Acupuncture for tinnitus in Gothenburg
Acupuncture can make tinnitus easier to live with for some people, although no one can promise the sound will go away. Research is mixed and mainly suggests that treatment can change how intrusive the sound feels, and many patients sleep better during a course of treatment. At Dr. Tian Akupunktur in Eriksberg, Gothenburg, the ears, neck, jaw and sleep are treated together.
The TCM view
How TCM understands tinnitus
Traditional Chinese medicine divides tinnitus into two main patterns. A sudden, loud, high-pitched sound is linked to rising heat, often with stress. A low, rushing sound that has crept in over the years is linked to weak Kidney energy.
The neck and jaw play a part too. Tension there affects circulation towards the ears, which is why Dr. Tian almost always treats the neck at the same time as the ears.
The treatment
How treatment works
During the health consultation, you will discuss when the tinnitus started, what it sounds like, what makes it worse, and your overall hearing, sleep and general health. Dr. Tian also examines your pulse and tongue.
Treatment often combines acupuncture around the ears, neck and jaw with ear acupuncture. If you have not had your hearing tested, it is advisable to do so alongside treatment. Sudden hearing loss should always be assessed by a doctor as soon as possible.
Experience and research
Dr. Tian’s experience and what the research says
Dr. Tian has worked with ear, nose and throat problems since her years at university hospitals in China, and tinnitus is a regular reason for visits to the clinic in Eriksberg. She is a fourth-generation TCM practitioner with a PhD from the Sahlgrenska Academy.
Research on acupuncture for tinnitus is mixed. Studies mainly suggest it can change how troublesome the sound feels, more than the volume itself. For many people, that difference is what makes everyday life easier.
Expectations
What to expect
Tinnitus takes patience. Dr. Tian usually suggests reviewing progress after eight to ten sessions, often once or twice a week. In her experience, recent tinnitus responds more often than tinnitus that has lasted many years.
Many patients find the sound becomes less intrusive and varies less with stress, and that they fall asleep more easily. If there is no change at all by the review, Dr. Tian will tell you plainly rather than continue treatment.
Treatments often used
Every new patient starts with a health consultation or a first visit that includes acupuncture. Dr. Tian then suggests the treatments that suit you.
Health consultation
30 minPulse and tongue diagnosis, and a treatment plan made for you.
SEK 550
BookHealth consultationAcupuncture, first visit
60 minA 30-minute health consultation followed by 30 minutes of acupuncture.
SEK 1,400
BookAcupuncture, first visitAcupuncture, follow-up
50 minSterile single-use needles placed at points chosen for your TCM diagnosis.
SEK 1,050
BookAcupuncture, follow-upEar acupuncture
45 minTiny needles or seeds on points in the outer ear.
SEK 800
BookEar acupuncture
On Saturdays a supplement of SEK 180 applies to all treatments.
Frequently asked questions
Can acupuncture cure tinnitus?
No one can promise that, and you should be wary of anyone who does. The aim is to make the sound less intrusive and to improve sleep and tension, which for many people makes tinnitus easier to live with.
I have had tinnitus for ten years. Is it too late?
It is not too late to try, but expectations need to be realistic. With long-standing tinnitus, treatment focuses more on sleep, neck tension and stress. That can make a noticeable difference to daily life even when the sound remains.
Is the neck treated as well?
Almost always. Tension in the neck, jaw and shoulders makes tinnitus worse for many people. In Dr. Tian’s experience, that is often where patients notice a change first.
Conditions that often go together
- Stress and exhaustionFor long periods of stress, shallow sleep, an unsettled stomach or exhaustion.
- Neck and shoulder painA stiff neck, aching between the shoulder blades, frozen shoulder and whiplash, treated as a whole.
- Sleep problemsTrouble falling asleep, waking in the night or waking too early: three different patterns in TCM.
Come in for a personal health consultation
Book 30 minutes with Dr. Tian. She listens to your concerns and examines your pulse and tongue. Together you agree on a plan: your first step towards better health.