Acupuncture May Help Tinnitus

Recent research from the University of Michigan's Kresge Hearing Research Institute suggests a possible cause and treatment for Tinnitus. Tinnitus is a subjective sound heard in the ears absent of any external cause. It has been difficult to determine the cause of tinnitus, but the research suggests a hyperactivity of touch-sensing neurons on the face may be the cause.

The researchers discovered that after damage to hearing cells occurs, other neurological input increases to compensate. This increased activity can lead to the varied sounds of tinnitus that may fluctuate or occur constantly.

Acupuncture may be able to help this condition when used to treat the specific nerves in the face and neck. Other treatments such as trigger point therapy may also be helpful.

While this study was conducted on animals, the application to human cases of tinnitus are hopeful for this hard to treat condition. The results of this study will be published in the January 2008 edition of the European Journal of Neuroscience.