Professor Jin Ze’s Clinical Experience in Treating Sudden Deafness Based on the Dragon-Tiger Circuit Theory

突发性聋乃耳鼻喉科常见急症，起病急、发展迅速，对患者的身心产生了严重的损害。其发病机制复杂且存在个体差异，目前西医领域对其发病机制尚未统一，传统治疗多采用激素、改善循环及营养神经的药物。金泽教授为首届龙江名医，第六届黑龙江省名中医，基于针灸临床30余载，在神经系统疾病上有一套完整且独特的治疗方法，为突聋的中医诊疗开辟了新的思路。金教授指出“肝主升发为龙，肺失肃降为虎”，认为龙虎气机的升降回环是维持耳窍清灵的关键，当龙升无制(肝气升发无制)或虎降失司(肺气肃降异常)时，导致气机回环断裂，清阳不升、浊阴不降，至耳窍痹阻。治疗当以疏肝清肺，平调气机为主，取穴以肝肺为枢，远近配穴，泻实补虚调节整体的气机状态，实现身心同治的目标。Sudden deafness is a common otolaryngologic emergency characterized by rapid onset and progression, causing significant physical and psychological harm to patients. Its pathogenesis is complex and varies among individuals, with Western medicine yet to establish a unified theory. Conventional treatments primarily involve glucocorticoids, circulation-improving agents, and neurotrophic drugs. Professor Jin Ze, honored as the First “Longjiang Distinguished Physician” and the Sixth “Famous Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner of Heilongjiang Province”, has over 30 years of clinical experience in acupuncture. He has developed a comprehensive and unique therapeutic approach for neurological disorders, offering novel insights into the TCM diagnosis and treatment of sudden deafness. Professor Jin proposes that “the liver governs ascending ‘qi’ (dragon), while the lung governs descending ‘qi’ (tiger)”, emphasizing that the dynamic balance (“circuit”) of dragon-tiger “qi” movement is crucial for maintaining auditory clarity. When liver “qi” ascends excessively (“unrestrained dragon”) or lung “qi” fails to descend properly (“dysfunctional tiger”), the “qi” circuit becomes disrupted, leading to failure of clear “yang” to rise and turbid “yin” to descend, ultimately obstructing the ear orifices. The treatment principle focuses on “soothing the liver, clearing the lung, and regulating ‘qi’ dynamics”, with acupuncture point selection centered on the liver-lung axis. By combining distal and local acupoints, draining excess and reinforcing deficiency, the therapy aims to restore systemic “qi” balance, achieving the dual goal of “physical and psychological recovery”.