Tinnitus, Ci Shi and Shi Chang Pu

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Tinnitus affects up to 20 percent of people in the U.S. – predominantly older adults – and is characterized by a persistent sound that only the patient can hear. The nature of the sound is different from person to person but may be anything from a low grumbling roar to a high-pitched whine.

Some people with tinnitus aren’t bothered much with the condition, but for others, tinnitus is severe enough to interfere with daily tasks and concentration. There are treatment options, though, including Chinese medicine therapies like Houston acupuncture and herbal formulations. 

What is the Cause of Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is usually the result of an underlying medical condition, but there are many conditions that can cause or increase the risk of developing the condition. Some of them include:

• Hearing loss
• Blocked ear canal
• Ear infection
• Head or neck injuries
• Meniere’s disease
• Changes or damage to ear bone or tubes
• TMJ joint disorders
• Inner ear muscle spasms
• Certain head, brain, or neck tumors
• Circulatory problems
• Migraines
• Anemia

In Chinese medicine, tinnitus is believed to be due to kidney weakness (reduced kidney yin energy). With age the energy levels in the kidneys diminish and produce an array of symptoms, including tinnitus.

How Chinese Medicine and Herbal Therapies Can Help with Tinnitus

Chinese medicine is focused on improving the yang kidney energy and strengthening the organ. Houston practitioners rely on acupuncture and beneficial botanicals, and in the latter’s case, herbal formulations that include Ci Shi and Shi Chang Pu are frontline choices for tinnitus.

Ci Shi is the Chinese term for magnetite or lodestone. It’s a mineral that’s crushed prior to mixing and is used to nourish the kidneys. Specifically, Ci Shi can strengthen the kidney and liver yin energy, which improves hearing, by extension. Shi Chang Pu is the term for sweet flag rhizome and is prized for its ability to remove phlegm and waste from the body. When used in conjunction with Ci Shi, Shi Chang Pu can help bring the kidney back into balance and also support hearing and ear health.