Bridging mechanistic evidence and clinical perspectives: traditional Chinese medicine in Menière's disease

Ménière's disease (MD) is a debilitating inner-ear disorder characterized by recurrent vertigo, fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and aural fullness, with endolymphatic hydrops serving as its pathological hallmark. Conventional management, which includes comprising lifestyle modifications, pharmacotherapy, and surgical interventions for refractory cases and often yields limited efficacy and carries...

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No actionable change — this is a narrative review of TCM for Ménière's disease; evidence is preliminary and insufficient to recommend TCM over or alongside established treatments.

As interest in integrative medicine grows, understanding the mechanistic rationale and evidence gaps for TCM in Ménière's disease helps audiologists and otologists have informed conversations with patients who seek alternative therapies.

1. 01Review maps proposed biological mechanisms by which TCM may affect endolymphatic hydrops (inner-ear fluid excess).
2. 02Covers TCM applications for all four hallmark Ménière's symptoms: vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear fullness.
3. 03Bridges basic science evidence with clinical observations but does not present new trial data.
4. 04Published in Frontiers in Neurology, a peer-reviewed open-access journal.
5. 05Evidence base for TCM in Ménière's disease remains heterogeneous and largely low-quality.

PMID

42979115

DOI

10.3389/fneur.2026.1915230.

Journal

Frontiers in Neurology

Publication type

review

Evidence level

5

Population

Patients with Ménière's disease (literature review — no primary patient population enrolled)

Intervention

Traditional Chinese medicine approaches for Ménière's disease