Cupping and Bloodletting Therapies for Ear Ringing (Tinnitus)
Cupping is an ancient therapy that uses cups or jars to create suction on the skin, causing local congestion and blood stasis to achieve therapeutic effects. The cups can be made of glass, plastic, silicone, bamboo, or pottery. The suction is created by heating the inside of the cup to create a vacuum and then placing it on the skin, or by using a rubber pump. Cupping therapy offers various benefits, including promoting blood circulation, relieving pain, detoxifying the body and boosting the immune system; these benefits help in overall body regulation and wellness.
TCM way of bloodletting involves physicians using needles or small blades to puncture or cut specific points or areas on the body to release a small amount of blood for therapeutic purposes. This therapy is recognized for its calming, pain-relieving, and detoxifying effects. Bloodletting is an invasive procedure and should be performed by qualified practitioners to ensure safety and prevent infection.
Precautions: Not everyone is suitable for cupping and bloodletting therapies, especially those with bleeding tendencies or severe liver and kidney diseases.
Protocols suitable for ear ringing cases:
(I) feng shi (Gb31)
The feng shi (GB31) is located on the midline of the outer thigh. The acupoint can be identified by standing straight with the arms hanging naturally at both sides, where the middle fingertip touched. Procedure for it's cupping are belows:
Disinfection: Clean the area thoroughly.
Needling:
- Insert the needle slowly and directly to a depth of 2.5~6cm.
- Perform slow lifting, thrusting, and twisting techniques.
- When a needling sensation is achieved, further stimulate with reducing techniques and change the needle tip upwards, this can direct the needling sensation towards the ear region.
- When the patient feels the needle sensation moving upwards, possibly even into the ear, press the needle deeper, then slowly lift it up, enlarge the needle hole, and quickly withdraw the needle.
Cupping: After withdrawing the needle, heat a cup, place on feng shi point immediately, leave the cup in place for 5-10 minutes.
Perform this procedure once daily, 3 days as one course of treatment.
(II) Sliding cupping
Selected acupoints: yang ling quan (Gb34), wai guan (Sj5), zu san li (St36), san yin jiao (Sp6), pi shu (Bl20), dan shu (Bl19), shen shu (Bl23).
Methods: for the first four points (Gb34, Sj5, St36, Sp6), place on a cup and then remove quickly, repeat this action 15 times on each point. The last three points (Bl20,Bl19, Bl23) are located on the back and belong to the Gallbladder Meridian. For the cupping method on the back (the last three acupoints), apply a lubricant like Vaseline to the skin or the rim of the cup. Then, perform cupping and hold the cup, moving it back and forth, up and down, until the skin at the cupping site becomes red, congested, or bruised.
Do this daily or every two days.
Do this daily or every two days.
(III) Bloodletting on acupoint group
Selected acupoints: tai yang (Ex-Hn5), bai hui (Gv20), wan gu (Gb12), ting hui (Gb2).
Methods: disinfect the acupoints with alcohol, then prick the acupoints and squeeze out 2-3 drops of blood.
Perform every 2 to 3 days.
(IV) Acupoint bloodletting plus cupping
Selected acupoints: tai yang (Ex-Hn5), er men (Sj21), ting gong (Si19), qu ze (Pc3).
Methods: disinfect the acupoint with alcohol and carefully wipe to locate the superficial blood vessel. Use a three-edged needle to prick the acupoints, squeezing out 2-3 drops of blood from each site. Then, place the fire cup on the acupoint and leave it for 5 to 15 minutes.
Apply every 2 to 3 days. This is suitable for old people with ear ringing.
(V) Bloodletting plus cupping on acupoint groups
Acupoint group (1): zhong zhu (Sj3), xia xi (Gb43), tai chong (Lr3), qiu xu (Gb40);
Acupoint group (2): da zhui (Gv14), gan shu (Bl18), dan shu (Bl19), shen zhu (Gv12).
Acupoint group (2): da zhui (Gv14), gan shu (Bl18), dan shu (Bl19), shen zhu (Gv12).
Method: for group (1), prick the points and squeeze 2-3 drops of blood in each site; while for group (2), place a fire cup on the selected points and withdraw quickly, repeat this action 15 times on each site.
Perform the procedure once every 2-3 days, alternating between two sets of acupoints for bloodletting and cupping.
(VI) Bloodletting plus cupping for ear ringing and hearing loss
Major point selections: yi feng (Sj17), zhi gou (Sj6), gan shu (Bl18), zhong zhu (Sj3).
Auxiliary points are selected according to disharmony types: wai guan (Sj5) and xing jian (Lr2) for excess type of ear ringing; shen shu (Bl23), guan yuan (Cv4), tai xi (Ki3) for deficient type.
Method: For excess ear ringing cases, prick the points to bleed a small amount of blood first, then place cups on them for suction to further bleed a while, apply the procedure daily for 3 times. For deficient ear ringing cases, apply acupuncture first, and then do cupping, let the cups stay for 5 to 10 minutes, and apply the procedure once a week.
In TCM treatments, bloodletting is often indicated for excess ear ringing, while cupping is often indicated for deficient ear ringing. The combination of acupuncture and cupping is effective for neurogenic tinnitus and deafness, and the effect is even better when combined with acupoint injection.
