Acupuncture and Tinnitus

 Tinnitus is a condition characterized by ringing within the ear when there's no actual source of sound present.

There may be hope for people with tinnitus with healing methods like acupuncture, that has been proven to relieve symptoms.

 
It's estimated that upwards of 10-15 percent of the U.S. population suffers from tinnitus. The good news is that most people tolerate it well, with the condition having only a slight affect on their normal daily life. However, about 1-2 percent of the population experience severe cases of tinnitus, affecting their mood, sleep patterns and even their general health.

Medical experts continue to debate over what exactly causes tinnitus. There's some belief that ototoxic drugs can damage the inner ear, increasing the risk of tinnitus, while others believe it's caused by a chemical imbalance within the brain. The general consensus is that long-term exposure to loud noise can lead to this condition.

A recent study conducted by researchers at the Clinic of Tinnitus of the Department of Otorlarynology Head and Neck Surgery found acupuncture to offer relief of tinnitus symptoms.

Researchers treated 76 patients with either acupuncture or the placebo called sham acupuncture. While both groups experienced an improvement in their symptoms, the group that received acupuncture had a greater improvement in their symptoms, attesting to the effectiveness of acupuncture.
"We conclude that there was significant reduction of the counting of the moments pre and post needling in both the groups, and in the group study the reduction is greater that in the group control," wrote the study's researchers.

How can acupuncture stop ringing within the ears?

 When your body's natural energies are not flowing correctly, it can lead to a number of diseases and illnesses, including tinnitus. Licensed acupuncturists are trained in correcting these blockages by targeting various acupuncture points within the body's meridians. When these blockages are fixed, your body can return to its natural balance.

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Many of us have already experienced or will experience some amount of hearing loss. This can be due to aging or noise-induced factors. Exposure to loud sound over time can permanently damage the ears and result in hearing loss.

If you find yourself struggling with hearing and feeling the need to turn up the TV or your music louder, you may be experiencing hearing loss. Here are five steps to improve your hearing and prevent further damage.

1. Wear protection

If you know you will be around loud noise and won't be able to avoid it, like at a large event or while using power tools, wear ear plugs. You can find ear plugs at most grocery stores and they can severely protect your ears from damaging loud noise.

2. Limits

To keep volumes at a moderate level on devices or stereos, consider adding a volume limit. Most devices have a feature where you can set a maximum volume. This way, you won't be able to turn your volume up to the actual maximum.

3. Give yourself a break

Research has shown that being in a quieter setting can train your ears to better focus on the quiet sounds and increase overall hearing. Try to take even just ten minutes a day and go somewhere secluded where there is not a lot of external noise and disruption.

4. Foods

These foods have been shown to improve hearing and prevent hearing loss.

Salmon and other fish: The omega 3 fats and Vitamin D found in Salmon and other like foods have been shown to strengthen the blood vessels in the ear's sensory system, which then can improve hearing. Research has shown that adults who eat fish twice a week reduced their risk of age-related hearing loss by 42 percent.

Spinach, asparagus, beans, broccoli: These foods are high in antioxidants and folic acid. Antioxidants can help lower the risk of hearing loss by reducing free radicals in your body that can damage the nerve tissue in the ears.

Dark chocolate, oysters, cashews: Foods high in zinc like dark chocolate, oysters and nuts can improve your body's resistance to age-related hearing loss.

5. Acupuncture

A study conducted by the College of Oriental Medicine in South Korea measured the effects of acupuncture on patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss and found that half of the patients showed improvement in hearing after acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture points can stimulate the strength in the auditory cortex to the brain, thus increasing the brain's ability to react to auditory stimuli.

Learn how to be aware of the symptoms of hearing loss including difficulty understanding what people say, having to raise the volume higher and muffled sounds. If you think you are suffering from hearing loss, try these tips and contact an acupuncturist today.

 

Sources:

1. You Hear What You Eat

2. 12 Tips for Better Hearing

3. How to Improve Your Hearing

4. Acupuncture for Hearing Loss 

5. New MRI Research - Acupuncture for Hearing Loss

6. Hearing Loss Symptoms
 

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