There’s more to Acupuncture than you might think
Acupuncture has so many uses, from relieving back pain to helping to de-stress, but one benefit you might not have considered is how it can repair hearing loss.
As acupuncture is the traditional Chinese medicine of using needles to encourage the body to heal itself, it is thought stimulating the nervous system in this way could send signals to the brain to improve tinnitus and deafness.
There are several studies that date back to the 1940s that assert acupuncture has helped relieve the symptoms of sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL), and even cure tinnitus and deafness.
In February 2015, researchers published their opinions in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine regarding the “efficacy and safety” of the alternative treatment when it comes to treating SSHL. They looked at 12 studies and determined acupuncture, when combined with medication, can have a positive effect on patients suffering from hearing loss.
There’s more to learn about the effects of Acupuncture on hearing
Healthy Hearing stated that as the sample study was small, there was a lack of efficient data to successfully conclude the link. As a result, the authors of the report suggested further study is required to determine there is a sufficient connection.
A spokesperson from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine said: “The effects of acupuncture on the brain and body and how best to measure them are only beginning to be understood.”
Despite this restriction, acupuncture could be an effective tool to relieve stress and anxiety. As tension can make tinnitus worse, being in a more relaxed state could help improve its symptoms.
