Using acupuncture to treat ear disorders

Once a common form of medical treatment in ancient China, acupuncture is becoming increasingly accepted in western practice as a complement to conventional medication and treatment. In the area of ear, nose and throat (ENT) conditions, this form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has produced positive results that have helped patients recover from certain ear disorders.

Using acupuncture in the treatment of ear disorders

According to Adjunct Associate Professor Low Wong Kein, senior ear, nose, throat (ENT) surgeon at Novena ENT – Head and Neck Surgery Specialist Centre, many disorders are believed to arise due to an imbalance in the flow of energy - ‘qi’ - in the body. “The principle of acupuncture is that you try to regulate this flow in the body,” he says.

Professor Low, who received his Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture from the Singapore College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2007, has treated many ENT patients using a combination of acupuncture and more conventional western therapy. In many cases, western medicine alone has not been enough to treat these disorders and this is where Professor Low believes TCM plays a complimentary role in improving patient outcomes.

One common ear complaint is ear pain and some patients may feel persistent pain despite receiving medication and other medical treatments. “With ear pain there are certain principles that we must follow in western medicine: to exclude causes and treat the serious cases,” he says. “But there are certain patients where pain persists no matter what we do, and that is where acupuncture plays a role.” In these cases, acupuncture can be used as a remedy to ease the patient’s pain.

For patients who experience nausea and vomiting as a result of giddiness or vertigo – an inner ear condition that causes the patient to feel a spinning sensation – acupuncture has been shown to be an effective complementary treatment option. “The trials that have been done previously was mainly in people who have completed chemotherapy or had surgery,” Professor Low explains. “If we were to use the same principle and apply it to disorders of the ear, where vomiting and nausea is experienced in conditions like vertigo it is not surprising that acupuncture might work.”

Tinnitus – a persistent ringing in the ears – is another ear condition that acupuncture may have promising results for. Professor Low however highlights the importance of differentiating the types of tinnitus into their sub-types, as there are certain types that are more responsive to the benefits of acupuncture. “There are two, the first is acute tinnitus, usually due to a disturbance in the ear,” he says. “Acupuncture may have a role, alongside certain medicines, in treatment.”

The second situation where acupuncture can be used is when tinnitus is caused by conditions of the head and neck, including the muscles and ligaments in these areas. “There are certain nerve pathways that feed into the hearing system,” Professor Low says. “So logically speaking, if you have a disorder of the neck, for example, it can have some influence on the auditory pathway and that may have some influence on the tinnitus. People with neck problems, neck aches or stiff neck with tinnitus can use acupuncture because it has been used in musculoskeletal problems with considerable success.”

When is acupuncture beneficial?

The basis of acupuncture treatment is to help restore the balance of the two forces - yin and yang - in the body, Professor Low says. “Being qualified in western medicine, I’m in a position to decipher what might work and what might not. I do not think that western medicine is likely to work for everything, so there are certain areas where I apply the principles of both western and eastern medicine.”

Acupuncture is particularly beneficial for patients who do not wish to undergo surgery for an ear disorder. It also helps patients who need surgery to improve their health prior to an operation.

Still, Professor Low stresses the importance of administering acupuncture by a qualified specialist, as it might not be appropriate for all ear disorders. “Acupuncture still has not been proven to be effective as a standalone treatment in most ear disorders,” he says. “If we talk in terms of optimal treatment and best outcomes, then combining the two would be best. Western medicine alone can give some positive outcome, TCM can give some outcome, so if we combine the two then we can maximize the outcome for the patient.”

Associate Professor Low Wong Kein is an Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) specialist with over 25 years of experience. He has a special interest in treating ear disorders in both children and adults, including hearing loss, vertigo (giddiness), tinnitus (ringing/buzzing in the ear) and ear infections or cancers. He was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree for his work relating to the ear. He is also an accredited acupuncturist.

Novena ENT – Head & Neck Surgery Specialist Centre

Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre
38 Irrawaddy Road #04-21/22/34
Singapore 329563
Tel: +65 6933 0451
Email: enquiry.mnh@novena-ent.com

Satellite Clinic:
Parkway East Medical Centre
319 Joo Chiat Place #03-07
Singapore 427989
Tel: +65 6346 7761
Email: enquiry_peh@novena-ent.com
www.novena-ent.com