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
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