Tinnitus is the sensation of hearing ringing, clicking, buzzing or other phantom sounds when no external source of the sound exists. Traditional Chinese medicine, which can involve acupuncture, acupressure or herbal tonics, considers tinnitus to be a disturbance in the healthy flow of energy. Acupressure practitioners attempt to restore the flow of energy by pressing on specific points along the same 12 meridians, or channels, used in acupuncture.
Listening Place
Found on the small intestine channel at point 19, the Listening Place acupressure point is directly in front of the opening of your ear. Place your fingertip on this area and open your mouth. An indentation will appear; this is SI-19. In traditional Chinese medicine, the small intestine channel separates the pure from the impure. A Western doctor might explain this as fighting bacteria or viruses within your body, explains Henry Lu, author of "Traditional Chinese Medicine: An Authoritative and Comprehensive Guide." Acupuncturists stimulate this point to relieve tinnitus and several other ear maladies.
Ear Gate
Slide your fingertip upward, just a 1/2 inch from the Listening Place. This is the Ear Gate acupressure point, also called TB-21. The triple burner channel, which manages the movement and transformation of solids and liquids throughout your body, runs very close to the small intestine channel in this area, explains Lu. A Western doctor might describe the function of the triple burner channel as digestion and elimination. A block in the energy in either channel can cause tinnitus, making Listening Place an effective acupressure point for this malady.
Reunion of Hearing
Slide your fingertip 1/2 inch below the Listening Place to the Reunion of Hearing acupressure point. This is point 2 on the gallbladder channel, which clears the by-products of daily metabolism. A Western doctor might describe this function as similar to the lymphatic system. As its name implies, this point is commonly used to relieve tinnitus, according to Lu. Listening Place, Ear Gate and Reunion of Hearing may be stimulated individually using needles in an acupuncture session, or they can be stimulated simultaneously using finger pressure in an acupressure session.
Wind Screen
Found in the indentation behind your earlobe, Wind Screen is point 17 on the triple burner channel. Acupressure practitioners use this point to relieve ear and jaw pain, facial spasms and itchy ears, according to according to Michael Reed Gach, author of "Acupressure's Potent Points."
Considerations
Most states license acupressure as a form of massage. Acupuncture, practiced by doctors of Oriental medicine, requires a longer educational process. Check with your state massage and medical boards to determine how to find an appropriate practitioner for your medical needs.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Tinnitus
- HolisticOnline.com: Alternative Medicine for Tinnitus
- "Traditional Chinese Medicine: An Authoritative and Comprehensive Guide"; Henry C. Lu, PhD; 2005
- "Acupressure's Potent Points"; Michael Reed Gach; 1990
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