Acupuncture & Hearing loss Treatment There are many holistic approaches to treating hearing loss and one such approach is the oldest Chinese tradition called Acupuncture. Acupuncture is a form of treatment that involves inserting very thin needles through a person’s skin at specific points on the body, to various depths. Research suggests that it can help relieve pain, and it is used for a wide range of other complaints. Traditional Chinese medicine explains that health is the result of a harmonious balance of the complementary extremes of “yin” and “yang” of the life force known as “qi, ” pronounced “chi.” Illness is said to be the consequence of an imbalance of the forces. Qi is said to flow through meridians, or pathways, in the human body. These meridians and energy flows are accessible through 350 acupuncture points in the body. Inserting needles into these points with appropriate combinations is said to bring the energy flow back into proper balance. Numerous studies, although lack scientific evidence, have shown that acupuncture is very effective in treating tinnitus or at least moderately effective in curing hearing issues. Does Acupuncture Help Relieve Tinnitus and Improve Hearing? Additionally, studies have shown that acupuncture has the ability to alter brain chemistry. Acupuncture helps change the release of neurotransmitters that are responsible for impacting central nervous system. As a result, the person’s blood pressure, body temperature and blood flow are regulated which are all important in the optimal functioning of hearing. Note that, hearing loss may also be triggered by certain illnesses such as diabetes, blood pressure and obesity, so any changes that happen to the body that positively influence these conditions will go a long way in treating hearing loss or tinnitus as well. A number of studies have looked at acupuncture as a treatment for tinnitus. Results are mixed, but many recent studies suggest acupuncture may decrease the intensity of tinnitus, boosting quality of life.