Hand Reflexology for Tinnitus (Ear Ringing)

The Reflexology Minute: Tinnitus
You will learn: 

• What tinnitus is;
• Causes of tinnitus;
• Hand reflexology points to help tinnitus.

What is Tinnitus:
Tinnitus is generally experienced as a ringing sound. To some it sounds like a high or low pitched ringing, buzzing, or beeping. To others it might sound more like a whistling, swishing, buzzing, or even musical notes, The repetitive sounds can be maddening and for some it is present at all times. Here are some of the causes of tinnitus and what reflexology points you can press in your hands to help.

Causes of Tinnitus:

• Hearing loss related to aging;
• Loud noises;
• Head/neck injuries or trauma;
• Ear and sinus infections;
• Ménière's disease
• TMJ;
• Heart conditions;
• Smoking;
• Certain medications;
• Infections (bacterial or viral);
• Acid reflux;
• Anything that increases blood pressure (i.e. caffeine, alcohol, stress).

Hand reflexology points to help tinnitus:

• Adrenal Gland;
• Ears and eyes;
• Neck/cervical spine.

One of the resources I visit regularly is NIH (National Institutes of Health). NIH posted an article by the National Institute of Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) that states, "[People] can develop tinnitus over time when ongoing exposure to noise damages tiny sensory hair cells in the inner ear that help transmit sound to the brain. This is called noise-induced hearing loss. Service members exposed to bomb blasts can develop tinnitus if the shock wave of the explosion squeezes the skull and damages brain tissue in areas that help process sound. In fact, tinnitus is one of the most common service-related disabilities among veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan... Even with all of these associated conditions and causes, some people develop tinnitus for no obvious reason. Most of the time, tinnitus isn’t a sign of a serious health problem, although if it’s loud or doesn’t go away, it can cause fatigue, depression, anxiety, and problems with memory and concentration. For some, tinnitus can be a source of real mental and emotional anguish." Read more here.

I personally experienced tinnitus when I had developed really bad acid reflux. At the time I was receiving reflexology weekly but wasn't doing any self-care. I found that the sounds dissipated when I lost weight and eradicated the cause (acid reflux).. 

In a 2015 study The Hearing Health Foundation claimed that 48 million people in America and 360 million worldwide suffered from tinnitus. That's 1 in 5 teens, 1 in 5 adults, and 3 in 5 active and returning military. With so many people suffering from tinnitus, either on and off, or on a regular basis, these are important points to know should you or someone you know need care.

Photo: Janette Paule

References
NIDCD https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/tinnitus
MedlinePlus https://medlineplus.gov/tinnitus.html
Mayo Clinic https://goo.gl/Cro4o2

Reflexology is not a substitute for medical care. Reflexology does not claim to cure, diagnose, prognose, or prescribe. If you have concerns about your health, seek advice from your doctor or health care provider.