Secretory otitis media has two commonly-seen syndromes of pathogenic wind attacking the lung as well as blood stasis due to qi stagnation. Of the two syndromes, the syndrome of blood stasis due to qi stagnation is the most commonly-seen and marked by obvious obstruction inside the ear, turbidity and invagination of the tympanicmembrane. Promoting qi flow to activate blood circulation is advisable for the treatment. The syndrome of pathogenic wind attacking the lung is characterized by fullness and discomfort inside the ear, short course of illness, or a ccompanied with the exterior syndrome. Treatment lies in dispelling wind and dispersing the lung.

The causes of disease are not fully understood. At present, it is believed that the main pathogenic factors include dysfunction of the auditory tube, infection, and allergic reaction, etc. The disease is called "Erzhang" (otic swelling) and "Erbi" (otic obstruction). The acute onset is mostly seen in pathogenic wind attacking the lung and obstruction of meridional qi; the chronic stage mainly in blood stasis due to qi stagnation.