Acupuncture for chronic nonpulsatile tinnitus: A randomized clinical trial

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Otolaryngology
• Neurology

Background:

• Tinnitus presents a significant challenge in finding effective treatments.
• Limited research exists on acupuncture's impact on tinnitus.
• This study investigates acupuncture for chronic non-pulsatile tinnitus.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in managing chronic non-pulsatile tinnitus.
• To compare acupuncture treatment with a placebo intervention.

Main Methods:

• A randomized double-blind clinical trial was conducted from December 2014 to September 2015.
• Patients received either acupuncture or a placebo treatment over 15 sessions.
• Tinnitus loudness (Visual Analog Scale - VAS) and severity (Tinnitus Severity Index - TSI) were assessed post-treatment.

Main Results:

• Both acupuncture and placebo groups showed improvements in TSI and VAS.
• Acupuncture treatment resulted in significantly greater reductions in tinnitus loudness and severity compared to placebo.
• Improvements were observed after 15 sessions and sustained 3 weeks post-treatment.

Conclusions:

• Acupuncture demonstrates effectiveness in alleviating tinnitus loudness and severity.
• Acupuncture can be a beneficial therapeutic option for individuals with chronic non-pulsatile tinnitus.