The aural fullness commonly experienced in daily life, such as feeling like you are on an airplane or having stuffiness as if water is in the ear, is very likely a sign of eustachian tube dysfunction. The eustachian tube is a small passage connecting the back of the nose (nasopharynx) and the middle ear. It plays the crucial role of equalizing middle ear pressure with the outside, draining secretions from the middle ear, and protecting the middle ear from noise or pathogens. When this eustachian tube does not function properly, the ears become clogged, autophony occurs, hearing decreases, and sometimes even pain can be felt.
Modern medicine looks at various causes of eustachian tube dysfunction, and there are surprisingly many points of connection with the principles of Donguibogam.
First is inflammation and edema caused by colds, allergies, rhinitis, and similar conditions. When inflammation develops in the mucosa around the nose, the opening of the eustachian tube swells and becomes blocked. This is very similar to what Donguibogam describes as dampness-phlegm accumulating and blocking the passage. Sticky nasal discharge or phlegm obstructing the eustachian tube is also a direct physical manifestation of phlegm and drool.
Second is an imbalance related to stress and the autonomic nervous system. When stress becomes severe, our body's autonomic nervous system becomes excessively stimulated, causing tension in the muscles around the eustachian tube and hindering blood circulation in the mucosa, which can worsen edema. Donguibogam viewed this as fire resulting from liver qi stagnation creating dampness-phlegm and obstructing the circulation of qi. A calm mind is essential for ear health as well.
Third is gastroesophageal reflux disease or laryngopharyngeal reflux. When gastric acid flows backward and irritates the nasopharynx behind the nose, it can cause chronic inflammation and edema, affecting eustachian tube function. Donguibogam explains that a digestive issue known as spleen-stomach qi deficiency produces dampness-phlegm, and when this dampness-phlegm ascends upward, it causes various problems. This aligns directly with the modern medical perspective explaining acid reflux and the resulting inflammation.
In conclusion, eustachian tube dysfunction is not merely an ear problem, but a delicate warning message from our body that appears when the balance of fluid metabolism, inflammatory responses, stress management, and digestive function is disrupted. Therefore, when your ears feel uncomfortable, an effort to restore the balance of the entire body is needed beyond simply resolving the immediate symptom.
