This site may earn a commission from purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
Tinnitus — the perception of ringing, buzzing, hissing, or other sounds without an external source — affects approximately 15% of Canadians. For most, it's an intermittent nuisance. For roughly 1–2%, it's severe enough to significantly impair quality of life, sleep, concentration, and mental health. And for almost everyone, finding effective treatment is profoundly difficult.
This page starts with honesty: acupressure and acupuncture have modest evidence for tinnitus. Some people experience meaningful relief. Most do not experience complete resolution. If you're reading this hoping for a cure, this is not it. But if you're looking for a low-risk, zero-cost complementary practice that some people find genuinely helpful for reducing tinnitus severity and its associated anxiety — particularly while waiting for specialist care — then read on.
The Evidence: Modest but Real
A 2021 systematic review published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice examined acupuncture trials for tinnitus and found that acupuncture reduced tinnitus severity scores in several studies compared to sham and control groups. The effect sizes were small to moderate, and most studies had methodological limitations — small sample sizes, short follow-up, variable blinding quality. The reviewers concluded that acupuncture may provide some benefit for tinnitus, but that evidence quality was insufficient to make strong recommendations.
For acupressure specifically, the evidence base is thinner — largely extrapolated from acupuncture research. The same points are used; the stimulation method differs. There are no large-scale RCTs testing acupressure alone for tinnitus as of 2026.
What we can say with more confidence: acupressure reliably reduces anxiety and sympathetic nervous system activation. For stress-related or stress-worsened tinnitus — which is a large subset of tinnitus sufferers — this indirect effect is clinically meaningful, even if acupressure doesn't directly modulate the auditory cortex or cochlear nerve.
Why Tinnitus Is So Difficult to Treat
Tinnitus is not a single condition. It can arise from hearing damage (noise-induced cochlear hair cell loss — the most common cause), age-related hearing decline, Meniere's disease, medications (especially aspirin, NSAIDs, some antibiotics, and chemotherapy drugs), neck and jaw issues (somatosensory tinnitus), cardiovascular conditions, or central sensitization of the auditory pathway.
Most tinnitus represents a mismatch between auditory input (reduced from hearing damage) and the brain's attempt to compensate by increasing auditory gain — essentially turning up the volume on phantom signals. This central mechanism means that local ear-adjacent treatments often don't address the root cause. The most effective evidence-based treatments for chronic tinnitus are cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and sound therapy (hearing aids that amplify ambient sound, tinnitus retraining therapy), both of which address the brain's response rather than the ear itself.
Acupressure, in this context, is most useful as a stress management and circulation support tool — not as a direct tinnitus treatment.
Key Acupressure Points for Tinnitus
Location
Directly in front of the ear, in the depression that forms when the mouth is slightly open. With your mouth closed, you'll feel the condyle of the jaw (the ball part of the jaw joint) here. Open your mouth slightly — a depression opens up between the jaw condyle and the tragus (the small pointed cartilage flap in front of the ear canal). SI19 is in that depression.
Important: This point must be located and pressed with the mouth slightly open (about 1 cm). With the mouth closed, the depression closes and pressure is on the wrong tissue.
Why it's used
SI19 is the primary "tinnitus point" in TCM and clinical acupressure. Its TCM name, Tinggong ("Palace of Hearing"), reflects its traditional role. It sits adjacent to the temporomandibular joint and the external ear canal, providing local stimulation to the structures most proximal to the inner ear. It's used bilaterally — both ears. For people with somatosensory tinnitus involving jaw or neck tension, SI19 is particularly relevant because of its relationship to the temporomandibular joint.
Technique
Open mouth slightly. Place index fingers in the depressions in front of both ears simultaneously. Apply moderate inward pressure — not aggressive, as this is a sensitive area. Hold 60–90 seconds with mouth slightly open. The sensation is typically a dull local aching. Close the mouth afterward and notice any change in perceived tinnitus volume or quality.
Location
Just below SI19 — approximately half an inch lower, in the depression just below the jaw condyle where it meets the lower jaw. Also located with mouth slightly open, where a depression is palpable just below and in front of the ear. SI19 and GB2 are often pressed in sequence or simultaneously with different fingers.
Why it's used
GB2 (Tinghui, "Reunion of Hearing") is the complementary ear-hearing point to SI19. In TCM, it's specifically for tinnitus with a "rising heat or wind" quality — often described as high-pitched or whooshing tinnitus that worsens with stress, anger, or hot weather. It's used alongside SI19 in virtually all TCM tinnitus protocols, addressing the Gallbladder channel's traversal of the ear region.
Technique
Mouth slightly open. Middle finger on SI19, index finger on GB2 below it (or vice versa), pressing bilaterally. 60 seconds. The two-finger approach covering both points simultaneously is the standard clinical technique.
Location
Behind the ear lobe, in the depression between the mastoid process (the bony lump behind the ear) and the lower jaw. Tilt your head slightly to the side and press your fingertip into the hollow behind the earlobe — that's TW17. It's often distinctly tender in people with tinnitus, especially tinnitus accompanied by neck tension or jaw clenching.
Why it's used
TW17 is the most posterior local ear point, positioned behind the ear rather than in front. It's used in TCM for tinnitus, ear fullness, and hearing issues, and its location adjacent to the facial nerve and posterior auricular structures makes it relevant for the neurological aspects of ear function. For people with tinnitus that has a cervicogenic (neck-related) component, TW17 combined with GB20 (skull base) provides a local-plus-remote approach addressing the neck-ear tension chain.
Technique
Firm fingertip pressure into the hollow behind the earlobe. 60–90 seconds bilaterally. Often more tender on the side where tinnitus is worse. Pressure here also frequently releases a sense of tension in the jaw and temporal region.
Location
On the inner ankle, in the hollow midway between the inner ankle bone (medial malleolus) and the Achilles tendon. A distinct depression palpable with a fingertip — typically more tender on the left ankle in people with Kidney deficiency patterns.
Why it's used
In TCM, the Kidneys "open into the ears" — the Kidney meridian's function encompasses hearing, inner ear health, and bone marrow. Age-related tinnitus (often high-pitched, persistent, and accompanied by hearing decline, fatigue, and low back weakness) falls into the "Kidney deficiency" pattern, and KI3 is the primary point for nourishing this system. This point is unlikely to produce immediate changes in tinnitus loudness, but consistent daily practice over weeks may be supportive for the underlying constitutional deficiency pattern — and it's deeply calming for the nervous system, which helps with tinnitus-related anxiety.
Technique
Gentle to moderate pressure — KI3 is best served by sustained gentle stimulation rather than aggressive pressing. 90 seconds to 2 minutes per ankle. Works well combined with a breathing practice (slow diaphragmatic breathing) for maximum parasympathetic effect.
Location
On the dorsum of the foot, between the 4th and 5th toes, at the proximal web margin — where the toes begin to separate. Find the webbing between your 4th and 5th toes and press just behind (proximal to) the web margin on the top of the foot.
Why it's used
GB43 is the "Ying-Spring" (Fire) point of the Gallbladder meridian. In TCM, it's used for tinnitus in the "Gallbladder Fire" pattern — tinnitus that is sudden in onset, sounds like a rushing or roaring, worsens with stress and anger, and is accompanied by irritability, headache, and bitter taste in the mouth. This pattern is associated with elevated liver function markers in some TCM-biomedical correlations. GB43 sedates Gallbladder Fire and is used when tinnitus has an acute or reactive quality rather than the quiet background hiss of Kidney deficiency tinnitus.
Technique
Firm thumb or fingernail pressure into the web between the 4th and 5th toes on both feet. 60 seconds per foot. Often produces a surprisingly strong sensation for such a small point.
Who Tinnitus Acupressure May Help Most
Based on the available evidence and clinical experience, acupressure is most likely to be helpful for:
Stress-related tinnitus: For people whose tinnitus clearly worsens with stress, poor sleep, anxiety, or high-pressure periods, acupressure's proven effect on the autonomic nervous system and stress hormones directly addresses the primary driver. KI3, SI19, and a general daily relaxation practice may provide meaningful relief by reducing the "gain" the nervous system puts on the tinnitus signal during high-stress states.
Recently-onset tinnitus: Chronic tinnitus that has been present for decades involves significant central reorganization of auditory processing, which is much harder to reverse. More recently acquired tinnitus (within the past 1–2 years) may be more modifiable. Starting an acupressure practice early in the tinnitus course is more likely to be beneficial than beginning after years of established central sensitization.
Tinnitus with a neck or jaw component: Somatosensory tinnitus — where neck tension, jaw clenching (bruxism), or cervical spine issues modulate the tinnitus loudness — responds better to local treatment approaches including SI19, TW17, and GB20 (skull base). If you've noticed your tinnitus changes when you press on your neck, move your jaw, or apply pressure behind your ear, this is a positive sign that manual approaches may help.
Tinnitus with significant associated anxiety or sleep disruption: Even if acupressure doesn't change the tinnitus itself, reducing the anxiety and sleep disruption that tinnitus causes is genuinely valuable. See our anxiety acupressure guide and sleep acupressure guide for protocols that address these secondary impacts.
A Practical Daily Protocol
- SI19 + GB2 — mouth slightly open, bilateral, 60–90 seconds
- TW17 — behind each earlobe, 60 seconds
- KI3 — inner ankle, 90 seconds per side
- GB43 — between 4th and 5th toe, 60 seconds per foot (if pattern suggests Gallbladder Fire)
Total: approximately 8–10 minutes. Best done in a quiet environment in the morning or evening. Combine with slow diaphragmatic breathing throughout the session — the nervous system calming effect is meaningfully amplified by conscious breath work alongside acupressure.
Canadian Context: Long Waits, Real Need
Tinnitus affects approximately 15% of Canadians — roughly 5.5 million people — and audiologist and ENT wait times in most provinces range from 6 to 18 months. Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) and cognitive-behavioural therapy are the most evidence-supported treatments for chronic tinnitus but are not widely available or covered under provincial health insurance. Many Canadians are left managing a life-disrupting condition with essentially no accessible treatment during the wait period.
For that waiting period — and as a complement to formal treatment once accessed — auricular (ear) acupressure and the protocol above represent a low-risk option worth exploring. See our full auricular acupressure guide for the ear-based ear seeds and auricular point system that some tinnitus patients use as an extension of this practice.
For sleep disruption from tinnitus — a near-universal secondary complaint — see our sleep acupressure guide. For the anxiety and hypervigilance that tinnitus can cause, our anxiety guide covers the full stress reduction protocol. For the headaches that co-occur with many tinnitus presentations, see our headache relief guide.
The Bottom Line
Tinnitus is one of the most frustrating conditions to live with and to treat. The honest answer is that acupressure is unlikely to eliminate your tinnitus — but for a meaningful subset of people, it reduces severity, calms the associated anxiety, and makes the condition more manageable. That's worth pursuing, especially given the zero cost and zero side effects involved.
Set realistic expectations: this is a 4–8 week minimum investment before you'll know if it's helping your particular pattern. Track your tinnitus severity with a simple daily 1–10 rating so you have data rather than impressions. If you see a downward trend over 6–8 weeks of consistent daily practice, it's working. If you see no change, the time investment was small and you've lost nothing.
Pursue formal audiological evaluation — especially if your tinnitus is new, asymmetric (one ear only), pulsatile (pulses with your heartbeat), or accompanied by hearing loss. These patterns require medical investigation before any complementary approach.