Tinnitus — the persistent ringing, buzzing or hissing in the ears that affects roughly one in seven people in Ireland — is one of the most frustrating conditions in modern medicine. Conventional treatments offer limited relief for many sufferers. New research from Hebei University, published in Neuropharmacology and Therapy, now provides the most detailed scientific review to date of what acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can actually do for both tinnitus and sudden hearing loss — and the findings are clinically significant.
Please note: Acupuncture is a complementary therapy. It does not replace medical assessment for hearing conditions, which should always be evaluated by your GP or an ENT consultant first. Where herbal preparations are discussed at AcuRodos, this is done following individual personal assessment only.
What the researchers looked at
The review examined randomised controlled trials and preclinical investigations into the use of acupuncture — including electroacupuncture — and classical Chinese herbal formulas for two specific conditions: sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and chronic tinnitus.
SSNHL is defined as a rapid loss of hearing of at least 30 decibels across three consecutive frequencies within 72 hours. It affects thousands of people in Ireland each year and is notoriously difficult to treat. Conventional approaches — primarily corticosteroids — have limited success rates and no universally effective treatment exists. Tinnitus, though different in nature, shares some of the same underlying mechanisms involving cochlear circulation, oxidative stress and nerve function.
What the evidence shows for acupuncture
The review identified consistent clinical evidence that acupuncture at four specific peri-auricular (around the ear) points produces measurable improvements in both conditions.
The points used across studies were TB21 (Ermen — in front of the ear), TW17 (Yifeng — behind the earlobe), SI19 (Tinggong — in front of the ear canal), and GB2 (Tinghui — just below TB21). These four points have been used in TCM for auditory conditions for centuries. The review now provides a biomedical explanation for why they work: needling in this zone enhances local blood flow, reduces blood viscosity, and modulates nerve excitability in the cochlea — the inner ear structure responsible for converting sound into nerve signals.
Studies comparing acupuncture combined with conventional therapy against conventional therapy alone found the combined approach produced significantly greater improvements in auditory thresholds — meaning patients recovered more hearing.
Electroacupuncture outperforms manual acupuncture
The most consistent finding across the research was that electroacupuncture produced superior outcomes compared with manual acupuncture alone, particularly in the acute phase of sudden hearing loss. At the specific frequency of 2–4 Hz delivered to the same peri-auricular points, patients showed larger reductions in hearing threshold shifts between 2 and 4 kHz — the speech frequency range — and more substantial improvements in speech recognition.
For tinnitus patients, acupuncture reduced symptom severity as measured by validated scales including the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and the Tinnitus Severity Index. Improvements also extended to sleep quality and psychological distress — both of which are significantly affected by chronic tinnitus.
The biomedical mechanisms identified in preclinical studies help explain these findings. Acupuncture was shown to reduce oxidative stress in cochlear tissue by activating the NRF2 signalling pathway and reducing the generation of reactive oxygen species — in plain terms, it protects the delicate hair cells of the inner ear from damage caused by inflammation and cellular stress.
The classical herbal formula — Er Long Zuo Ci Wan
Alongside the acupuncture evidence, the review examined a classical Chinese herbal formula called Er Long Zuo Ci Wan (literally translated as Ear Deafness Left Magnetite Pill). This is a modification of the foundational Kidney-nourishing formula Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, with the addition of magnetite (Ci Shi) to anchor sound downward, and Bupleurum (Chai Hu) to open the channels to the ears.
In randomised controlled trials, patients receiving Er Long Zuo Ci Wan combined with sound therapy achieved significantly better auditory outcomes than sound therapy alone, with no adverse events reported.
The molecular research behind this formula is remarkable. Er Long Zuo Ci Wan was shown to downregulate a specific pro-apoptotic pathway (p53/Bak) in cochlear hair cells — in plain terms, it appears to protect the tiny hair cells of the inner ear from the programmed cell death that causes permanent hearing loss. It also modulates ERK and STAT3 signalling and maintains mitochondrial integrity in these same cells.
Other herbs showed complementary evidence. Huang Qi (Astragalus root) enhanced cochlear microcirculation and improved both hearing recovery and tinnitus resolution in SSNHL patients. Yinxing (Ginkgo biloba) reduced noise-induced synaptic loss and preserved auditory nerve function. Polyphenols found in traditional preparations — including caffeic acid and resveratrol — reduced inflammatory damage in cochlear cells by downregulating NF-κB and IL-1β, two key inflammatory drivers.
The TCM perspective on tinnitus and hearing loss
In Chinese medicine, tinnitus and hearing loss are most commonly associated with Kidney deficiency — specifically Kidney Yin or Kidney Essence (Jing) deficiency. The Kidneys govern the bones, open to the ears, and are the root of our constitutional energy. Post-menopausal women, older adults, and anyone who has experienced chronic stress or long-term illness may deplete their Kidney Jing over time — and the ears are often the first sense organ to reflect this depletion.
This is why Er Long Zuo Ci Wan builds on a Kidney-nourishing base formula. The formula directly addresses the TCM root cause while the magnetite and Bupleurum open the channel pathway to the ears. Acupuncture at GB2, TW17 and SI19 clears local stagnation in the ear channel and restores the flow of Qi and Blood that keeps cochlear function healthy.
A secondary pattern — Liver Fire rising to disturb the upper orifices — accounts for the acute, high-pitched, stress-aggravated tinnitus that many patients describe. This is treated differently, with points to clear Liver Fire and descend Yang.
What this means if you have tinnitus or hearing difficulties
If you have been assessed by a GP or ENT specialist and are looking for complementary support, this research provides a credible, evidence-grounded basis for considering acupuncture. Electroacupuncture at the peri-auricular points used in these studies is available at AcuRodos. Herbal consultations are also offered, based on your individual TCM pattern, following a full assessment.
At AcuRodos, Jose holds a BSc in Food Science and over 10 years of clinical practice in TCM — making an integrated approach to hearing health both clinically appropriate and evidence-informed.
Source: Zhao M, Zhou Y. Traditional Chinese Medicine Interventions for Auditory Disorders: Mechanisms and Clinical Evidence Supporting the Management of Hearing Loss and Tinnitus. Neuropharmacology and Therapy. 2025;2(1):26–42. Reported by HealthCMi, September 2025.
This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your GP or ENT consultant for assessment of hearing conditions before beginning any complementary therapy. Herbal preparations at AcuRodos are discussed and supplied following individual personal assessment only.
