The tongue presentation appropriate to this remedy is a Red body with redder sides and a yellow
coating.
Case History 11.1
Tinnitus: Liver- and Gall-Bladder Fire-Male, Age 39
A 39-year-old man had been suffering from tinnitus for one year. It had started fairly suddenly
and was of a high pitch. It was better with rest and worse when under stress. He did not have any
other symptom.
His tongue was Red, redder on the sides, with a yellow coating. His pulse was very Full and
Wiry and slightly Rapid and slightly Weak on both Rear positions.
Diagnosis His tinnitus was due primarily to Liver and Gall-Bladder Fire blazing
upwards. Although he did not have many symptoms, the high pitch of
the tinnitus, its aggravation under stress and, most of all, the tongue
indicated Liver-Fire. However, there was also an underlying slight
deficiency of Kidney-Yin as shown by the pulse being Weak on both
Rear positions and also by the fact that the tinnitus improved with rest.
This is probably the reason why the tinnitus started at an age when
Kidney-Qi is just beginning to decline.
Treatment principle Clear the Liver and Gall-Bladder, drain Fire, benefit the ears and
nourish Kidney-Yin.
Acupuncture T.B.-2 Yeman, L.I.-4 Hegu, LIV-2 Xingjian, G.B.-43 Xiaxi, T.B.-17
Yifeng, G.B.-2 Tinghui, SP-6 Sanyinjiao and KI-3 Taixi. The first six
points were reduced while the last two were reinforced.
Explanation T.B.-2 indirectly subdues Liver-Fire and benefits the ear. It is an
important distal point for tinnitus of the Excess type.
L.I.-4 was used as a distal point to affect the ear and also to calm the
Mind.LIV-2 and G.B.-43 clear Liver-Fire and Gall-Bladder-Fire respectively.
G.B.-43 also affects the ear.T.B.-17 and G.B.-2 are the main local points for tinnitus of the Excess
type.SP-6 and KI-3 nourish Kidney-Yin.Herbal treatment No herbs were prescribed but two patent remedies were used: Long Dan
Xie Gan Wan Gentiana Draining the Liver Pill (8 pills twice a day) to