Acupuncture for Tinnitus - Treatment Protocols

Submitted by yyh_staff on Wed, 08/02/2006 - 3:25pm

Below you will find some of the more common tcm diagnoses and acupuncture treatment protocols for tinnitus. There are many ways to treat this condition with Eastern Medicine and our presentation is only one of many possible options.

Differentiation: Excess Patterns: LV/GB Fire Rising Phlegm Fire Rising Upwards Deficiency Patterns: KD Jing Deficiency Upper Burner Deficiency Heart Blood Deficiency LV/GB Fire Rising Signs & Symptoms: Sudden onset, can be loud, related to emotional stress Signs of heat, thirst, red face, constipation, bitter taste Possibly headache, dizziness, irritability Tongue: red w/yellow coat, red sides Pulse: wiry, fast Treatment Protocol: Drain the LV Fire Ease the ears Calm the mind Settle the ethereal soul Treatment Points: LV 2 - drain the LV Fire GB 20 - LV Yang, ease the ear, calm the mind GB 8 - LV Yang, ease the ear TH 3 a/or TH 5 - LV Yang GB 43 - water point of GB, bring energy down, ease the ear Phlegm Fire Rising Upwards Signs & Symptoms: Signs of phlegm, chest oppression, fuzzy head, sputum in chest a/or
postnasal drip, thirst Sound that resembles crickets, possible hearing loss Tongue: red, swollen, greasy yellow coat Pulse: rapid, slippery Treatment Protocol: Resolve phlegm Drain Fire Subdue LV Yang

Regulate the ascending of the clear Qi and the descending of the

turbid Qi Treatment Points: ST 40 - resolve phlegm CV 12 - resolve phlegm, tonify ST/SP CV 9 - remove dampness SP 9 - remove dampness UB 20 - SP Mu, tonify ST/SP ** You may not want to strongly tonify SP until the acute phlegm

excess is resolved GB 20 - descend Qi and Fire TH 3 a/or TH 5 - clear ear area LI 4 - if fuzzy a/or heavy head present TH 21, SI 19, GB 2 - benefit ear KD Jing Deficiency Signs & Symptoms: Common in elderly people, combination of hearing loss w/ringing, gradual onset, low pitched sound (can be high pitched) Dizziness, poor memory, head feels light/empty, possibly blurred vision

Sore back/knees, diminished sexual desire/performance May also see some HT symptoms - mental restlessness, insomnia a/or

LV Yang rising signs - irritability, dizziness Can be from KD Yin Deficiency or KD Yang Deficiency - tongue and pulse will reflect this Tongue: if KD Yang - pale if KD Yin - red Pulse: if KD Yang - deep, weak

if KD Yin - floating, empty Treatment Protocol: Tonify KD Treatment Points: KD 3 - tonify KD & Jing CV 4 - tonify KD & Jing UB 23 - KD Shu, tonify KD & Jing GB 2 - benefit ear GV 4 - moxa to tonify yang if insomnia add - SP 6, HT 6, KD 7 - nourish yin, calm liver, benefit heart

if LV Yang rising add - LV 3 Upper Burner Deficiency Signs & Symptoms: LU a/or HT deficiencies, fatigue, SOB w/exertion, pale face,
spontaneous sweating Intermittent ringing, mild, gradual onset Tongue: pale w/teethmarks Pulse: empty esp. in LU position Treatment Protocol:

Tonify LU Qi Promote rising of clear Qi to the head Treatment Points: CV 17 - tonify upper warmer LU 9 - tonify LU UB 13 - LU Shu, tonify LU CV 6 - tonify Qi GV 20 - raise Qi to the head TH 16 - window of sky, sudden deafness, tinnitus SI 19 - benefit ear Heart Blood Deficiency Signs & Symptoms: Intermittent ringing, gradual onset, low pitch/volume Dull/pale face (Blood def.) HT signs possible, palpitations, insomnia, poor memory, anxiety Tongue: pale, likely thin (could be swollen if Qi def. is leading towards Blood def.) Pulse: weak or choppy esp. in first position Treatment Protocol: Tonify HT Nourish Blood Treatment Points: HT 5 - tonify HT UB 15 - HT Shu, tonify HT CV 17 - effects HT Qi and to a lesser extent Blood CV 14 - HT Mu, tonify HT PC 6 - tonify HT Blood SP 6 - tonify HT Blood SI 19 - benefit ear

The information on our site is drawn from our own lecture notes and clinical experience. The following lecture notes were consulted within this section:

St. John, Meredith: New England School of Acupuncture, Etiology and Pathology
Lecture Notes Valaskatgis, Peter: New England School of Acupuncture, Etiology and Pathology Lecture Notes _____________________________________________________________________

LV/KD Deficiency Treatment Points: TH 5 - ear LV 3, UB 18 - LV Shu KD 3, UB 23 - KD Shu GB 34, possibly GB 41, GB 40 or GB 43 SP Qi Deficiency Treatment Points: TH 5 - ear

LI 4 - command head and face SP 6 ST 36 CV 12 - ST Mu Ub 20 - SP Shu GB 34, possibly GB 41, GB 40 or GB 43