Alaska Institute of Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture & Massage Therapy: Tinnitus Eastern vs Western Medicine

Tinnitus From Western View

Tinnitus is the medical term for ringing in the ears and according to Western medicine, it is not a disease but a symptom of several health conditions that produce sounds that fill a person's head with noise that only they can hear. The phantom sounds snap, crackle, pop, ring, hiss, roar, hum, whistle, click and squeal. The quality can be pulsating, intermittent, or steady and may vary in pitch. People with severe tinnitus may have difficulty with sleep, focus, and concentration leading to irritability, depression, increased stress and anxiety. Milder symptoms may go unnoticed. Three months or longer is considered chronic. One study links poor alignment of the skull and jaw to tinnitus. A person experiencing symptoms may be referred to an audiologist, otolaryngologist (ENT), dentist, neurologist, physical therapist, chiropractor, or massage therapist.

Adults and children can get tinnitus, but it is most common in adults age 40 and 80.

A common cause of tinnitus is damage to the inner ear hair cells, which convert sound waves into electrical impulses that are carried along the auditory nerve to the brain. If the hairs are bent, they can leak random impulses to the brain, creating a cacophony of internal sounds. Many genetic and environmental factors, such as overexposure to loud noises and aging, destroy critical cells in the hearing system.

Impacted ear wax, bacterial infection, head injuries, TMJ, vertigo, Meniere's disease, acoustic neuroma, hypertension, atherosclerosis, surgery, circulation problems, age, trauma, and vestibular tumors are associated with tinnitus.

Over 200 medications contribute to tinnitus symptoms. Examples include diuretics, aspirin, NSAIDS, anticonvulsants, antibiotics, antimicrobials, loop diuretics, antidepressants, and cancer drugs.

Tinnitus treatment in Western culture might include a white noise machine to mask the sounds, cognitive behavioral therapy, wearing hearing aids, antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, counseling, relaxation techniques, and retraining therapy.

Lifestyle changes to alleviate symptoms of tinnitus include limiting caffeine and alcohol, avoidance of noisy environments, and cessation of smoking.

Tinnitus Eastern View

In TCM, the imbalance of Yin and Yang is the main cause of tinnitus. For many people, tinnitus expresses a deeper disharmony that has grown over time. Chinese medicine nourishes the body by addressing the underlying imbalance (the root) rather than the symptom (the arm). Digestion, mood, and emotion are also considered when treating tinnitus with Eastern medicine.

Some of the more common patterns of tinnitus in Chinese medicine are as follows:

Imbalance of liver-spleen vertigo and tinnitus presents with liver symptoms, cricket sounds, vertigo or dizziness, and a heavy head. Chronic deficiency of spleen qi can lead to internal dampness. When dampness is combined with stagnated liver Qi it causes an upward rise of phlegm-fire.

The kidney-liver imbalance is due to chronic stagnating liver qi is usually caused by stagnation and Yin Deficiency in the liver and blood.

Vertigo and tinnitus due to liver excess is typically triggered by loud noises which cause an upward rise of liver fire that may be related to frustration or anger. This internal wind is usually accompanied by dizziness and a painful sharp, stabbing headache.

Tinnitus with Imbalances in kidneys and heart involves the elements of water and fire, which must be balanced to preserve wellness and health. When one or both of the two energetic organ systems is compromised, a communication breakdown can arise. Kidney deficiency and heart blood deficiency may present with anxiety characterized by a sense of impending doom, poor memory, insomnia, and/or palpitations.

Tinnitus due to Depleted Kidney-Essence is associated with aging. It is characterized by low sound and a slow progressive onset of symptoms. Fear, sore knees, achy back, slight dizziness, and poor memory may also be present.

Tinnitus due to Deficient Kidneys begins with a gradual onset of symptoms that include sounds of rushing water and ringing ears. Afternoon-evening sweats and/or hot flashes may be present.

Massage helps relieve tinnitus symptoms by reducing stress and relieving muscle tension. It can relax the head, neck, and jaw muscles, which stresses the inner ear. Regular massages can also help resolve postural problems that contribute to tinnitus.

Massage Recommendations For Tinnitus

Massage can target points around the ear and neck to relieve tinnitus symptoms. The meridians of the heart, small intestine, pericardium, gallbladder, and liver can also be used.

Self-care for tinnitus might include pulling the bottom of the earlobe laterally and upwards in a stretching motion, which helps to reduce inner ear fluid buildup and relieve ringing sensations.

Massaging the mastoid process with gentle Swedish massage can relieve tension in the neck and ear muscles and allow the neck to move back into the correct alignment.

The masseter is the strongest muscle in the body in proportion to its size, and when overly tense, it can contribute to misalignment of the jaw and ringing in the ear. Any massage intended to relieve tinnitus will focus effort on the masseter muscle.

Acupressure points around the ears relieve tinnitus along with the pericardium, small intestine, and heart meridians. Gua sha is another therapeutic technique for releasing areas of tension.

Contraindications Of Tinnitus Massage Treatments

Some contraindications for tinnitus may include heightened sensitivity to touch, light, and sound. Craniosacral therapy would be recommended to relieve the strain patterns in the meningeal membrane system that wraps the brain and spinal cord. These fascial layers can develop strain patterns or become injured through trauma.

In one case study, a patient showed a reversal of tinnitus symptoms after 2.5 months of soft tissue massage, repetitive movements, and joint mobilization.

Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11122/

http://tcmwindow.com/diseases/Nervous-System-Diseases/Tinnitus-symptoms.shtml

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14689631/

https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/tinnitus
https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/tinnitus-ringing-in-the-ears-and-what-to-do-about-it

https://hms.harvard.edu/news/reversing-hearing-loss

http://tcmwindow.com/diseases/Nervous-System-Diseases/Tinnitus-diagnosis.shtml

Circulation problem around ear, neck, shoulder, ears are opening

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2022.986805/full

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/14164-tinnitus

https://www.rmtedu.com/blog/cervicogenic-tinnitus-and-massage-therapy

Causes Tinnitus according to CMT