Mastoiditis

IBIS

Definition:
Bacterial infection of the mastoid process

Etiology:
Extension of acute purulent middle ear infection to the mastoid process.

Nutrition:
eating principles: • eat as little as possible. • increase Vitamin C foods, Vitamin A foods • increase fluids • short fast (see Fasting in materia medica)

fresh juices: • carrot and spinach (Walker, p. 145) • carrot, celery, spinach, and parsley (Walker, p. 145) • carrot, beet, lettuce, and turnip (Walker, p. 145)

avoid: • heavy protein foods, fats, meats, vinegars, shellfish, sugars

Botanicals
consider: according to symptom picture (these remedies are not specifically listed for mastoiditis): • Atropa belladonna (toxic) • Phytolacca decandra (toxic) • Veratrum viride (toxic)

as antimicrobials: • Allium sativum • Baptisia tinctoria • Calendula officinalis • Commiphora myrrha • Echinacea spp. • Eucalyptus spp. • Hydrastis canadensis • Thymus vulgaris

To complete formulae, add herbs to cleanse system of toxins, soothe, aid with fever.

Chinese Formulae
» ancillary care: "Further Chinese treatment ... should only be attempted with a sufficient emergency backup since the complication of purulent meningitis is not one to treat lightly" (Flaws, p. 115)

• Gentiana C. (Long Dan Xie Gan Wan) (available as patent); Gentiana 12 (patent): Liver and Gall Bladder Invaded by Damp-Heat. (Gentiana C.: Hsu, 1980, p. 181; Yeung, p. 154; Dharmananda, 1986, p. 229; Bensky and Barolet, p. 96; patent: Zhu, p. 172; Gentiana 12: Dharmananda, 1990, p. 69) • Huang Lian Su Pian (patent): Anti-bacterial. (Zhu, p. 161) • Astragalus C. (Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang): Chronic otitis media, suppuration (Hsu, 1980, p. 293; Yeung, p. 128; Bensky and Barolet, p. 224) • Isatis 6 (patent): Fire Toxin (Dharmananda, 1990, p. 71)

Acupuncture
after assessing the person and palpating, consider these patterns: Qi Stagnation; Xue Yu (Blood Stasis); Heat in the channels; Liver and Gall Bladder Invaded by Damp-Heat

» therapeutic note: Mastoiditis is not easily treated with acupuncture alone; other therapies such as herbs may be necessary. Acupuncture will help bring Wei (Protective) Qi in to help promote body's healing. Watch carefully to make sure of improvements. Treat 1-2x daily. Also, use local points if not too inflamed, but opposite side if very inflamed.

» illustrative combinations: • GB-2 and TW-21: open the ear; spread the Qi; benefit hearing (Flaws, 1989, p. 86; Finkelstein, p. 65) • TW-21, TW-17 and LI-4 for otitis media and ear pressure (Shanghai, p. 159) • TW-17 and GB-2 for deafness and Qi blockage in the ears (Ellis, et al, 1988, p. 290) • Lu-11, LI-1 and TW-1: treat high fever (Eisen) • TW-2 and TW-3: treat ear inflammation (Eisen) • LI-4 and LI-11: resolve infections (Eisen)

Homeopathy
• Arsenicum album: with acute otitis < 12-3 a.m. • Aurum metallicum: chronic suppuration > head wrapped warmly, < winter, cold, touch, night; fetid discharge • Ferrum phosphoricum: first stage of inflammation, acute otitis; pain < night, motion, jarring, touch > cold applications; throbbing headache • Hepar sulphur: scurfs on and behind ears; fetid discharge; whizzing and throbbing in ears with hardness of hearing, (be extremely cautious if suppuration cannot drain out freely) • Hydrastis canadensis: chronic otitis with otorrhea; thick suppuration with obstruction of eustachian tube • Capsicum: very active in all cases; inflammation of mastoid; tenderness over petrous bone, swelling and pain behind ears; burning and stinging in ears; extremely sore and tender to touch • Silicea: caries of mastoid; fetid discharge; roaring in ears

Subtle Support
• notes: A#, B, C, D#, E, G, G#

• chords: diminished 8th, C Major, D# Major, G# Major (Gimbel, p. 116)

Mind/Body
• Anger and frustration; a desire not to hear what is going on; usually in children; fear infecting the understanding. (Hay, 1984, p. 174)

• Liver ~ Gan is the home of the Hun (Ethereal Soul); it relates to decisiveness, control, and the principle of emergence; stores and cleanses the Xue (Blood); maintains smooth flow of Qi and Xue (Blood); and expresses itself in the fingernails, toenails and nervous system; and reflects emotional harmony and movement. » Healthy expressions are kindness, spontaneity, and ease of movement. » Liver Xu (Deficiency) signs include impotence; frigidity; pain in thighs, pelvic region, and throat; ready tendency to "the blahs" (Seem, p. 28); timidity; depression; irritability; vertigo; pruritus; dry eyes, skin, and/or tendons; asthma; aching at the waist; hernia; and difficulty raising head up and down. Liver Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency) predisposes to Xue Yu (Blood Stasis) and Xue (Blood) Heat. » Liver Qi Stagnation reflects and accentuates emotional constraint as the Liver's function of facilitating smooth flow in the body is restricted. Stagnation is associated with frustration, irritability, tension, and feeling stuck. With time this pattern tends to produce a gloomy emotional state of constant resentment, repressed anger or depression, along with tightness in the chest, frequent sighing, abdominal tension or distension, and/or a feeling of a lump in the throat with difficulty in swallowing. (Maciocia, p. 216) Xue Yu (Blood Stasis) often begins with Qi Stagnation.
 * Chinese psychophysiology:**

• Gall Bladder ~ Dan is the source of courage and initiative, and is responsible for decision-making as the bodily Minister of Justice; and controls circulation of the nourishing and protecting energies [Ying Qi and Wei (Protective) Qi]. Its channel purifies Yang energy in the body. » Healthy expressions are kindness, decisiveness, control, and spirit of initiative. » Gall Bladder Xu (Deficiency) signs include insomnia; wandering pains; chest and side pains; swollen breasts (Seem, p. 29); weakness in muscles and tendons of the legs; difficulty standing; asthenia; vertigo; chills; timidity; cowardice; indecisiveness; and excessive sighing. » Gall Bladder Shi (Excess) signs include tiredness; sighing; irritability; bitter taste in the mouth in the morning; pain in all joints; edematous knees and legs (Seem, p. 29); tinnitus; lateral headache; heaviness in head and stomach; muscular spasms; and limbs slightly cold. » Anger, frustration, and resentment can cause stagnation of Liver Qi which, in turn, can produce Heat which affects the Gall Bladder. » Mental signs of Gall Bladder channel disorders include bitterness, lack of control, irritability, unfaithfulness, lack of courage, timidity, and hypochondria. (Seem, p. 28)

• Spleen ~ Pi governs digestion; transforms food into Qi and Xue (Blood); governs the Xue (Blood); resolves Dampness and Phlegm; maintains upbearing; and relates to the ability to assimilate, stabilize, and feel centered and balanced. » Healthy expressions are fairness, openness, deep thinking, and reminiscence. » Spleen Xu (Deficiency) signs include slightness (deficient "form"); abundant elimination; morning fatigue; cold, wet feet (Seem, p. 28); abdomen taut and distended like a drum; craving for sweets; flatulence; nausea; mild edema; memory failure; heavy feeling in legs; pale lips; loose stools; muscular weakness; and, indirectly, obesity. Unresolved Spleen Xu (Deficiency) predisposes to Spleen Shi (Excess), particularly accumulation of Dampness and Phlegm, as the Spleen's functioning declines. The Heat produced by Liver Stagnation may then transform the Dampness into Damp-Heat.