Column November 10, 2025
Tinnitus — When the Ringing in Your Ears Won't Stop
Hyo-seop Kim
Chief Director
Table of Contents
A sound no one else can hear
Tinnitus (耳鳴) is the sensation of hearing sounds such as ringing, buzzing, hissing, or rushing water when no external sound is present. About 15–20% of adults experience it, and severe cases can cause sleep disturbance, poor concentration, and even depression.
Korean medicine diagnosis: deficiency vs. excess (虛實)
- Kidney-deficiency tinnitus (腎虛耳鳴): Low, persistent buzzing that worsens with fatigue, common in older adults — Yi-long-jwa-ja-hwan (耳聾左慈丸).
- Liver-fire tinnitus (肝火耳鳴): High, sharp ringing that worsens with stress or anger — Yongdam-sa-gan-tang (Long Dan Xie Gan Tang).
- Phlegm-fire tinnitus (痰火耳鳴): A blocked-ear sensation with tinnitus and a heavy-headed feeling — modified Ondam-tang (Wen Dan Tang).
Acupuncture treatment
Ermen (TE21), Tinggong (SI19), and Tinghui (GB2) — three points in front of the ear are stimulated to improve inner ear blood circulation. Combining them with Waiguan (TE5) and Zhongzhu (TE3) adds the benefit of distal treatment along the meridian.
The reality of tinnitus management
- Rather than complete elimination, habituation — changing the way you perceive tinnitus — is often the realistic goal.
- Korean medicine offers a combined approach: reducing the loudness and frequency while easing the psychological distress.
- Caffeine, noise exposure, and lack of sleep aggravate tinnitus, so lifestyle correction is essential.