Radix Astragali injection enhances recovery from acute acoustic trauma

Abstract

Conclusion. The average recovery of hearing and cessation of tinnitus was significantly better after treatment with Radix Astragali (RA) than after non-treatment with RA. RA can be valuable adjuvant therapy for patients with acute acoustic trauma (AAT). Objectives. AAT is one of the early indications for the use of RA. The reasons for administering RA to patients with AAT are based on experimental studies showing that noise exposure results in the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which trigger metabolic damage to the organ of Corti. RA is a natural antioxidant. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of RA in patients with AAT. Methods: We compared the recovery from hearing impairment and tinnitus in 40 ears treated with RA with 40 ears treated with non-RA. RA was given intravenously daily for 10 days. There were no significant differences in clinical or audiological data between RA and non-RA groups. Results: The average recovery of hearing at both high and speech frequencies was significantly better and tinnitus persisted less commonly in the RA group than in the non-RA group. Normal hearing at the end of the follow-up period was regained in 27 ears in the RA group and in 21 ears in the non-RA group (p < 0.01).

Keywords::

• Hearing loss
• tinnitus
• audiometry

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.