Otitis+Externa

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Definition:
Infection or inflammation of the ear canal. Also called "swimmer's ear".

Etiology:
The infection may be localized or generalized, and is more common during the summer months. Micro-organisms commonly associated with otitis externa include Pseudomonas, E. coli, Proteus vulgaris and Staphylococcus aureus. Factors involved include frequent ear wetness; trauma to the canal (including hearty use of cotton buds); excessive and impacted cerumen; and irritating substances getting in the canal, such as hair dye.

Nutrition:
eating principles: • eat as little as possible • increase Vitamin C foods, Vitamin A foods • increase fluids • a short fast is recommended during the acute phase, or a diet of steamed vegetables and fruit (see Fasting in materia medica)

therapeutic foods: • increase foods that tonify the Kidney

avoid: • dairy products, especially cow's milk, oranges, tomatoes or other catarrh- producing foods, heavy protein foods, fats, meats, vinegars, shellfish, sugars

Botanicals
• Allium sativum • Atropa belladonna (toxic): decongestant, anodyne • Calendula officinalis (oil): locally • Echinacea angustifolia: purifies blood • Hydrastis canadensis: otorrhea, see formulae (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 114) • Hypericum perforatum (oil): locally • Phytolacca decandra (toxic): swollen glands (Felter and Lloyd, p. 1475) • Sesame oil: locally: irritated, dry (NCNM Botanicals) • Verbascum spp. (oil): applied locally, anodyne (Ellingwood, p. 397)

Chinese Formulae
• Gleditsia C.: Heat in weak constitution. (Hsu, 1980, p. 631) • Shuang Liao Hou Feng San (Superior Sore Throat Powder Spray) (patent): topical use (Zhu, p. 158) • Pueraria C. (Ge Gen Tang): Wind-Cold especially with shoulder/neck tension (Hsu, 1980, p. 51; Yeung, p. 105; Dharmananda, 1986, p. 125; Bensky and Barolet, p. 51) • Bupleurum and Schizonepeta C.; Long Dan Xie Gan Wan (patent): Xue (Blood) Heat due to Liver Qi Stagnation (Bupleurum: Hsu, 1980, p. 624; Dharmananda, 1986, p. 366; Long Dan Xie Gan Wan: Zhu, p. 172)

Acupuncture
after assessing the person and palpating, consider these patterns: Shi (Excess) due to Invasion of Wind, Heat, Damp: (rapid onset; thick, yellow discharge, sharp pain, possible fever, headache); Xu (Deficiency) of Kidney Yin with flaring of Yang (gradual and protracted); thin, white discharge; vertigo, tinnitus, low back pain, Kidney Xu (Deficiency) signs

» illustrative combinations: • GB-1, SI-19, LI-4 and LI-11 for otitis externa (Mann, p. 139) • TW-21 and GB-2: open the ear; spread the Qi; benefit hearing (Flaws, 1989, p. 86; Finkelstein, p. 65) • TW-17, TW-21, SI-18 and LI-4 for overproduction of cerumen (Mann, p. 139) • GB-2, TW-17, TW-2, GB-40 and Kd-3 (ipsilateral) for Kidney Yin Xu (Deficiency) enabling the invasion of one ear by Wind and Damp-Heat from the Liver and Gall Bladder; note: case cited involved left ear (Jirui and Wang, p. 206)

Homeopathy
• Ferrum phosphoricum: after exposure to wet; inflammation is diffuse, systemic; TM is beefy red; mucopurulent discharge, does not relieve pain; pain in paroxysms, throbbing and sharp; sensitive to sounds; anemic children. • Hepar sulphur: suppurative otitis; sensitive to slightest touch, acute exacerbations with increased discharge; discharge thick, creamy and somewhat offensive; irritability (child), sensitive to drafts. • Mercurius solubilis: suppurative otitis; swelling of parotid glands; offensive breath; hardness of hearing due to swollen tonsils; discharge thin and acrid • Pulsatilla: outside of ear is hot, red and swollen; sensation of stuffed ear; thick bland discharge; offensive odor; pain better night. • Silicea: fetid discharge; loud pistol-like report; sensitive to noise; 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; not wanting to hear; too much turmoil; parents arguing. (Hay, 1984, p. 162) • Our capacity for hearing is a bodily expression of how obedient and submissive we are. Those who are hard of hearing are people who will not listen, they simply fail to hear what they do not want to hear. It shows a certain egocentricity and lack of submissiveness. (Dethlefsen, p. 153)

• Kidney ~ Shen stores Jing (Essence) and governs birth, growth, reproduction, development, and aging; houses the Zhi (Will); provides the "Fire of Life" through its Yang functions for the digestive processes and the functions ascribed to the adrenals; provides the nourishing and stabilizing qualities of Yin and Water that balance the Yang and the Fiery qualities; manifests through the ears; and displays the effects of extreme stress. » Healthy expressions are gentleness, groundedness, and endurance. » Kidney Xu (Deficiency) signs include indecisiveness; confused speech; dreams of trees submerged under water; cold feet and legs; abundant sweating (Seem, p. 28); fearfulness; apathy; chronic fatigue; discouragement; scatteredness; lack of will; negativity; impatience; difficult inhalation; low sex drive; lumbago; sciatica; and musculoskeletal irritation and inflammation, especially when worse from touch. As always, chronic Yin Xu (Deficiency) predisposes to Empty Heat and/or acute inflammation. » Intense or prolonged fear depletes the Kidney. Often chronic anxiety may induce Xu (Deficiency) and then Fire within the Kidney. (Maciocia, p. 250) Overwork, parenting, simple aging, and a sedentary or excessively indulgent lifestyle all contribute significantly to Kidney Xu (Deficiency).
 * Chinese psychophysiology:**

• Gall Bladder ~ Dan is the source of courage and initiative, and is responsible for decision-making as the bodily Minister of Justice; controls circulation of the nourishing and protecting energies [Ying Qi and Wei (Protective) Qi]; expresses itself through the sinews (ligaments and tendons); and opens into the eyes. Its channel purifies Yang energy in the body. » Healthy expressions are kindness, decisiveness, control, and spirit of initiative. » 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. Chronically suppressed anger can implode and give rise to Fire in the Liver and Gall Bladder. » 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)

• Small Intestine ~ Xiao Chang receives and transforms food by separating the Clear (Pure) from the Turbid (Impure), with the Clear becoming bodily fluids and the Turbid becoming urine - this function also operates on the emotional, mental, and spiritual levels; regulates quality of Xue (Blood); is responsible for digestion and nutrient absorption; with the Heart, is responsible for sweating; and opens into the tongue. » Healthy expressions are love, joy, and the ability to discriminate; and, as the Princely Fire, warmth, vitality, and excitement. » The Small Intestine is affected by sadness which grips a person and destroys the mental clarity and capacity of sound judgment for which this organ is responsible. (Maciocia, p. 273) Weakness, dysfunction, and illness are associated with cruelty, hate, indiscretion, and impatience. » Small Intestine Deficiency signs include bluish lips with white border, emaciation, profuse sweating (Seem, p. 29); swellings of nodules; hemicrania; tinnitus; pain around the ear; and pain depressing the abdomen. » Small Intestine Shi (Excess) signs include happiness, joviality, scarlet complexion (Seem, p. 29); congested abdomen; pain at temples and sides of neck; flaccidity of muscles and joints in the arms, especially the elbows; and reddish urine. » Mental signs of Small Intestine channel disorders include poor mental assimilation, a feeling of mental deficiency due to inability to assimilate ideas, and insecurity. (Seem, p. 27)

• San Jiao ~ Triple Warmer regulates the relations among the three regions roughly delimited by the chest, abdomen, and pelvis; influences the supply of Xue (Blood), Qi and Fluids; is the source of Wei (Protective) Qi; and relates to the function of heat regulation. » Mental signs of Triple Warmer channel disorders include emotional upsets caused by breaking of friendships or family relations; depression; suspicion; anxiety; and poor elimination of harmful thoughts. (Seem, p. 28)