Information What can I do? Treatments Tinnitus and electroacupuncture Name of treatment Electroacupuncture Type of treatment Physical intervention Claims for treatment Reduces/eliminates the tinnitus percept. How treatment is delivered A small electric current is passed between pairs of acupuncture needles which are inserted at points on the body. Potential negative consequences Possibility of tissue damage and electrolysis[1]. Risk of infection transmission. Evidence offered: Papers available 5 (as per systematic review[2]) Conclusions drawn No convincing evidence that electroacupuncture is beneficial for treating tinnitus could be found2 Quality of evidence[3] A Does the BTA recommend this treatment? No BTA opinion on this treatment: There is no evidence that this treatment is effective. Would the BTA support further studies into this treatment? Yes, if high quality study Verdict: Safety - is this treatment harmful? Limited potential for harm Verdict: Efficacy - does this treatment work? No evidence of effect [1] Lytle CD, Thomas BM, Gordon EA, Krauthamer V . Electrostimulators for acupuncture: safety issues. J Altern Complement Med. 2000. 6 (1): 37–44. doi:10.1089/acm.2000.6.37. PMID 1070623 [2] He M, Li X, Liu Y, et al. Electroacupuncture for Tinnitus: A Systematic Review. PLoS One. 2016;11(3):e0150600. Published 2016 Mar 3. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0150600 [3] A = Systematic review/meta analysis. B = Randomised control studies. C = Cohort studies. D = Case control studies. E = case studies/reports. +/- to be used to indicate quality within bands Download this information: Tinnitus_and_electroacupuncture_June_2019.pdf Updated 11 June 2019 Photo created by javi_indy - www.freepik.com