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.
Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16951850
