Tinnitus is the medical term for ringing in the ears, and it is a common symptom of a hearing problem, whether it be an ear injury, age-related hearing loss or a circulatory system disorder. Symptoms include buzzing, ringing, roaring, clicking, whistling or hissing in the ears. There are two types of tinnitus: subjective tinnitus, in which only the patient can hear the buzzing, and objective tinnitus, in which the doctor can hear the buzzing during an exam. Tinnitus can occur for a number of reasons.
Traditional Medical Treatments for Tinnitus
Traditional treatments for tinnitus vary according to the reason for the tinnitus. Underlying conditions are usually treated first; the tinnitus may go away if these are effectively treated. Ear wax removal, changes in medication and treatment of blood vessel conditions can all alleviate or lessen tinnitus. If there is not an underlying cause for the tinnitus that can be treated, there are a variety of treatment options including use of a white noise machine, a hearing aid or a sound masking device. Additionally, tricyclic antidepressants, mild tranquilizers or other medications may help.
Patients suffering from tinnitus are encouraged to avoid alcohol, use relaxation techniques to deal with stressors, use white noise to mask the ringing and avoid possible irritants including loud noises and nicotine.
Tradtional Chinese Medicine Cures for Tinnitus
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a holistic approach to medicine that uses several different methods to treat conditions. It considers several causes in cases of tinnitus including anger, frustration, trauma, old age, poor diet, overwork or emotional upset.
To treat your tinnitus, seek help from an acupuncturist or a TCM physician. The nccaom.org directory of certified acupuncturists and TCM practitioners is helpful for finding a reputable practitioner. Once you choose a practitioner, a preliminary examination and interview helps determine the course of treatment. You will be examined for excess or deficiency patterns, which help the TCM practitioner administer treatment. Patients who are believed to have tinnitus from excesses (too much work, loud sounds) suffer from liver, gall bladder or phlegm "fire rising." Those who are believed to have tinnitus because of deficiencies (poor diet, fatigue) suffer from Kidney Meridian Jing deficiency, upper burner deficiency or heart blood deficiency. Excesses and deficiencies are treated differently, with treatments targeted at the specific areas believed to be the underlying causes of the tinnitus.
Treatments for the deficiencies require the practitioner to use acupuncture on determined treatment points, nourish the blood with herbs, encourage relaxation techniques and prescribe specific nutritional supplements. Because tinnitus varies from person to person, the treatments vary. Food nutrients play a large part in TCM, and foods recommended for tinnitus include celery with grape juice; rice porridge with black beans and adzuki beans; and boiled Chinese black dates with walnuts and lotus seeds over rice porridge. One specific Chinese herbal medicine designated for deafness and tinnitus is called Er Long Zuo Ci Wan or Er Long Zuo Ci Pian. It is a well-known concoction that is used to improve the Yin of the Yin-Yang energy. It contains a variety of herbs and is produced by the practitioner in small batches or is available from several different mass manufacturers. Based on the assessment of the patient, any combination of treatments will be used.
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