All That Noise in Your Ears Might Be "Tinnitus"

The medical condition known as tinnitus is a hissing, buzzing, or ringing in the ears that can have a sudden onset or develop gradually over the years.

Its causes are as diverse as impacted ear wax, ear infection, aging, allergies, anemia, exposure to loud noise, and side effects from various medications, particularly quinines, streptomycin, and high doses of aspirin.

Sometimes the cause is not apparent, and some practitioners believe that certain forms of tinnitus are caused by chronic muscle tension in the head and neck area. This type of tinnitus is usually low-pitched in sound, something like an idling diesel engine, and tends to come and go.

Acupuncture is generally very successful in alleviating the underlying muscle tension causing the tinnitus and the stress that is usually responsible for causing the muscle tension in the first place.

In practice, what we tend to see more frequently in the office, of course, is chronic tinnitus, characterized by a mostly constant, high-pitched ringing that has gone on for months and sometimes years. This form of tinnitus is caused by an underlying deficiency, particularly of the adrenal function, and it usually requires long-term treatment with both acupuncture and herbs.

Although no form of treatment is 100 percent effective in every case, many patients have found that this combination often reduces or relieves the annoying ringing they are experiencing.

If you have tinnitus or another health problem that is causing you concern, please call me for a free phone consultation at 858/673-1397. I will be happy to talk with you about your condition and whether holistic treatment may be appropriate for your case.