Tinnitus presents differently for all patients, but is often described as ringing, buzzing, clicking, roaring, or humming in the ears. Tinnitus may be acute or chronic, and can be a major disruption to daily life, interfering with the ability to concentrate and get a good night's sleep. Many recent studies suggest acupuncture may decrease the intensity of tinnitus, thus boosting quality of life. Results of a 2018 study looking at 88 adults with tinnitus concluded that acupuncture is effective in reducing the loudness and severity of tinnitus. Additionally, a 2016 and 2017 systematic review of existing studies similarly found that acupuncture may help with tinnitus symptoms, helping improve overall quality of life and sleep.
References:
Kim, J. I., Choi, J. Y., Lee, D. H., Choi, T. Y., Lee, M. S., & Ernst, E. (2012). Acupuncture for the treatment of tinnitus: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 12, 97. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-12-97
Naderinabi, B., Soltanipour, S., Nemati, S., Saberi, A., & Parastesh, S. (2018). Acupuncture for chronic nonpulsatile tinnitus: A randomized clinical trial. Caspian journal of internal medicine, 9(1), 38–45. https://doi.org/10.22088/cjim.9.1.38
Liu, F., Han, X., Li, Y., & Yu, S. (2016). Acupuncture in the treatment of tinnitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 273(2), 285–294. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-014-3341-7