Maniere’s Disease: Navigating the Western and Eastern Approaches
(Organ names in Chinese medicine differ from Western medicine’s understanding).
Maniere’s Disease, also known as Idiopathic Endolymphatic Hydrops, is a condition that affects the inner ear, leading to vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The western biomedical understanding of Maniere’s Disease involves the buildup of fluid in the inner ear, which affects the balance and hearing organs. Treatment approaches for Maniere’s Disease in Western medicine include medication to manage symptoms, dietary changes, and surgery in severe cases.
While Western medicine provides effective options for managing Maniere’s Disease, Chinese Medicine offers a complementary approach to symptom management. Chinese Medicine views Maniere’s Disease as an imbalance in the body’s internal environment and treats the underlying root causes of the symptoms. Chinese Medicine understands Maniere’s Disease as a result of disharmony in the body, with the causes and symptoms varying from person to person.
Chinese Medicine approaches Maniere’s Disease through various theories and modalities, including the Five Elements, channel therapy, Qi and Blood, Shan Han Lun and/or Wen Bing, latent pathogen approach, phlegm, heat, cold, wind, and other Chinese theory understandings. These approaches aim to address the specific imbalances in the body, which contribute to the symptoms of Maniere’s Disease.
The Five Elements theory of Chinese Medicine identifies the five elements of nature (water, wood, fire, earth, and metal) that correspond to different organs and functions in the body. In Maniere’s Disease, the Water element, which corresponds to the Kidney and the ear, is often affected. Chinese Medicine practitioners may use acupuncture and herbal medicine to tonify the Kidney and restore balance to the ear.
Channel therapy, also known as Meridian therapy, focuses on the body’s energy pathways, which connect the organs and tissues. By unblocking these channels, Chinese Medicine practitioners can restore balance to the body and relieve the symptoms of Maniere’s Disease.
Qi and Blood are fundamental concepts in Chinese Medicine, representing the vital energy and nutrients that circulate through the body. In Maniere’s Disease, Qi and Blood flow may be disrupted, leading to symptoms. Chinese Medicine practitioners may use acupuncture and herbal medicine to promote Qi and Blood circulation and restore balance to the body.
Shan Han Lun and/or Wen Bing are two classic Chinese Medicine theories that focus on external and internal diseases, respectively. Shan Han Lun considers external pathogens, such as cold and wind, that invade the body and cause illness. Wen Bing focuses on internal imbalances, such as dampness and heat, that cause illness. Chinese Medicine practitioners may use herbal medicine to address these internal and external factors contributing to Maniere’s Disease.
The latent pathogen approach of Chinese Medicine focuses on addressing the root causes of chronic illnesses. By identifying and treating the underlying imbalances in the body, Chinese Medicine practitioners aim to manage the symptoms of Maniere’s Disease.
In Chinese Medicine, Maniere’s Disease is often associated with phlegm, which can obstruct the flow of Qi and Blood in the body. Heat, cold, and wind are also common factors in the development of Maniere’s Disease. Chinese Medicine practitioners may use acupuncture and herbal medicine to address these imbalances and manage the symptoms of Maniere’s Disease.
It is important to note that Chinese Medicine does not offer a cure or treatment for Maniere’s Disease. Instead, it provides a complementary approach to managing the symptoms and improving overall well-being. A combination of Western and Eastern approaches may offer the most effective management of Maniere’s Disease, with Western medicine managing the symptoms and Chinese Medicine addressing the underlying imbalances in the body.
In conclusion, Meniere’s disease is a complex condition that affects the inner ear and can lead to vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus. Western medicine focuses on managing the symptoms of Meniere’s disease with medications and lifestyle modifications. TCM offers a complementary approach to managing Meniere’s disease by addressing the underlying imbalances in the body and promoting the flow of Qi and Blood. Acupuncture, herbal medicine, and dietary therapy are all TCM approaches that can be effective in reducing the frequency and severity of vertigo attacks and improving hearing loss associated with Meniere’s disease.
References:
Kang, J. H., Wang, J. J., & Zhao, H. (2016). Acupuncture for Meniere’s disease: a systematic review. International journal of clinical and experimental medicine, 9(12), 23655-23662.
Liu, Y., Wang, X., Wu, H., Chen, Y., & Yang, L. (2014). Treatment of Meniere’s disease with Chinese herbal medicine: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 154(2), 235-243.
Xu, X., Chen, C., Zhang, Y., Zhu, J., Wang, J., Zhou, H., & Shi, X. (2017). Acupuncture therapy for Meniere’s disease: a systematic review. PloS one, 12(1), e0170637.
Zhang, Y. J., Zhang, H. Y., Wu, Y. H., Li, H., Jin, M., & Zhang, Y. (2018). Chinese herbal medicine for Meniere’s disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complementary therapies in medicine
Registered practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine