Acupuncture For Tinnitus: What You Need To Know

What Is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a medical symptom that may indicate damage to your ear or auditory system. Oftentimes, it is described as a ringing in the ear, but can also sound like a humming, roaring, buzzing or clicking.

Tinnitus comes and goes for certain people. For others, the ailment may last for hours or days at a time. It can be a major disruption in one’s life, making it hard to both concentrate and sleep.

There is no cure for tinnitus, as mentioned above, but there are a range of treatments that can help lessen the symptoms. One such treatment used for tinnitus is acupuncture. That said, it’s always best to check with a healthcare provider first to rule out any underlying issues. These issues can include head/neck injuries, abnormal growth or bone changes in the ears, and congestion.

What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is the process of penetrating the skin with thin, metallic needles which are then activated through specific yet gentle movements of the practitioner’s hands. These movements can also be performed via electrical stimulation. This practice is part of the ancient treatment of Traditional Chinese medicine.

It was a common belief of the Traditional Chinese that the human body had more than 2,000 acupuncture points connected by meridians or pathways. These pathways create an energy flow, responsible for overall health throughout the body. Disruption of the energy flow can ultimately result in disease. Studies continue to show that acupuncture is an effective treatment for a variety of health conditions.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Chinese medicine refers to the energy flowing through the body as qi. Practitioners believe qi disruptions will create imbalances in your body’s energy, eventually causing illness. A few forms of acupuncture aim to rebalance qi with needles used to touch acupuncture points (acupoints) throughout the body.

There are hundreds of these points found along 14 major meridians in the body which are also referred to as energy-carrying channels. Needles are used to stimulate the body’s central nervous system/immune system.

Can Acupuncture Help With Tinnitus?

Reports dating all the way back to the 1940s claim that acupuncture can cure tinnitus. When examining the clinical evidence, however, the results are more muddled. 

Research authors in 2015 wrote in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine that acupuncture can ultimately improve hearing in some patients, especially when the practice is combined with medication.

However, due to the small sample study, the authors did recommend further research of the treatment for tinnitus. And, because the treatment was used in conjunction with medication or herbal remedies, it’s difficult to conclude that acupuncture was the reason for reduction of symptoms. 

Which Points Are Used?

TCM separates tinnitus into five categories based on the disruption type to your qi. For instance, one cause of tinnitus is an imbalance in the gallbladder or kidneys, Qi pathways run between these parts of your body and ears. Acupuncturists may use abdominal points to address kidney imbalances.

Typically, the following points will be used to help reduce the effects of tinnitus:

• Ermen (TB21)

• Tinggong (SI19)

• Tinghui (GB2)

• Shangguan (GB3)

• Yindu (KI19)

• Taixi (K13)

• Fengchi (GB20)

• Yifeng (SJ17)

• Zhongzhu (SJ3)

• Waiguan (SJ5)

• Hegu (LI4)
• Yanglao (SI6)

Should You Try Acupuncture For Tinnitus?

The British Tinnitus Association researched the treatment and concluded that there is “no evidence” that acupuncture is an effective treatment for hearing loss.

However, acupuncture can be used as a treatment for anxiety. Because stress can worsen tinnitus over time, finding ways to cope with stress or treat stress can be helpful to improve the symptoms of tinnitus. 

It is also important to note that acupuncture has been proven to work for chronic pain. The studies have shown benefits for chronic pain well beyond the placebo effect. Pain can trigger stress, which triggers tinnitus. With that being said, acupuncture can help tinnitus patients indirectly.