bubble_chart Content

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 stem. Due to its varying shapes, it is also referred to as "ear pile," "ear polyp," "ear protuberance," etc.

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

bubble_chart Common Symptoms and Signs

1. Liver and gallbladder heat accumulation, heat toxin attacking the ear, leading to the growth of flesh inside the ear: varying in size and shape, red in color without skin, often moist, with occasional watery discharge, pus, or bleeding, painful to touch, with pain radiating to the top of the head. Accompanied by tinnitus, severe cases may lead to ear infection, dizziness, poor appetite, dry stool, dark urine, thin yellow tongue coating, and a wiry, rapid pulse.
2. Spleen and kidney deficiency, pathogenic factors stagnating in the ear, leading to the growth of flesh inside the ear: usually small in size, pale red in color, moist, prolonged condition with mild ear pain, occasional pus discharge, poor hearing, accompanied by abdominal distension and fullness, poor appetite, soreness in the waist and knees, dizziness, loose stool, clear and long urination, thin white tongue coating, and a thin, weak pulse.
3. Prolonged retention of pathogenic toxins, qi stagnation and blood stasis leading to the growth of flesh inside the ear: dark and dull in color, painful to touch, occasional bleeding or pus discharge, accompanied by poor hearing, normal appetite, normal bowel movements, dark tongue, thin coating, and a thin, choppy pulse.

bubble_chart Differential Analysis

1. Liver and gallbladder heat accumulation, heat toxin attacking the ear, leading to the growth of flesh inside the ear: the ear is traversed by the liver and gallbladder Jingmai, pathogenic heat accumulates in the liver and gallbladder, heat toxin ascends to the seven orifices, qi and blood are obstructed, coagulating in the ear. Treatment should focus on clearing the liver and draining fire, with the formula Bupleurum Liver-Clearing Decoction.
2. Spleen and kidney deficiency, pathogenic factors stagnating in the ear, leading to the growth of flesh inside the ear: the spleen is the postnatal foundation, the kidney is the prenatal foundation, the kidney is nourished by postnatal essence, leading to strong marrow and clear hearing. Dysfunction of the spleen in transportation leads to insufficient transformation, kidney qi deficiency, the ear being the orifice of the kidney, spleen and kidney deficiency leads to pathogenic factors stagnating in the ear, qi and blood coagulating, resulting in the growth of flesh inside the ear. Treatment should focus on tonifying and replenishing the spleen and kidney, with the formula Aconite and Cinnamon Eight-Ingredient Pill combined with Ginseng, Poria and White Atractylodes Powder, plus Gardenia, Bupleurum, Forsythia, etc.
3. Prolonged retention of pathogenic toxins, qi stagnation and blood stasis leading to the growth of flesh inside the ear: pathogenic toxins attack the ear, prolonged stagnation blocks the meridians, qi and blood stasis do not disperse, coagulating to form the growth. Characteristics: dark or purple ear flesh. Treatment should focus on harmonizing qi and blood, promoting circulation and resolving stasis, with the formula Chinese Angelica and Peach Kernel Decoction.

The growth of flesh inside the ear is mostly due to liver and gallbladder heat toxins, treatment should focus on the liver and gallbladder, but spleen and kidney deficiency or qi stagnation and blood stasis can also occur. The main differential points are the size and color of the ear flesh: bright red ear flesh mostly indicates heat toxin attacking the ear; pale red, dull ear flesh mostly indicates spleen and kidney deficiency; dark red ear flesh indicates qi stagnation and blood stasis, which is easy to differentiate in clinical practice.

bubble_chart Literary Supplement

1. Waike DachengVolume 3: "Ear pile and ear protuberance, ear polyp, all form within the ear cavity, without swelling, redness, or pain. Prolonged blockage can lead to hearing loss. It is advisable to use Gardenia Liver-Clearing Decoction, along with inserting medicated thread into the crevice to dissolve completely and heal on its own."