Tinnitis |
Exposure to sudden, loud music or explosive noises can cause tinnitus, a nerve disorder that involves a consistent ringing sound in a person''s ears. At its worse, tinnitus can lead to deafness. Tinnitus affects one in 10 people, and can range from mild to chronic. While it is a common problem for veterans and the elderly, other common causes include whiplash or even dental work. However, there is evidence that if caught early, tinnitus can be improved and eventually cured with the use of natural medicine, such as acupuncture and certain vitamins.
Tinnitus is linked to nerve and touch sensitivity. Acupuncture patients with this disorder will have a high response rate to the nerve''s natural response to pressure and the disorder''s sensitivity to certain points. The practice of acupuncture is based on the stimulation of certain points on the body, as well as meridians and channels. Stimulating specific points (which are determined based on the patient''s unique case) can rebalance the qi (one''s life force) and alleviate the source of the problem. It is integral in traditional Chinese medicine to treat the origin of an ailment as well as the symptoms, and TCM has several theories as to what causes tinnitus.
For example, in more temporary cases of tinnitus, high emotional strain or sudden anger can lead to a ringing in the ears. Also, diet can have an effect. Practitioners of TCM believe that excessive greasy foods or irregular eating can lead to Phlegm (a TCM term that commonly refers to a retention in body fluid), which prevents the rising of clear qi to the head (resulting in the "phantom noise" associated with tinnitus). Overworking or excessive physical strain can lead to a nerve disturbance, causing tinnitus. Lastly, trauma is a common cause of the ringing noise associated with this disorder. Western medicine is limited in its treatment options for tinnitus, no prescription drug is available for this condition. However, with careful management and the natural remedies found in traditional Chinese medicine, there is a resource waiting to be tapped.
Key Diagnostic Points:
Both tinnitus and deafness are auditory disturbances.
Tinnitus indicates the subjective sensation experienced upon hearing a noise in one or both ears. The noise may be constant or coming in bouts and may vary in intensity and character. It may sound like a high-pitched whistle, like bees, like an engine running, or like rushing water.
Deafness is the failure or loss of hearing. Sudden deafness occurs abruptly. The patient often has severe deafness or even loses hearing entirely within an hour or a day.
Tinnitus is a difficult condition to treat, the older patients and the longer lasting the condition, the more difficult it will be to treat. Results are better for the Excess type, than the deficiency type.
Differential Diagnosis:
Rising of Liver or GB fire. Sudden deafness, tinnitus with loud sound and clearly related to emotional strain, distention sensation and constant ringing in the ear that can not be eliminated by pressing, headache, irritability, thirst, a bitter taste in mouth, red face, constipation.
Tongue: Red tongue body with yellow coat Pulse: Wiry and rapid
Kidney Essence Deficiency Protracted deafness, intermittent tinnitus aggravated by strain and eliminated by pressing. Tinnitus with low sound sometimes like rushing water and coming in bouts. Dizziness, a feeling of emptiness of the head, poor memory, soreness of the lower back and knees, spermatorrhea, excessive leukorrhea.
Tongue: Red without coating Pulse: Thready and weak
Treatment Principle:
Rising Fire of Liver and GB Drain liver and GB fire, ease the ears.
Kidney Essence Deficiency Nourish Kidney essence, ease the ears.
Point and Technique Prescription:
SJ 21 (even) Local point.
SI 19 (even) Local point.
GB 2 (even) Local point.
SJ 17 (even) Local point.
The auricular branch of the San Jiao and GB channels arise from the retroauricular region and enters into the ear and than comes out and passes the pre-auricular region.
Regulation of the Shao Yang channel, eases the ears.
SJ 3 (even) This point is a so-called "Experience Point" in which the clinical experience of numerous acupuncturists have found that this point is effective on hearing problems.
Rising Liver and GB fire, add:
Liv 2, GB 43.
The Ying spring point of the Liver and Gallbladder channels which clear away the fire from the Liver/GB.
SJ 5, GB 41.
Two of the eight confluent points for the 8 extra meridians. These two connect the hand and foot Shao Yang channels.
Kidney Essence Deficiency, add:
UB 23 Kidney Back shu
Kid 3 Yuan-source point of the Kidney channel.
Both of these points will nourish Kidney essence, important because the Kidney opens into the ears.
Think about things that will help you cope. Many people find listening to music very helpful. Focusing on music might help you forget about your tinnitus for a while. It can also help mask the sound. Other people like to listen to recorded nature sounds, like ocean waves, the wind, or even crickets.
Avoid anything that can make your tinnitus worse. This includes smoking, alcohol, and loud noise. If you are a construction worker, an airport worker, or a hunter, or if you are regularly exposed to loud noise at home or at work, wear ear plugs or special earmuffs to protect your hearing and keep your tinnitus from getting worse.
If it is hard for you to hear over your tinnitus, ask your friends and family to face you when they talk so you can see their faces. Seeing their expressions may help you understand them better. Ask people to speak louder, but not shout. Also, tell them they do not have to talk slowly, just more clearly.
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