Acupuncture for Tinnitus
Ringing, buzzing or hissing that won’t go away can make it hard to concentrate, relax or fall asleep. Reviews of trials involving thousands of people have reported that acupuncture reduced tinnitus severity and improved quality of life. Our practitioners have been treating patients in London for 25 years.
Book an initial consultation or call 0207 935 2030 for a free 15-minute chat.
What causes tinnitus?
Tinnitus is hearing a sound that doesn’t come from outside your body. It is very common and is often linked to some hearing loss, from age or loud noise. Other causes include ear wax, ear infections, Ménière’s disease, some medicines, and tension in the jaw or neck. Stress and tiredness often make it more noticeable, and many people find it worse at night when things are quiet.
See your GP the same day, or call 111, if tinnitus comes with sudden hearing loss, dizziness or vertigo, weakness in your face or other new neurological symptoms. See your GP if you hear a pulsing or heartbeat sound, if it’s only in one ear, or if it’s affecting your mood or sleep. If you also have dizziness, read our dizziness page.
How acupuncture can help
Trials suggest acupuncture may help tinnitus feel less intrusive. Treatment also aims to help you feel calmer, sleep better and notice the noise less during the day. It works best alongside the support your GP or audiologist may recommend, such as hearing aids, sound therapy or CBT.
Some tinnitus changes when you clench your jaw or move your neck. In these cases we also treat tension in the jaw, neck and shoulders; see our TMJ and jaw pain and neck pain pages. We’ll tell you honestly if we think another approach would suit you better. A difficulty with tinnitus is that there are not many other options out there to try.
Researchers think acupuncture may influence how the brain processes sound and how the body responds to stress. The exact mechanisms are still being studied.
What the research shows
- Xu et al., 2022 (Frontiers in Neurology) — an overview of 14 systematic reviews. Eleven of the 14 concluded that acupuncture was an effective treatment for tinnitus.
- Systematic review, 2023 (American Journal of Otolaryngology) — 34 trials and 3,086 people with tinnitus. Acupuncture and moxibustion reduced tinnitus severity and improved quality of life, anxiety and low-mood scores compared with control treatments.
Most of these trials were small, so more high-quality research is needed. Results vary between people, and acupuncture is not a replacement for medical or audiology assessment.
What to expect
Your first appointment lasts an hour. We take a full history, including when your tinnitus started, what makes it better or worse and how it affects your sleep and mood, and look at any hearing test or audiology reports you bring. Treatment uses very fine, single-use needles, usually around the ears, neck, hands and feet, left in for 15 to 20 minutes. Where suitable, we may add electro-acupuncture.
Most people start with weekly sessions and we review progress together after four to six. Initial consultations start from £80; see clinics and fees for details. In practical experience, I would say tinnitus is one of the toughest conditions we see in the clinic – I cannot remember any quick fixes where it was resolved or improved in a couple of sessions.
Why The London Acupuncture Clinic
- 25 years treating patients in London
- Degree-qualified practitioners who work alongside GPs and consultants
- Open seven days a week, with early-morning and evening appointments
- Receipts for insurance claims on request
Can acupuncture cure tinnitus?
We can’t promise to stop tinnitus. Reviews of trials have reported that acupuncture reduced tinnitus severity and improved quality of life, and treatment also aims to improve sleep, stress and any jaw or neck tension that makes it worse.
How many sessions will I need?
Most people start with weekly sessions and we review progress after four to six. If it’s helping, some people continue with occasional top-up sessions.
Should I see my GP or have a hearing test first?
We recommend it, especially if your tinnitus is new, in one ear only, pulsing, or comes with hearing loss or dizziness. You can start acupuncture while you wait for a hearing test or audiology appointment.
Does it hurt?
The needles are about the width of a hair. Most people feel a brief tingle or dull ache as a needle settles, then very little. Many find sessions relaxing.
Can I have acupuncture alongside hearing aids, sound therapy or CBT?
Yes. Acupuncture fits alongside hearing aids, sound therapy, CBT and medication, and we’re happy to work with your GP, audiologist or ENT consultant.
Related: Dizziness · TMJ and jaw pain · Neck pain · Anxiety · Insomnia
Written by The London Acupuncture Clinic’s practitioner team.
