How To Reduce Ringing In Ear (Tinnitus) By 10 Acupressure

January 25, 2025

Tinnitus

How to alleviate tinnitus by 10 acupressure points

Hi, it’s Satoru from hariQ acupuncture & herbs. In this blog post, I want to share with you about something that a lot of people suffer from: ringing in the ears or tinnitus. It is like whistling, buzzing, roaring, or clicking, and it can be really annoying—especially at night when the outside is very quiet. It bothers you from trying to get a good night’s sleep.

The good news is that there are some excellent acupressure points that ancient oriental doctors discovered over a thousand years ago to help relieve these symptoms. We can use that amazing wisdom today. I’ll share 10 acupressure points that could help relieve and reduce the ringing in your ears, so you can have a better quality of life. I hope these tips bring you some relief if you’re dealing with tinnitus.

We understand this can be a lot of information and overwhelming: if you are looking for more support and answers, set up a free consultation with our licensed acupuncturist, Satoru Ozawa. Share your story, get your questions answered, and learn how you can set yourself up for tremendous success in achieving a healthy life.

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What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a condition where you might hear sounds like ringing or buzzing, even when there’s no outside noise around. People with tinnitus often describe the sounds they hear as ringing, buzzing, hissing, whistling, or roaring. This feeling can change in how strong it is, and it might be something you notice all the time or just now and then. Tinnitus can be caused by a mix of things, such as loud noises, ear infections, age-related hearing loss, certain medical conditions, medications, or sometimes it’s just an unknown reason. While it is not a disease in itself, tinnitus can be a symptom of an underlying issue and can significantly impact a person’s quality of life, especially if it disrupts sleep or concentration.

Statistics

Tinnitus affects millions of people worldwide. It’s estimated that about 15-20% of the general population experiences some form of tinnitus. In the United States alone, around 50 million people report having experienced tinnitus to some degree. The prevalence tends to increase with age, and it can affect individuals regardless of gender or background. For many, it is a mild annoyance, but for some, it can be a significant disruption to daily life.

10 acupressure points help ringing in the ears

Acupressure is a technique in which acupuncturists apply pressure to specific points on the body to treat various ailments. By pressing these points with your fingers, you can achieve similar effects and find relief from discomfort. You may find a small lump, typically no larger than a pea and when you put pressure, it’s tender or sore. I hope that this technique helps you alleviate the sounds in your ears so that you can have a better quality of life without annoying the noisy sounds.

1. SJ22

The acupressure point known as SJ22, or “Waryo” in Japanese, is located just in front of the ear at the edge of the auricle. This point lies along the pathway of the superficial temporal artery and the anterior auricular muscle, which can subtly move the ear and may help enhance hearing. To stimulate this point, use your thumb to apply pressure. Rub in a circular motion for 30 seconds, and repeat this process two more times.

2. SJ21

This acupressure point is known as SJ21, or “Jimon” in Japanese. It’s located just in front of your ear canal. When you open your mouth, you might notice a little dip; SJ21 is just above that spot. This point is connected to the superficial temporal nerve, which branches from the trigeminal nerve. In Japanese, “Ji” means ear, and “Mon” means gate, so you can think of this point as a gateway for supporting ear health, especially for issues like tinnitus!

To stimulate SJ21, use your thumb to rub the spot in a circular motion with the right amount of pressure for 30 seconds. Repeat this process two more times.

3. SI19

This acupressure point is SI19, also known as “Chokyu” in Japanese. It is located just in front of the ear canal. When you open your mouth, you can feel a depression; SI19 is situated at the center of this depression, which is associated with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). By relaxing the TMJ, you can also relieve tension around the ear, which is beneficial. To apply pressure to this point, use your thumb to gently rub in a circular motion for 30 seconds. Repeat this process two more times.

4. GB2

This acupressure point is known as GB2, or “Choe” in Japanese. It is located just below the SI19 point. To find it, open your mouth and look for the depression; this point is just below that depression. Stimulating this point can also activate the parotid gland, which is situated just inside the area. You may notice an increase in saliva when you massage this spot. To apply pressure, use your thumb to rub the area in a circular motion with the appropriate pressure for 30 seconds. Repeat this process two more times.

5. SJ17

This acupressure point is known as SJ17, or “Eifu” in Japanese. It is located just behind the earlobe in a small depression near the ear canal and the attachment of the digastric muscle. The digastric muscle is an important neck muscle that helps lower the mandible, allowing the jaw to open, and elevates the hyoid bone, stabilizing it during swallowing. It also plays a role in chewing and speech.

To relax your ear, you should release these muscles. Use your thumb to apply pressure to this point and rub in a circular motion for 30 seconds. Repeat this process two more times.

6. GB12

This acupressure point is known as GB12, or “Kankotsu” in Japanese. It is located just behind SJ17. To find GB12, slide your finger from SJ17 until you feel a slight depression; this is likely the correct location.

GB12 is considered a powerful point because the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle is attached nearby. Massaging this point can help release tension in the SCM, which is the prominent muscle on the side of your neck responsible for allowing you to turn your head and bend it diagonally.

To apply pressure, use your thumb on the spot and rub in a circular motion with the appropriate pressure for 30 seconds. Repeat this process two more times.

7. SJ20

This acupressure point is known as SJ20, or “Kakuson” in Japanese. It is located at the tip of the ear, corresponding with the superior auricular muscle, which aids in relieving tension in the ear and temporal area. To use this point, place your thumb on the spot and rub it in a circular motion for 30 seconds, applying the right amount of pressure. Repeat this process two more times.

8. GB8

This acupressure point is called GB8, or “Sokoku” in Japanese. It is located 1.5 inches above the tip of the ear. This point helps release the temporal muscle and the superior auricular muscle, which can also aid in reducing tinnitus. To stimulate this point, use your thumb to rub the area in a circular motion for 30 seconds with the right amount of pressure. Repeat this process two more times.

9. SJ5

The acupressure point known as SJ5, or “Gaikan” in Japanese, is located on the forearm, approximately two inches above the dorsal side of the wrist. This point is considered one of the most powerful for balancing the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS is responsible for the body’s natural responses to stress and relaxation. When the body is relaxed, blood vessels dilate, muscles soften, and body temperature rises. On the other hand, when the body is stressed, blood vessels constrict, muscles tense up, and the body prepares for a fight-or-flight response.

One reason you might experience tinnitus is that your body struggles to switch between the stress and relaxation modes of the nervous system. Since the ANS operates automatically, you typically have limited control over it, except for your breathing. By stimulating this acupressure point, you can help your body shift out of stress mode.

To use this point for tinnitus relief, apply pressure with your thumb and rub in a circular motion for 30 seconds. Repeat this process two more times.

10. SJ3

This acupressure point is known as SJ3, or “Chusho” in Japanese. It is another distal point located on your hand, between the ring and pinky fingers. You may find this point sore and tender, which indicates you’ve found the right spot. To apply pressure, use your thumb to rub in a circular motion for 30 seconds. Repeat this process two more times.

Important Note

By consistently following these 10 steps for acupressure massage, you can reduce the intensity of tinnitus. And, managing tinnitus often involves a combination of addressing the underlying causes, lifestyle changes, and alternative therapies like acupressure.

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We'll be happy to answer your questions.

Is Acupuncture Effective for Tinnitus?

Yes. Acupuncture is very effective for tinnitus. We examined your intensity of ringing in the ears, associated symptoms, and neck muscle tightness during the initial acupuncture session. The treatments focused on releasing the tension around the ears and reducing the volume of ringing in the ears. Acupuncture has been shown in many studies to be incredibly practical in reducing the ringing in the ears due to its ability to balance the autonomic nervous system and release muscle tension as well.

When Should I start Acupuncture?

As a general rule of thumb, the sooner one receives treatment, the better the prognosis. Some patients come for tinnitus treatment months or even years after the initial onset, and these chronic cases are often more complex and take a much longer time to achieve results. Even then, recovery is not guaranteed.

How Often Should I Schedule Acupuncture Sessions?

Regarding the frequency of treatments, Acupuncture follows a simple rule. Acute and relatively new conditions are most effectively treated with more frequent visits, whereas chronic and old conditions can benefit from more widespread treatments. In other words, if you just had an onset of tinnitus, you will probably be prescribed 2-3 treatments per week in order to get the most effective results, and chronic cases will generally come in only once a week.

If you or a loved one was diagnosed with tinnitus and want to learn more about acupuncture and whether it’s appropriate for your case, send us a message through our contact page. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post! I appreciate your interest and hope to see you again for future posts.