Inner Ear Disorders: Exploring Possible Links between the Endolymphatic Sac, Gall Bladder and Small Intestine

Based on observations since the early days, associations between parts of the body and specific zang-fu organ systems have been described in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The gall-bladder (GB) and small intestine (SI) are two such organ systems which share intimate relation with the ear from the TCM perspective [1]. The meridians of these 2 organ systems are linked by the Sanjiao (SJ) meridian. The SJ system is a zang-fu organ which has no western medicine anatomical equivalent in namesake. Its meridian runs just behind the earlobe and its branches connect with those of the GB and SI meridians. Another organ system which has a close relationship to the ear is the kidney zang organ [2]. According to TCM, the kidney zang organ opens into the ear and kidney disorders can manifest in the ear. Perhaps, this is not surprising to most western doctors as common features between the ear & kidney are observed in western medicine. For example, medications such as the amino glycosides have toxic side effects, which specifically target the inner ear and kidney. Some congenital malformations of the ear such as the branchio-otorenal syndrome, also affect the kidney.