I'm finally documenting my journey here, and I hope it can help some of you.
In October of last year, I suddenly experienced tinnitus in my left ear. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate it around a 4 in terms of loudness, and I have a high pain threshold. It was a continuous high-pitched ringing sound, accompanied by a slight numbness around my left ear area. Thinking my ear was blocked with earwax, I went to a doctor specializing in ear cleaning by microsuction, who cleaned my ears thoroughly, but the tinnitus persisted.
In November, I managed to get an appointment with an ENT specialist. I underwent a routine audiogram test on both ears, which revealed that my left ear had a noticeable decrease in hearing at higher frequencies, those that coincided with the ringing. Overall, though, my hearing was still above average. The ENT specialist did not find any specific issues with my ears and discharged me without solutions. I tried taking Ginkgo Biloba, but it did not seem to work.
After my ENT visit, I decided to do more research. I learned that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) might offer treatment options for tinnitus, so I looked for a reputable TCM clinic in Singapore and found one with good reviews. TCM was always a last resort for me, as many people do not fully understand the science behind it. However, I decided to take a leap of faith.
In November, I visited the TCM clinic and selected a senior Chinese Physician (the term for TCM doctors in Singapore). After taking my pulse, observing my tongue and ears, and asking numerous questions, the physician prescribed me two weeks of mixed herbs in powdered form to drink twice a day. Initially, I was skeptical, as I did not notice any improvement in my tinnitus during the first 4 to 5 days. However, by the second week, my tinnitus reduced from a 4 to a 3, and I felt increased blood circulation on the left side of my face. An inner swelling in my left earlobe, which I had for about a year, began to dissipate, and the skin around my ears felt less numb.
At my second TCM visit, I was prescribed another two weeks of mixed herbs (I learned that the herb combinations vary with each visit). By the third visit, my tinnitus had improved to a 2, and by the fifth visit, it was down to a 1. The swelling in my left earlobe had completely disappeared. Currently, my tinnitus is around 0.4 to 0.5 out of 10 and is only noticeable in quiet rooms. The ringing is softer, and the left side of my face feels normal again.
Here are some insights I gained from my TCM physician and my own research:
In October of last year, I suddenly experienced tinnitus in my left ear. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate it around a 4 in terms of loudness, and I have a high pain threshold. It was a continuous high-pitched ringing sound, accompanied by a slight numbness around my left ear area. Thinking my ear was blocked with earwax, I went to a doctor specializing in ear cleaning by microsuction, who cleaned my ears thoroughly, but the tinnitus persisted.
In November, I managed to get an appointment with an ENT specialist. I underwent a routine audiogram test on both ears, which revealed that my left ear had a noticeable decrease in hearing at higher frequencies, those that coincided with the ringing. Overall, though, my hearing was still above average. The ENT specialist did not find any specific issues with my ears and discharged me without solutions. I tried taking Ginkgo Biloba, but it did not seem to work.
After my ENT visit, I decided to do more research. I learned that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) might offer treatment options for tinnitus, so I looked for a reputable TCM clinic in Singapore and found one with good reviews. TCM was always a last resort for me, as many people do not fully understand the science behind it. However, I decided to take a leap of faith.
In November, I visited the TCM clinic and selected a senior Chinese Physician (the term for TCM doctors in Singapore). After taking my pulse, observing my tongue and ears, and asking numerous questions, the physician prescribed me two weeks of mixed herbs in powdered form to drink twice a day. Initially, I was skeptical, as I did not notice any improvement in my tinnitus during the first 4 to 5 days. However, by the second week, my tinnitus reduced from a 4 to a 3, and I felt increased blood circulation on the left side of my face. An inner swelling in my left earlobe, which I had for about a year, began to dissipate, and the skin around my ears felt less numb.
At my second TCM visit, I was prescribed another two weeks of mixed herbs (I learned that the herb combinations vary with each visit). By the third visit, my tinnitus had improved to a 2, and by the fifth visit, it was down to a 1. The swelling in my left earlobe had completely disappeared. Currently, my tinnitus is around 0.4 to 0.5 out of 10 and is only noticeable in quiet rooms. The ringing is softer, and the left side of my face feels normal again.
Here are some insights I gained from my TCM physician and my own research:
- TCM has a 5,000-year history, developed through centuries of experimentation with plants and herbs.
- TCM treatments have a long-term effect as they target root issues, while acupuncture provides shorter-term relief without addressing the underlying problem.
- Western medicine tends to treat issues in isolation (for example, brain issues go to a neurologist, heart to a cardiologist, ears to an ENT), whereas TCM views the body holistically, with interlinked organs.
- According to TCM, tinnitus is a symptom of an imbalance in the body. In my case, it was related to blood circulation on the left side.
- TCM training standards vary globally, so finding a skilled TCM physician is essential.
- My TCM physician advised that early treatment of tinnitus can help prevent long-term nerve damage in the ears.
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