Author Archives: Dana Hoffman

1. Tinnitus Awareness Week Feb 5-11, 2018

   February 5, 2018 9:27 pm Leave a Comment

   

   Tinnitus Awareness Week is February 5-11, 2018. Tinnitus is a condition at Midwest Acupuncture Group’s Chicago clinic where we have seen dozens upon dozens of cases over many years. Like many medical diagnoses, it’s not a one-size-fits-all proposition in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Tinnitus comes in many forms: it’s most commonly experienced as a high pitched ringing in the ears, but can also be low pitched, be the person’s own heartbeat, be music, a mechanical sound, or have no sound at all. It may be a stuffiness or “thwu” sensation, as if there is water in the ears or hands are covering and muffling the ears, distorting everything. This latter description is Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, but it often goes hand in hand with tinnitus.

   Noiseless to Others, Loud, Screeching, and Maddening to You.

   What makes tinnitus so difficult is that other people cannot see it, so they have no idea that a person is suffering, and may suffer to the point of serious life disruption: concentration is poor, sleep is disrupted, and it’s hard to be in noisy places or to enjoy music and conversation. This can lead to anxiety and depression.

   One Ear or Both?

   From experience, there’s usually a stress component involved in bilateral (both ears) cases, and for unilateral (single ear) cases, we usually delve into physical trauma history that may have occurred to or near the ear.

   What Causes Tinnitus?

   There are dozens of potential causes of tinnitus including (but not limited to) stress, digestive issues, TMJ, allergies, and sinus pressure. There is often inflammation involved. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine will treat all of the above. We’ll also suggest when a specialist should be consulted. Most people have already been to see an Ear Nose Throat doctor (Otolaryngologist) as it’s essential to first check for any structural damage and to rule out the presence of a serious disease. And after those concerns have been ruled out, that’s where Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can help.

   How Does Acupuncture Help Tinnitus?

   Many acupuncture meridians run through and around the ears, so focusing on moving qi stagnation is essential to restoring normal functionality. As with all acupuncture, the qi circulation will reduce inflammation. The endorphins will calm a person’s frayed nerves and help restore balance. When appropriate, Traditional Chinese herbs are also used as an adjunct therapy depending on the root cause of the Tinnitus.

   Tinnitus in Chicago

   Last year saw a huge Tinnitus spike when Mother Nature sent us an early Chicago spring. Spring is the season of Wood and growth which impacts the energetic liver.

   How Soon Until I Hear Change??

   Most patients experience change during the first office visit, although some feel more change up to 2 days after treatment.  For a tinnitus success story, read this former patient’s testimonial: https://www.midwestacupuncturegroup.com/general/tinnitus-success-story/

   There is hope for the treatment of tinnitus! It’s an honor to be part of your health solutions!

   Dana Hoffman, L.Ac., MSOM

2. Tinnitus Success Story!

   September 1, 2017 9:40 pm 2 Comments

   Here at Midwest Acupuncture Group in Chicago, we like to solve challenging tinnitus cases, and when an Ear Nose Throat specialist sent us this acute tinnitus case, we jumped at the chance. The young woman is a professional musician, whose acute hearing loss and loud mechanical whirling sound had completely disrupted her life and career — and had appeared seemingly out of nowhere. In 5 acupuncture treatments administered over 3 weeks, she was restored to normal hearing levels! Read her testimonial here:

   “I am a professional musician. About a month ago the ENT diagnosed me with sudden, acute low-frequency hearing loss. Due to the nature of my life’s work up to this point, this news was devastating for both my career as well as my emotional health. The doctor diagnosed medications, herbs, prescribed steroids–all of which did not change my condition.

   I am so happy that my doctor also recommended that I see Dana. From the moment she answered the phone when I called up to my most recent appointment, she stayed 100% positive that we would figure out what was wrong and that we would fix it. She stayed late after sessions to research my symptoms and connected the loose ends which led to a hypothesis and its subsequent treatment. 24 hours after my third treatment, I could hear again!

   My case was a weird one and the doctors didn’t know what to make of me. When halfway through treatment  they said not to get my hopes up for a full recovery, Dana insisted I stay positive–quite a feat, since I was in such a terrible emotional place. My symptoms made playing music difficult to execute and listening to music a miserable experience. Dana’a sensitivity to my emotional turmoil coupled with her knowledge of what I needed to improve made every session a positive experience.

   I have since had my hearing retested and am delighted to say I am well within the normal hearing range in all of the frequencies once again–a full recovery! I highly recommend Dana to anyone and everyone!”