bubble_chart Concept

The growth of flesh inside the ear refers to a small protrusion in the ear canal, shaped like a cherry, or resembling a goat's teat, a small mushroom, or a date pit, with a large head and a small stalk. Due to its varied shapes, it is also known as "ear pile," "ear polyp," or "ear protuberance."

This condition is commonly seen in ailments such as "furuncle of external auditory meatus" and "ear pus," and can be cross-referenced with entries like "ear pain," "ear swelling," and "pus discharge from the ear."

bubble_chart Pattern Analysis

1. Liver and Gallbladder Heat Accumulation︰The lesions vary in shape and size, appearing red, skinless, often moist, with either watery discharge, pus, or bleeding. They are painful to touch, with pain radiating to the vertex. Accompanied by tinnitus, severe cases may involve ear blockage, dizziness, poor appetite, dry stools, and dark urine. The tongue coating is thin and yellow, and the pulse is wiry and rapid. The ears are traversed by the Jingmai of the liver and gallbladder. Pathogenic heat accumulates in the liver and gallbladder, with heat toxin ascending to cloud the seven orifices, obstructing qi and blood, which congeal in the ears. Treatment should focus on clearing the liver and draining fire, with the prescription Bupleurum Liver-Clearing Decoction selected.
2. Spleen-Kidney Qi Deficiency︰The lesions are usually small in size, pale red in color, and moist. If prolonged, there may be mild pain in the ear, or pus discharge, hearing impairment, accompanied by abdominal distension and fullness, no pleasure in eating, aching pain in the waist and knees, dizziness and dizzy vision, loose stool, clear and profuse urine, thin white tongue coating, and thready weak pulse. The spleen is the acquired foundation, while the kidney is the congenital foundation. When the kidney is nourished by the acquired essence of water and grain, the marrow is vigorous, and the ear orifices are sharp. Dysfunction of the spleen in transportation leads to insufficient transformation, and kidney qi becomes deficient as well. The ears are the orifices of the kidney. Deficiency of both the spleen and kidney makes the ear orifices susceptible to pathogens. Retention of pathogenic toxins and stagnation of qi and blood result in the growth of flesh in the ear. It is advisable to tonify and replenish the spleen and kidney. The prescription should be Aconite and Cinnamon Eight-Ingredient Pill combined with Ginseng, Poria and White Atractylodes Powder, plus Gardenia, Bupleurum, Forsythia, and other herbs.
3. Lingering Pathogenic Toxin︰The color is dark and dull, painful to touch, or with bleeding, or pus discharge, accompanied by poor hearing, normal appetite, normal bowel movements, dark tongue texture, thin coating, and thin, rough pulse. The pathogenic toxin attacks the ear, lingering for a long time and blocking the meridians, causing qi and blood stasis that fails to disperse, accumulating and forming. Its characteristics: the ear flesh is dark or purple. It is advisable to harmonize qi and blood, promote stagnation and resolve stasis. The prescription chosen is Chinese Angelica and Peach Red Decoction.

The condition of flesh growth in the ear is often caused by gallbladder heat toxins, and treatment should focus on the liver and gallbladder. However, it can also be due to spleen and kidney deficiency or qi stagnation and blood stasis. The main distinguishing features lie in the size and color of the ear flesh. Bright red ear flesh usually indicates heat toxins attacking the ear, while pale red and dull-colored ear flesh often points to spleen and kidney deficiency. Dark red ear flesh typically suggests qi stagnation and blood stasis, making it easier to differentiate in clinical practice.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Waike DachengVolume 3: "Ear pile and ear protuberance, ear polyp, all form inside the ear canal, without swelling, without [moon debt] and without pain. Prolonged blockage can lead to hearing impairment. It is advisable to use Gardenia Liver-Clearing Decoction, along with inserting medicated threads into the crevices to dissolve completely and heal on its own."