Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1989 May; 9(5): 270-1, 259-60.

[Tinnitus treated with combined traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine]

Yang DJ.

Cases of annoying tinnitus were selected for this observation. They were examined by general physical examination, otoscopy and some of them by audiometry and tinnitus masking patterns test, and/or Ecoch G and BSER. Two groups, TCM-WM and controls, were designed with patient's sexes, ages, severity of tinnitus almost evenly distributed. Different kinds of medicines were given to the patients of 2 groups with single blind trial. For the controls, only western medicines such as valium, nicotinic acid, mixture bromides, vitamin B Co, ATP and carbamazepine (if 100 mg of lidocaine added to 50% glucose solution intravenously was effective) were taken orally. For TCM-WM group patients, besides the drugs used above, herbal decoctions were given twice a day, and observed for 5 days per therapeutic course. The medicinal herbs consist of: Rhizoma Gastrodiae, Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis, Poria cocos, Flos Chrysanthemi, Akebia quinata, Radix Polygoni Multiflori, Fructus Liquidambris, Radix Rehmanniae, Rhizoma Alismatis, Radix Scrophulariae, Fructus Lycii, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Semen Plantaginis and Semen Vaccariae. Of the therapeutic results in 32 cases of TCM-WM group, 11 cases (34.4%) showed absence of tinnitus, 16 (50%) improved, and 5 (15.6%) failed. The total effective rate was 84.4%. In 27 cases of the controls, 5 cases (18.6%) showed absence of tinnitus, 10 (37%) improved, and 12 (44.4%) failed. The total effective rate was 55.6%. It showed that the therapeutic results of TCM-WM group was better than those of the controls (P less than 0.05).