[Diagnostic value of Rhizoma alismatis mixture in Menière's disease]

Rhizoma Alismatis Mixture (RAM), which can promote diuresis to eliminate wetness-evil and activate blood circulation, is a pure TCM preparation composed of Rhizoma Alismatis, Semen Plantaginis, Rhizoma Ligustici Wallichii and Herba Leonuri. After clinical observation, it showed that RAM can greatly case the inner ear edema of patients with Menière's disease and therefore improved their hearing threshold (63.7%). RAM can also diminish SP amplitude or reduce the SP/AP ratio on the cochleogram. As compared with glyceral test, there was no statistically significant difference, while the side effect of RAM group (5%) was lower than that of glyceral group (87.3%) significantly, therefore RAM test can replace glycerin test in the diagnosis of Menière's disease. The animal experiment results indicated that RAM did not affect stria vascularis permeation but it probably dehydrates the inner ear by changing the osmotic pressure between endolymphatic and perilymphatic or increasing the absorption of the endolymphatic sac.