[Case of red ear syndrome]

Area of Science:

• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Neurology
• Acupuncture Research

Background:

• Red ear syndrome is a rare condition with unclear Western medical diagnosis.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a unique approach through symptom and syndrome differentiation.
• This case highlights TCM's potential in managing complex neurological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of red ear syndrome treated with acupuncture.
• To demonstrate the application of TCM principles in diagnosing and treating red ear syndrome.
• To evaluate the efficacy of combined tendon needling and acupuncture.

Main Methods:

• Diagnosis utilized TCM's "prioritizing symptoms and syndrome differentiation" approach.
• Treatment targeted hand-taiyang sinew meridian qi stagnation (branch) and liver/kidney yin deficiency (root).
• A combined therapy of tendon needling and acupuncture was administered over ten sessions.

Main Results:

• Immediate symptom relief was observed after the first acupuncture session.
• Ear pain and redness significantly diminished following the treatment course.
• A two-month follow-up confirmed the patient's overall good condition and sustained symptom resolution.

Conclusions:

• Acupuncture, guided by TCM principles, offers an effective treatment for red ear syndrome.
• Syndrome differentiation in TCM is crucial for tailoring treatments to individual patient presentations.
• Combined tendon needling and acupuncture show promise for managing rare neurological conditions like red ear syndrome.