxin in the ear, leading to stagnation of qi and blood. When wind predominates, the itching becomes incessant; when dampness-heat is severe, the ear canal becomes moist, red, and hot, with occasional yellow discharge; when fire-toxin is excessive, fever and dysphoria occur. The treatment should focus on dispelling wind, clearing heat, and removing dampness-toxin. The recommended formula is Gentian Liver-Draining Decoction supplemented with Saposhnikovia Root, siberian cocklour herb, belvedere fruit, and densefruit pittany root-bark.
2. Blood Deficiencywind-dryness︰The auricle skin becomes thickened, dry, cracked, rough, and incessantly itchy, with dry scabs and desquamation, accompanied by sallow complexion, emaciation, poor appetite, fatigue, lack of strength, pale tongue, and weak, thin pulse. In severe cases, it may spread to the external auditory canal. This condition is mostly caused by prolonged itching due to wind-heat dampness toxin. Persistent accumulation of wind-heat dampness toxin damages qi and blood zang-fu organs, leading to qi deficiency and blood insufficiency, resulting in self-generated wind-dryness. The skin of the ear loses nourishment, becoming locally dry, thickened, cracked, rough, and incessantly itchy, with dry scabs and desquamation. Prolonged stagnation of dampness affects the spleen and stomach functions, impairing transportation and transformation, leading to a lack of generation and transformation. This manifests as sallow complexion, emaciation, poor appetite, lack of strength, pale tongue, and weak, thin pulse, all indicative of deficiency patterns. The treatment principle is to nourish blood and dispel wind, invigorate the spleen and harmonize the stomach. The recommended formulas are Four Ingredients Decoction combined with Six Gentlemen Decoction, with additions such as cicada slough, Saposhnikovia Root, and belvedere fruit.
3. Kidney Yin Deficiency︰The external auditory canal is unbearably itchy, but the auricle is not itchy. There may be a discharge of yellow fluid or a sensation like wind blowing, sometimes accompanied by ear pain. If scratching causes irritation, scabs may form in the ear, making it rough, dry, and thick. It is often accompanied by soreness and weakness in the lower back, tinnitus, vertigo, a thin and rapid pulse, and a red tongue texture. This condition is caused by congenital kidney deficiency or overexertion damaging kidney vitality. The kidney opens into the ear, and when kidney essence is deficient and original qi is insufficient, yang deficiency with excessive fire disturbs the ear, leading to persistent itching inside the ear. Moreover, excessive fire can cause pain and discharge, while kidney deficiency results in soreness and weakness in the lower back, tinnitus, vertigo, a thin and rapid pulse, and a red tongue. The treatment should focus on nourishing the kidney and reducing fire, using a modified Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Decoction with Ophiopogon Tuber, Schisandra Fruit, and Cassia Bark.

Itchy ears are mostly attributed to wind and fire syndromes. Wind-heat dampness toxin as a disease is considered a suitable syndrome, while blood deficiency wind-dryness and kidney deficiency with excessive fire are considered deficiency pattern. The pattern of wind and heat with dampness toxin, besides itchy ears, often presents with moist and red-hot ear canals, severe local symptoms, occasional fever and dysphoria, rapid pulse, yellow and greasy tongue coating, along with signs of dampness-heat. On the other hand, blood deficiency wind-dryness is characterized by dry scabs, peeling, and rough, cracked skin in the ear canal, showing signs of dryness pattern, along with signs of spleen deficiency and blood deficiency. Kidney deficiency with excessive fire causing itchy ears generally does not present prominent external symptoms in the auricle. Besides itchy ears, symptoms of kidney deficiency with excessive fire such as weakness in the waist and knees, thin and rapid pulse, and red tongue are more noticeable.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Zhengzhi Huibu"Ordinary ear itching, caused by wind or fire, is easy to treat. However, there are cases where the ear itching does not stop, leading to scratching until bleeding, and the person cannot stop. This is due to kidney wind toxins attacking the ears. It is advisable to treat with Toushui Dan and abstain from alcohol, sexual activities, and rich, greasy foods."