Acupuncture Points for Tinnitus Idiopathic

3 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (14 points)

100%

LI04 · ST36 · KD03 · TB03 · TB05 · TB17 · TB18 · TB19 · TB20 · TB21 · TB22 · GB02 · GB08 · GB20

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 合谷 (hé gǔ)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the hand between 1st & 2nd metacarpal bones approximately in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side.

⚠️ Cautions: Traditionally forbidden in pregnancy – these are the points used to bring on labour at term. Controlled data show no excess of preterm birth or stillbirth (Carr 2015), but in pregnancy needle only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Tinnitus, Release Exterior, Absent Periods, Wind

ST36Leg Three Miles

ST36 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 足三里 (zú sān lǐ)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in cases of severe varicose veins.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath

KD03Great Stream

KD03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太谿 (tài xī)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between tip of the medial malleolus and achilles tendon.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Shortness of Breath, Heat Deficiency, Asthma

TB03Central Islet

TB03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中渚 (zhōng zhǔ)

🎯 Location: When fist is clenched point is on the dorsum of the hand between 4th and 5th metacarpal bones in the depression the proximal to the 4th metacarpophalangeal joint.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Heat, Redness

TB05Outer Gate

TB05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 外關 (wài guān)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths proximal to the dorsal crease of the wrist on the line connecting TB04 and tip of the olecranon the between radius and ulna.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Sweating, Kidney Deficiency, Dizziness, Tinnitus

TB17Hurricane

TB17 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 翳風 (yì fēng)

🎯 Location: Posterior to the lobule of the ear in the depression the between mandible and mastoid process.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near facial nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Wind, Pain, Deviation Eye, Facial Droop

TB18Spasm Vessel

TB18 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 瘈脈 (chì mài)

🎯 Location: In the center of the mastoid process at the junction of the middle and lower third of the curve formed by TB17 and TB20 posterior to the helix.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Anxiety, Tinnitus, Vomiting, Wind

TB19Skull Rest

TB19 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 顱息 (lú xī)

🎯 Location: Posterior to the ear at the junction of the upper and middle third of the curve formed by TB17 and TB20 behind helix.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Dizziness, Tinnitus

TB20Angle Vertex

TB20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 角孫 (jiǎo sūn)

🎯 Location: Directly above the ear apex within the hair line.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Heat, Swelling, Deafness, Toothache

TB21Ear Gate

TB21 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 耳門 (ěr mén)

🎯 Location: In the depression the anterior to the supratragic notch and behind posterior border of the condyloid process of the mandible; point is located with mouth open.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with auricular cartilage.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Heat, Swelling, Deafness, Headache

TB22Harmony Bone Hole

TB22 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 耳和髎 (ěr hé liáo)

🎯 Location: Anterior and superior to the TB21 at the level with root of the auricle on the posterior border of the hair line of the temple where superficial temporal artery passes.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Wind, Swelling, Pain, Facial Droop

GB02Hearing Convergence

GB02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 聽會 (tīng huì)

🎯 Location: Anterior to the intertragic notch at the posterior border of the condyloid process of the mandible; point is located with mouth open.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Heat, Wind, Redness, Swelling

GB08Leading Valley

GB08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 率谷 (shuài gǔ)

🎯 Location: Superior to the apex of the auricle 1.5 thumb widths within the hairline.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications for head points.

🛡️ Treats: Phlegm, Dizziness, Vomiting, Wind, Pain

GB20Wind Pool

GB20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 風池 (fēng chí)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between upper portion of the scm and trapezius on the same level with GV16.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with vertebral artery; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Stress, Fever, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Wind

Study-reported

Needling · 12 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.5114/pq.2021.108662 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, KD03, TB03, TB05, TB17, TB21, GB02, GB20 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000037107 ↗
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Protocol (13 points)

100%

ST36 · SI19 · KD03 · TB03 · TB05 · TB17 · TB21 · GB02 · GB12 · GB20 · GB43 · LV03 · GV20

ST36Leg Three Miles

ST36 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 足三里 (zú sān lǐ)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in cases of severe varicose veins.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath

SI19Palace Of Hearing

SI19 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 聽宮 (tīng gōng)

🎯 Location: Anterior to the tragus and posterior to the condyloid process of the mandible in the depression the formed when mouth is open.

⚠️ Cautions: Needle with the mouth open, and avoid deep needling towards the tympanic membrane.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Deafness, Epilepsy, Voice Loss, Toothache

KD03Great Stream

KD03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太谿 (tài xī)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between tip of the medial malleolus and achilles tendon.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Shortness of Breath, Heat Deficiency, Asthma

TB03Central Islet

TB03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中渚 (zhōng zhǔ)

🎯 Location: When fist is clenched point is on the dorsum of the hand between 4th and 5th metacarpal bones in the depression the proximal to the 4th metacarpophalangeal joint.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Heat, Redness

TB05Outer Gate

TB05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 外關 (wài guān)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths proximal to the dorsal crease of the wrist on the line connecting TB04 and tip of the olecranon the between radius and ulna.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Sweating, Kidney Deficiency, Dizziness, Tinnitus

TB17Hurricane

TB17 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 翳風 (yì fēng)

🎯 Location: Posterior to the lobule of the ear in the depression the between mandible and mastoid process.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near facial nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Wind, Pain, Deviation Eye, Facial Droop

TB21Ear Gate

TB21 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 耳門 (ěr mén)

🎯 Location: In the depression the anterior to the supratragic notch and behind posterior border of the condyloid process of the mandible; point is located with mouth open.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with auricular cartilage.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Heat, Swelling, Deafness, Headache

GB02Hearing Convergence

GB02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 聽會 (tīng huì)

🎯 Location: Anterior to the intertragic notch at the posterior border of the condyloid process of the mandible; point is located with mouth open.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Heat, Wind, Redness, Swelling

GB12Mastoid Process

GB12 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 完骨 (wán gǔ)

🎯 Location: In the depression the posterior and inferior to the mastoid process.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications for head points.

🛡️ Treats: Wind, Pain, Deviation Eye, Facial Droop, Epilepsy

GB20Wind Pool

GB20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 風池 (fēng chí)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between upper portion of the scm and trapezius on the same level with GV16.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with vertebral artery; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Stress, Fever, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Wind

GB43Narrow Stream

GB43 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 俠谿 (xiá xī)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot between 4th and 5th toe proximal to the margin of the web at the junction of the red and white skin.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Knee Pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Heat

LV03Great Surge

LV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太衝 (tài chōng)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot in the depression the distal to the junction of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Sweating

GV20100 Convergences

GV20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 百會 (bǎi huì)

🎯 Location: On the midline of the head 5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline approximately on the midpoint of the line connecting apex of the ears.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Palpitations, Jaundice, Qi Deficiency

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000037107 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, KD03, TB03, TB05, TB17, TB21, GB02, GB20 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.5114/pq.2021.108662 ↗

Protocol (6 points)

100%

SI19 · TB17 · TB21 · GB02 · GV20 · MS11

SI19Palace Of Hearing

SI19 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 聽宮 (tīng gōng)

🎯 Location: Anterior to the tragus and posterior to the condyloid process of the mandible in the depression the formed when mouth is open.

⚠️ Cautions: Needle with the mouth open, and avoid deep needling towards the tympanic membrane.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Deafness, Epilepsy, Voice Loss, Toothache

TB17Hurricane

TB17 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 翳風 (yì fēng)

🎯 Location: Posterior to the lobule of the ear in the depression the between mandible and mastoid process.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near facial nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Wind, Pain, Deviation Eye, Facial Droop

TB21Ear Gate

TB21 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 耳門 (ěr mén)

🎯 Location: In the depression the anterior to the supratragic notch and behind posterior border of the condyloid process of the mandible; point is located with mouth open.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with auricular cartilage.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Heat, Swelling, Deafness, Headache

GB02Hearing Convergence

GB02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 聽會 (tīng huì)

🎯 Location: Anterior to the intertragic notch at the posterior border of the condyloid process of the mandible; point is located with mouth open.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Heat, Wind, Redness, Swelling

GV20100 Convergences

GV20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 百會 (bǎi huì)

🎯 Location: On the midline of the head 5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline approximately on the midpoint of the line connecting apex of the ears.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Palpitations, Jaundice, Qi Deficiency

MS11Posterior Temporal Line

MS11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Scalp Lines

🇨🇳 Chinese: 顳後線 (niè hòu xiàn)

🎯 Location: From GB08 Shuaigu to GB07 Qubin, on the temporal side of the head.

Study-reported

Needling · 30 sessions over 6 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2018.04.007 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SI19, TB17, TB21, GB02, GV20 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000037107 ↗
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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Tinnitus Idiopathic:

Points cited for Tinnitus Idiopathic

How often each point appears across the 3 entries ranked highest for Tinnitus Idiopathic. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • GB02Hearing ConvergenceGallbladder Meridian3 of 3
  • TB17HurricaneTriple Burner Meridian3 of 3
  • TB21Ear GateTriple Burner Meridian3 of 3
  • GB20Wind PoolGallbladder Meridian2 of 3
  • GV20100 ConvergencesGoverning Vessel2 of 3
  • KD03Great StreamKidney Meridian2 of 3
  • SI19Palace Of HearingSmall Intestine Meridian2 of 3
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian2 of 3
  • TB03Central IsletTriple Burner Meridian2 of 3
  • TB05Outer GateTriple Burner Meridian2 of 3
  • GB08Leading ValleyGallbladder Meridian1 of 3
  • GB12Mastoid ProcessGallbladder Meridian1 of 3

Tested, no effect found

These studies tested the points below for Tinnitus Idiopathic and found no effect. They are not counted above.

ST36 · ST37 · SI19 · TB03 · TB09 · TB17 · TB21 · GB02 · GB08 – doi:10.1186/s12906-017-1589-3 – No better than another treatment

TB17 · TB21 – doi:10.1186/s12906-017-1589-3 – No better than another treatment

ST36 · ST37 · TB03 · TB09 – doi:10.1186/s12906-017-1589-3 – No better than another treatment

How the studies delivered it

What the 3 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling2 of 3

After a treatment: what large safety surveys recorded, and which reactions need a doctor.

Disclaimer: The acupoint information provided is for educational purposes only.